Cletus Loton "Smoke" Dixon (April 26, 1899 in

Centerville, South Dakota Centerville is a city in Turner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 918 at the 2020 census. Centerville is part of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota metropolitan area. History Centerville was platted in 1883. It was named due t ...

, United States – April 1986) was a baseball figure who played in the minor leagues from 1922 to 1935 and who managed at that level from 1924 to 1936. He is notable for leading four teams to league championship victories over the course of his 13-year managerial career.

Career

Primarily a first baseman, Dixon hit .268 with 1,462 hits in 1,438 games. Not a

power hitter Power hitter is a term used in baseball for a skilled player that has a higher than average ability in terms of his batting, featuring a combination of dexterity and personal strength that likely leads to a high number of home-runs as well as do ...

, he hit only nine home runs in his career, with a career-high of five in a season. He also had 132 doubles and 46 triples. In 1925, he had his best season average-wise, hitting .323 in 124 games for the

Waterloo Hawks The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the current Big Four Leagues. Franchise history ...

.BR Minors
/ref> Dixon managed the Waterloo Hawks from 1924 until 1930, leading them to league championship victory in 1924 (his first year as manager) and 1928. He skippered the

Oklahoma City Indians The Oklahoma City Indians was the primary name of an American professional baseball team representing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from 1904 though 1957, except for 1913 and three seasons during World War II. The team played in several different minor ...

for the beginning of 1929, eventually being replaced and taking the reins of the

Davenport Blue Sox The Davenport Blue Sox was the name given to three minor league baseball teams based in Davenport, Iowa. The first version of the Blue Sox played in the Class B Three-I League from 1913–1916. The second played in the Class D Mississippi Valle ...

, who he managed until 1936. He led the Blue Sox to league championship glory in 1933 and 1936 (his final year managing in the minors). He also led to them to the league finals in 1932 and 1934, though they lost both times. They made it to the playoffs in 1935, though they did not get past the first round.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Cletus 1899 births 1986 deaths Minor league baseball managers Waterloo Hawks (baseball) players Baseball players from South Dakota People from Centerville, South Dakota Seattle Indians players Cedar Rapids Bunnies players Davenport Blue Sox players