Texas Association

The Texas Association was a sports league of minor league baseball teams in Texas that operated from 1923 through 1926.[1]:113 An earlier league, initially known as the Texas-Southern League, used the same name from mid-1896 through 1899.[1]:108–109, 171 History of the Texas Association during the 1920s follows.

Texas Association
SportBaseball
Founded1923
Ceased1926
No. of teams6
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		Palestine Pals
(1926)
Most titles
For the minor league known as the Texas Association for several seasons prior to 1900, see Texas-Southern League.

History
The league's inaugural schedule, as published in The Austin American on March 25, 1923

The league operated in 1923 with a six-team format. The Austin Rangers, Corsicana Oilers, Marlin Bathers, Mexia Gushers, Sherman Twins,[2] and Waco Indians made up the league that year.[1]:291 While Mexia had the best win–loss record for the entire season, the league played a split season, with Sherman winning the first half, and Austin winning the second half.[1]:291 Sherman and Austin played a six-game playoff series, which ended in a tie at three games each.[2][1]:291

The Sherman squad did not return for 1924 and was replaced by the Temple Surgeons; all other teams returned.[1]:295 Corsicana finished in first place during both halves of the split season, thus no playoffs were held.[1]:295

For 1925, the Austin Rangers became the Austin Senators, while the Waco club did not return and was replaced by the Terrell Terrors; all other teams returned.[1]:298 On May 13, Marlin moved to Palestine to become the Palestine Pals. Corsicana again won both halves of a split season.[1]:298 Minor league legend Smead Jolley played for Corsicana that year,[3] while 12-year major league veteran Boom-Boom Beck suited up for the Marlin/Palestine club.[4]

1926 was the final year of the Texas Association, with all six teams returning from the previous year.[1]:303 Austin won the first half of the split season and Palestine won the second half.[1]:303 These two teams played a postseason series, won by Palestine, three games to none.[1]:303

No effort was made to bring the league back for 1927.[5] Teams of three cities moved to the newly formed Lone Star League (Palestine, Mexia and Corsicana) while three others ceased operations (Austin, Terrell, and Temple).[1]:99–100 Teams based in Austin and Temple later played in the Big State League of the late 1940s and early 1950s, while Terrell has yet to field another team.[1]:99–100

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles (2007). Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 9781932391176.
  2. "No Pennant to be Awarded in the Texas Association; Sherman Plans to Appeal". Austin American-Statesman. September 24, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved August 25, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "Smead Jolley Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  4. "Boom-Boom Beck Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  5. "New Baseball League Formed". Austin American-Statesman. AP. January 31, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved August 26, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
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