The Brunswick Pilots were a minor league baseball team based in

Brunswick, Georgia Brunswick () is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As the primary urban and economic center of the lower southeast portion of Georgia, it is the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline after Sa ...

. From 1913 to 1915, the Pilots played as members of the Class D level 1913

Empire State League The Empire State League was a Minor league baseball circuit which operated in the 1913 season. It was a Class-D, six-team league, with teams based exclusively in Georgia, U.S. In 1914, the league evolved to become the Georgia State League. Ci ...

, 1914

Georgia State League The Georgia State League was an American Class D minor league in professional baseball that existed in 1906, 1914, 1920–1921 and 1948–1956. During its last incarnation, it existed alongside two nearby Class D circuits, the Georgia–Florida Le ...

and 1915

Florida–Alabama–Georgia League The Georgia State League was an American Class D minor league in professional baseball that existed in 1906, 1914, 1920–1921 and 1948–1956. During its last incarnation, it existed alongside two nearby Class D circuits, the Georgia–Florida Le ...

. The Pilots hosted home minor league games at Palmotto Park. In 1906, Brunswick briefly hosted a team in the Georgia State League.

History

In 1906, Brunswick briefly hosted a team in the Class D level

. On June 25, 1906, the

Columbus River Snipes Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to: * Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer * Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio Columbus may also refer to: Places ...

moved to Brunswick with a record of 24–16. After compiling a 5–1 record while based in Brunswick, the Columbus River Snipes/Brunswick team ended the 1906 season with an overall record of 29–17, to place second in the standings. Dudley Lewis and Bill Hessler served as managers. In the playoff, the Waycross Machinists defeated Brunswick 3 games to 1. In 1913, the Brunswick "Pilots" began play as members of the six–team Class D level

. The

Americus Muckalees There have been eight Minor leagues teams that have represented the city of Americus, Georgia. Since classification of the minors began, seven of them have been labeled as class D loops and one played in an independent league. History Americus Pal ...

, Cordele Babies,

Thomasville Hornets Thomasville may refer to: *Thomasville, Alabama *Thomasville, Georgia *Thomasville, Iowa *Thomasville, Missouri *Thomasville, North Carolina *Thomasville, Pennsylvania Other uses *Thomasville Furniture Industries Thomasville Furniture Industries w ...

Valdosta Millionaires The Valdosta Millionaires were a minor league baseball team, based in Valdosta, Georgia from 1913 until 1916. However the team's roots can be traced back to 1906 as the Valdosta Stars of the Georgia State League. The Millionaires became Valdosta's ...

and

Waycross Blowhards Waycross may refer to: * Waycross, Georgia *Waycross College (1973-2013), former two-year public college *Waycross, Indiana Waycross is an unincorporated community in Jackson Township, Brown County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The community ...

joined Brunswick in beginning league play on May 1, 1913. The Empire State League was finalized at a February 19, 1913 meeting held in Brunswick. At that meeting C. C. Vaughn, of Brunswick was selected as league president, Oscar Groover of Thomasville was elected vice president, and L.J. Leavy of Brunswick was elected as secretary/treasurer. Leavy was chared with gaining entry as a minor league through the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which proved successful. Empire State League rosters were limited to twelve players, and no more than three of the players on the roster could have prior service with higher-classification minor league teams, meaning the Class C level or above. Team salaries were capped at $1,000 total for the season. Teams traveled by rail and there were no Sunday games. The Brunswick use of the "Pilots" nickname derived from the local river pilots, who guided ships at the

Port of Brunswick The Port of Brunswick is an Atlantic seaport located in Brunswick, Georgia, United States, in the southeast corner of the state. It is one of four ports operated by the Georgia Ports Authority. The Port of Brunswick is one of the nation's most ...

In their first season of play, the Brunswick Pilots finished last in the Empire State League. In the first–half of the season, the Pilots had a six–game winless streak and two five–game winless streaks. The Pilots ended the 1913 season with a record of 42–57, placing sixth in the final Empire State League standings. With Bert Kite and

Charlie Moran Charles Barthell Moran (February 22, 1878 – June 14, 1949), nicknamed "Uncle Charley", was an American sportsman who gained renown as both a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and as a collegiate and professional American football coa ...

serving as managers, Brunswick finished 16.5 games behind the first place Valdosta Millionaires. Continuing play in a new league, The Brunswick Pilots became members of the six–team Class D level Georgia State League, as the Empire State League changed names. The Pilots ended the 1914 season with a record of 53–51, placing fourth in the regular season standings. Bert Kite, Earl Bitting and Dutch Jordan served as managers, as the Pilots finished 5.5 games behind the 1st place Cordele Ramblers in the final standings. In their final season, the Brunswick Pilots joined the six–team Class D level

, as the Georgia League evolved. Brunswick ended the 1915 season with a record of 36–37, placing fourth overall, and winning the first half pennant. Wade Reynolds served as manager. In the finals, the Valdosta Millionaires were leading the Brunswick Pilots 2 games to 1, when the series ended due to a player strike. The Florida–Alabama–Georgia League folded following the season. Brunswick next hosted minor league baseball when the 1951

Brunswick Pirates The Brunswick Pirates were a minor league baseball team based in Brunswick, Georgia. The team was a member of the Georgia–Florida League and a Class D affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1951 to 1956. In 1957 the team played as the Brunsw ...

began play in the Class D level Georgia-Florida League, as an affiliate of the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

The ballpark

The Brunswick Pilots hosted minor league home games at Palmotto Park. The ballpark was located at Q Street & Ellis Street. Today, "Palmotto Square" is located on the same square block, still in use as a public park. The official address is 2718 Reynolds Street.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Ed Foster (1906) *

Shovel Hodge Clarence Clement "Shovel" Hodge (July 6, 1893 – December 31, 1967), was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1920 to 1922 with the Chicago White Sox. Listed at tall and , he batted left and threw right-handed. Hodge had a ...

(1914) *

Dutch Jordan Adolf Otto Jordan (January 5, 1880 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – December 23, 1972 in West Allegheny, Pennsylvania), is a former professional baseball player who played second base for the Brooklyn Superbas The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Majo ...

(1914, MGR) *

(1913, MGR) * George Payne (1914)

References

{{reflist

External links

Brunswick - Baseball Reference
Defunct baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state) Defunct Georgia State League teams Baseball teams established in 1913 Baseball teams disestablished in 1915 Defunct Empire State League teams Defunct Florida-Alabama-Georgia League teams Brunswick, Georgia