The Tifton Tifters were a minor league baseball team based in Tifton, Georgia. In 1917, the Tifters played a shortened season as members of the six team, Class D level Dixie League, hosting home games at the Tifton Baseball Park. The tilters finished last in the league, which folded during the season. The Tilters were succeeded by the 1949 Tifton Blue Sox, who returned to minor league play as members of the

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 ...

History

In 1917, minor league baseball began in Tifton, when the Tifton "Tifters" became members of the Class D level Dixie League, with the nickname reflecting the city of Tifton and its location in Tift County. The Bainbridge,

Dothan Dothan is a place-name from the Hebrew Bible, identified with Tel Dothan. It may refer to: * Dothan, Alabama, a city in Dale, Henry, and Houston counties in the U.S. state of Alabama * Dani Dothan, lyricist and vocalist for the Israeli rock and ne ...

, Eufaula,

Moultrie Packers The Moultrie Packers were a class D, and class A minor league baseball team, based in Moultrie, Georgia, founded by J.S. Dillard. History Moultrie teams played in the Dixie League from 1916 to 1917 and the Georgia–Florida League from 1935 t ...

, Quitman and

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 ...

teams joined the Tifters in beginning league play on May 6, 1917. On July 5, 1917, the Tifters had a record of 18–37 when the Dixie League folded with Tifton in last place. Managed by player/manager

Doc Newton Eustace James Newton (October 26, 1877 – May 14, 1931) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for several teams in both the National League and American League. He finished with a 54–72 win–loss record, a 3.22 earned ...

, the Tifters ended the season in sixth place and finished 17.5 games behind the first place Moultrie Packers in the final standings. The Tilters finished behind the Moultrie (36–20), Eufaula (31–23), Bainbridge (32–25), Dolthan (25–30), and Quitman (25–32) teams in the 1917 league standings. The Dixie League did not return to play in 1918. In 1949, minor league baseball returned to Tifton, when the Tifton Blue Sox began a tenure as members of the Class D level

The ballpark

The 1917 Tifton Tifters hosted minor league home games at the Tifton Base Ball Park. The ballpark had a capacity of 1,700 and was located at North College Avenue & North Ridge Avenue at West 4th Street, Tifton, Georgia. The site is still in use today with ballfields.

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Guy Lacy Osceola Guy Lacy (June 12, 1897 in Cleveland, Tennessee – November 19, 1953) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the 1926 Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based i ...

(1917) *

Bobby LaMotte Robert Eugene LaMotte (February 15, 1898 – November 2, 1970) was a professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators (1920–1922) and the St. Louis Browns (1925–1926). He played primarily ...

(1917) * Doc Newton (1917, MGR) * Tifton Tifters players

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Tifton - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state) Baseball teams established in 1917 Baseball teams disestablished in 1917 Defunct Dixie League teams Tift County, Georgia