Wilson Tobs (minor league baseball)

The Wilson Tobs were a minor league baseball club based in Wilson, North Carolina and played periodically between 1908 and 1973. The Tobs nickname was a shortened form of the word "tobacconists". From 1908 to 1910, the team was officially known as the Wilson Tobacconists and played in the Eastern Carolina League. The club won the league's championship in 1909 and they were in the championship series in 1908, when play was suspended due to a tropical storm. They then next spent eight seasons in the Virginia League. During the 1920–1922 and 1924–1927 seasons the team was known as the Wilson Bugs. They won the Virginia League championship in 1922 and 1923. From 1939 to 1952, the renamed Wilson Tobs were also a member of the Class D Coastal Plain League, winning that league's championship in 1941. The 1941 Tobs were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.[1] In 1942, the team played in the Bi-State League.

Wilson Tobs
(1908–1910, 1923, 1939–1942, 1946–1952, 1956–1968, 1973)
Wilson, North Carolina
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class-A (1963–1973)
  • Class-B (1920–1927, 1956–1962)
  • Class-D (1908–1910, 1939–1952)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 4 (1905, 1907, 1921, 1930)
Team data
Previous names
  • Wilson Pennants (1973)
  • Wilson Tobs (1939–1942, 1946–1952, 1956–1968)
  • Wilson Bugs (1920–1922, 1924–1927)
  • Wilson Tobacconists (1908–1910, 1923)

The team also played in the Carolina League from 1956 to 1968, winning the league championship in 1959, 1961, and 1963. The 1966 team had future Hall of Fame member Rod Carew in their line-up. Wilson returned to the Carolina League for one season in 1973 as the Wilson Pennants.

Currently, a summer collegiate baseball team plays at Fleming Stadium as the Wilson Tobs.

Notable Wilson Alumni

Hall of Fame Alumni

Notable Alumni

  • Jack McKeon (1960-1961, MGR) Manager: 2003 World Series Champion - Florida Marlins
  • Charlie Manuel (1965-1966) Manager: 2008 World Series Champion - Philadelphia Phillies
  • Bob Veale (1959) 2 x MLB All-Star; threw a no-hitter for Wilson in 1959[2]

Seasons

(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)

YearRecordFinishManagerNotes
190836-181stEarl HoltAbandoned due to weather down 2-1
190950-391stEarl HoltLeague Champs
191044-392ndCharles McGeehan
192370-521st (t)Rube Oldring
193964-616thFrank Rodgers
194077-491stFrank RodgersLost in 1st round
194187-301stBill HerringLeague Champs
194269-531stBill HerringLost in 1st round
194667-573rdIrv DickensLost in 1st round
194779-611stMax WilsonLost League Finals
194861-796thMax Wilson / Irv Dickens / Bob Latshaw
194957-798thRoss Morrow
195068-705thBill Herring
195169-574thJoe Antolick / Alfred RehmLost League Finals
195271-512ndJake McComas / Alfred RehmLost in 1st round
195672-796thCharlie Gassaway
195751-89 overall6thPete SuderKinston moved to Wilson on May 11
195860-787thBob Hooper / Barney Lutz
195971-582ndHardy Peterson / Don Osborn (7/14-8/13) /
Hardy Peterson		League Champs
196073-652ndJack McKeon
196183-561stJack McKeonLeague Champs
196265-755thHarry Warner
196377-675thRalph RoweLeague Champs
196457-827thRalph Rowe
196568-756thVern Morgan
196672-655thVern Morgan
196761-7211thVern Morgan
196871-685thVern Morgan
197352-886thRay Hathaway (18-34) / Marshall Fox (0-1) /
Don Lock (34-53)

References
  1. "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  2. Wilson Tobs (minor league baseball) at the SABR Bio Project, by Joseph Gerard, retrieved January 19, 2020
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