The Wink Spudders were a minor league baseball team based in

Wink, Texas Wink is a city in Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 940 at the 2010 census. Wink was a temporary childhood home to singer and songwriter Roy Orbison, although he was born in Vernon, Texas. Orbison later described the maj ...

. In 1937 and 1938, the Spudders played exclusively as members of the Class D level

West Texas-New Mexico League West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...

, winning the 1937 league championship. Wink hosted minor league home games at Spudder Park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Wink, Texas in 1937. The Wink "Spudders" became charter members of the six–team Class D level

. The

Hobbs Drillers Hobbs may refer to: Surname *Hobbs (surname) Fictional *Russel Hobbs of the virtual band Gorillaz * Luke Hobbs, a character from ''The Fast and the Furious'' film series *Lynne Hobbs, a character from ''EastEnders'' *Garry Hobbs, a character ...

Midland Cardinals Midland may refer to: Places Australia * Midland, Western Australia Canada * Midland, Albert County, New Brunswick * Midland, Kings County, New Brunswick * Midland, Newfoundland and Labrador * Midland, Ontario India * Midland Ward, Kohima, Nagal ...

, Monahans Trojans,

Odessa Oilers Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrative ...

and Roswell Sunshiners teams joined with Wink as charter league members. The Wink use "Spudders" moniker corresponds to local potato industry and agriculture in Wink, Texas in the era. In their first season of play, the Wink Spudders won the West Texas-New Mexico League pennant and championship. Wink began play in the West Texas-New Mexico League on May 4, 1937 and finished the season with a record of 68–50, playing under managers D.E. Perry and Joe Tate. Wink placed first overall in the league regular season standings, finishing 12.5 games ahead the second place Roswell Sunshiners. The final overall regular season standings were led Wink, followed by the Roswell Sunshiners (55–62), Monahans Trojans (55–64) and Hobbs Drillers (45–74). The Odessa Oilers (28–17) and Midland Cardinals (41–25) franchises both folded before the end of the season. In the first round of the playoffs, Wink swept the Hobbs Drillers in 3 games to advance. In the Finals, Wink defeated the Roswell Sunshiners 3 games to 0 to win the championship. Robert Hood of Wink had a

Triple Crown Triple Crown may refer to: Sports Horse racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States) ** Triple Crown Trophy ** Triple Crown Productions * Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Trip ...

season, leading the West Texas-New Mexico League with a .372 average, 30 home runs and 140 RBI. Teammate Red Hay led the league with 18 wins and a 3.97 ERA. In 1938, the Wink Spudders played their final minor league season. Continuing play in the six–team West Texas-New Mexico League, Wink placed fourth in the final regular season standings and qualified for the playoffs. The Spudders finished the season with a record of 63–65, playing under returning manager Joe Tate. Wink finished 16.0 games behind the first place Lubbock Hubbers in the final standings. In the 1st round of the playoffs, Lubbock swept Wink in 3 games. Pitcher Red Roberts of Wink led the West Texas-New Mexico League with a 3.08 ERA. After the 1938 season, the Wink Spudders franchise permanently folded as the 1939 West Texas-New Mexico League expanded to eight teams without Wink. Wink, Texas has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Wink Spudders teams hosted minor league home games at Spudder Park. The ballpark site is still in use today as a public park called Winkler County Park. Winkler Park is located on NW 2nd Street, Wink, Texas.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Dick Adkins Richard Earl Adkins (March 3, 1920 – September 12, 1955) was a professional baseball player. He was a shortstop for one season (1942) with the Philadelphia Athletics. For his career, he compiled a .143 batting average (baseball), batting aver ...

(1937) *

Cal Dorsett Calvin Leavelle Dorsett (June 10, 1913 – October 22, 1970), nicknamed "Preacher", was an American professional baseball player. The native of Lone Oak, Texas, was a , right-handed pitcher whose career lasted for nine seasons (1937–1941; 1946� ...

(1937)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Wink - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Texas Baseball teams established in 1937 Baseball teams disestablished in 1938 1937 establishments in Texas 1938 disestablishments in Texas Winkler County, Texas