The Gulfport Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Gulfport teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Cotton States League. The Gulfport "Crabs" teams played in the league from 1906 to 1908, with the Tarpons playing from 1926 to 1928. The Tarpons hosted home minor league games at the Fair Grounds.

History

Gulfport, Mississippi first hosted minor league baseball in 1906. The Gulfport Crabs became members of the six–team Class D level Cotton States League. The

Baton Rouge Cajuns Baton may refer to: Stick-like objects *Baton, a type of Club (weapon), club *Baton (law enforcement) *Baston (weapon), a type of baton used in Arnis and Filipino Martial Arts *Baton charge, a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people *B ...

, Jackson Senators, Meridian White Ribbons,

Mobile Sea Gulls Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile (b ...

and Vicksburg Hill Billies teams joined Gulfport in 1906 league play. On April 19, 1906, the Gulfport Crabs began league play in their first season of play. With a record of 58–61, Gulfport placed fourth in the six–team league. Laurel finished 16.5 games behind the first place Mobile Sea Gulls in the final standings. There were no playoffs. The Crabs were managed by Eric Miller, John Bolin and Link Stickney. The 1907 season saw The Cotton States League continue play as a six–team Class D league. The Gulfport Crabs ended the 1907 Cotton States League season schedule with a record of 68–67, placing fourth in the final standings. Managed by

Bob Gilks Robert James Gilks (July 2, 1864 in Cincinnati – August 21, 1944 in Brunswick, Georgia), was a Major League Baseball pitcher and outfielder from 1887 to 1893. He played for the Cleveland Blues, Cleveland Spiders, and Baltimore Orioles ...

, the Crabs finished 14.5 games behind the first place Mobile Sea Gulls in the final standings, as the league again held no playoffs. Pitcher Jack Ryan of Gulfport led the Cotton States League with 220 strikeouts. Ryan would later manage the team. The 1908 team became known as the Gulfport-Biloxi Sand Crabs in partnership with nearby Biloxi, Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi Sand Crabs placed third in the Cotton States League final standings. Gulfport-Biloxi had a regular season record of 63–52 and finished 7.5 games behind the first place Jackson Senators in the six–team league. Following the 1908 season, the Cotton States League did not play in 1909 and returned to play in 1910 without a Gulfport franchise. Minor league baseball returned to Gulfport in 1926. Reportedly, the Gulfport franchise resumed play when a group of local businessmen bought the Cotton States League's Brookhaven Truckers franchise and moved the team to Gulfport, Mississippi. Gulfport hosted an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox in 1926 and reportedly won the contest. On May 2, 1926, Gulfport defeated Laurel by the score of 8-5. After the game, Laurel player/manager

Sammy Vick Samuel Bruce Vick (April 12, 1895 – August 17, 1986) was an American professional right fielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Yankees from 1917 to 1920, and the Boston Red Sox in 1921. He stood , and weighed 163 lb., ...

protested the result on the grounds that Gulfport had too many "class" men. The 1926 Gulfport "Tarpons" resumed play in the Cotton States League. The Gulfport Tarpons became members of the eight–team Class D level Cotton States League. The

Alexandria Reds The Cotton States League''Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: The Official Record of Minor League Baseball'' – Lloyd Johnson, Steve McDonald, Miles Wolff (editors). Publisher: Baseball America, 1997. Format: Paperback, 672pp. Language: Englis ...

, Hattiesburg Pinetoppers, Jackson Red Sox, Laurel Lumberjacks, Meridian Mets, Monroe Drillers and Vicksburg Hill Billies joined Laurel in league play. Gulfport ended the 1926 season with a record of 57–66 to place sixth in the league standings, playing under managers Cotton Knaupp and Jack Ryan, a former player for the franchise. The Tarpons finished 16.5 games behind the first place Hattiesburg Pinetoppers in the final Cotton States League final standings. With a record of 57–64, the 1927 Gulfport Tarpons placed fifth in the Cotton States League standings. Playing under manager Joe Evans, the Tarpons finished 29.0 games behind the first place Jackson Red Sox in the final standings and did not qualify for the playoffs. In their final season of play, The Gulfport Tarpons continued play in the 1928 Cotton States League and finished last. Gulfport finished their final regular season with a 50–65 overall record to place sixth in the league, which had two halves. Managed by the returning Cotton Knaupp, Gulfport finished 33.0 games behind the first place Jackson Red Sox in the final overall standings. Gulfport, Mississippi has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballparks

The Gulfport Tarpons hosted minor league home games at the Gulfport Fair Grounds from 1926 to 1928. The ballpark location was referenced to have been within the Gulfport Fairgrounds. Today, the Harrison County Fairgrounds are still in use, located at 15321 County Farm Road, Gulfport, Mississippi. The 1908 Gulfport-Biloxi Sand Crabs played some home games in Biloxi, Mississippi. From 1913 to 1915, the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

hosted

spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

at a location in Gulfport, Mississippi. Street in Downtown Gulfport MS

Timeline

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

* Joe Berry (1927–1928) *

Jumbo Brown Walter George "Jumbo" Brown (April 30, 1907 – October 2, 1966) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants ...

(1927) *

Orth Collins Orth Stein "Buck" Collins (April 27, 1880 – December 13, 1949) was a Major League Baseball outfielder and pitcher. Collins played for the New York Highlanders in and the Washington Senators in . In 13 career games, he had six hits, all for th ...

(1906) * Spud Davis (1926) * Joe Evans (1927, MGR) * Don Flinn (1926) *

Tom Gettinger Lewis Thomas Leyton Gettinger (December 11, 1868 – July 26, 1943) was an American professional baseball player who played two seasons for the St. Louis Brown Stockings and one season with the Louisville Colonels. He was born in Baltimore, Mary ...

(1908) *

(1907–1908, MGR) *

Art Goodwin Arthur Ingram Goodwin (February 27, 1876 – June 19, 1943) was a Major League Baseball pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with t ...

(1907) * Cotton Knaupp (1926, 1928, MGR) *

Jack Lively Henry Everett "Jack" Lively (May 29, 1885 – December 5, 1967) was an American right-handed baseball pitcher. A native of Alabama, Lively played professional baseball from 1906 to 1915. In 1908, he won a combined 25 games for two minor league ...

(1906–1908) * Joe Price (1926–1927) * Tom Reilly (1907–1908) * Jack Ryan (1906–1907), (1926, MGR) *

Pete Susko Peter John Susko (July 2, 1904 – May 22, 1978) was a professional baseball player. He was a first baseman for one season (1934) with the Washington Senators. For his career, he compiled a .286 batting average and two home runs in 224 at-bat ...

(1926) *

Dixie Walker Fred E. "Dixie" Walker (September 24, 1910 – May 17, 1982) was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout and minor league manager. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball from 1931 to 1949. Although Walker was a fi ...

(1928) 5x MLB All–Star

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Gulfport - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Mississippi Cotton States league Baseball teams established in 1926 Baseball teams disestablished in 1928 Cotton States League teams Gulfport, Mississippi 1926 establishments in Mississippi 1928 disestablishments in Mississippi