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: English. was a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

league that played between 1902 and 1955. The Cotton States League formed on five separate occasions in its history. The first Cotton States League played from 1902 through 1908 as a Class D level league. After the league did not play in 1909, the Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six 1908 members returning for the new campaign and three new teams joining them. The league played for four seasons, through 1913 before being interrupted by

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In 1922, the Cotton States League reformed after a nine-year hiatus. The 1923 league folded during the season on July 24, 1923, before resuming the next year. The league played for 11 seasons before folding on July 13, 1932, during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

. The next revival of the Cotton States League took place in 1936, and the league played six seasons before folding, as many other minor leagues did when

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

began. This time, it operated as a Class C level league. Following the war, the league was resumed play in 1947 continuing play as Class C level league. The Cotton States League played through the 1955 season before permanently folding following its fifth incarnation in less than half a century. In 1953 the Cotton States League tried to evict the Hot Springs Bathers for attempting to include a black player, Jim Tugerson.

Cotton States League timeline

Cities represented/Teams/Seasons *

Alexandria, Louisiana Alexandria is the ninth-largest city in the state of Louisiana and is the parish seat and largest city of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River of the South, Red River ...

: Alexandria Reds (1925–1930) *

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge ( ; , ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It had a population of 227,470 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Louisiana, Louisiana's second-m ...

: Baton Rouge Cajuns (1902–1906); Baton Rouge Essos (1929); Baton Rouge Highlanders (1930); Baton Rouge Standards (1931); Baton Rouge Senators (1932) * Brookhaven, Mississippi: Brookhaven Truckers (1924–1925) *

Clarksdale, Mississippi Clarksdale is a city in and the county seat of Coahoma County, Mississippi, Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. It is located along the Sunflower River. Clarksdale is named after John Clark, a settler who founded the city in the mid-19t ...

: Clarksdale Swamp Angels (1913): Clarksdale Cubs (1922–1923); Clarksdale Ginners (1936, 1941); Clarksdale Red Sox (1937–1940); Clarksdale Planters (1947–1951) *

Cleveland, Mississippi Cleveland is a city and one of two county seats of Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States, the other seat being Rosedale, Mississippi, Rosedale. The Cleveland population was 11,199 as of the 2020 United States census. Cleveland has a large c ...

: Cleveland A's (1936) *

Columbus, Mississippi Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Mississippi, Lowndes County, on the eastern border of Mississippi, United States, located primarily east, but also north and northeast of the Tombigbee River, which is also part of the ...

: Columbus Discoverers (1907–1908); Columbus Joy Riders (1912–1913) * DeQuincy, Louisiana: DeQuincy Railroaders (1932) *

El Dorado, Arkansas El Dorado ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Arkansas, Union County, on the southern border of Arkansas, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 17,755. El Dorado is headquarters of the Ark ...

: El Dorado Lions (1929–1932, 1936–1940); El Dorado Oilers (1941, 1947–1955) *

Greenville, Mississippi Greenville is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, ninth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, and the largest city by population in the Mississippi Delta region. It is the county seat of Washington County, Mississippi, Was ...

: Greenville Cotton Pickers (1902, 1904–1905); Greenville Grays (1903); Greenville Bucks (1922); Greenville Swamp Angels (1923); Greenville Bucks (1936–1938); Greenville Buckshots (1939–1941, 1953, 1955); Greenville Tigers (1954) * Greenwood, Mississippi: Greenwood Scouts (1910–1912; Greenwood Indians (1922–1923); Greenwood Chiefs (1936); Greenwood Giants (1937) Greenwood Dodgers (1938, 1947–1952); Greenwood Crackers (1939); Greenwood Choctaws (1940) *

Gulfport, Mississippi Gulfport ( ) is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States, and its co-county seat. It had a population of 72,926 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Mississippi, second-most populous ...

: Gulfport Crabs (1906–1907); Gulfport Tarpons (1926–1928) *

Biloxi, Mississippi Biloxi ( ; ) is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It lies on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast in southern Mississippi, bordering the city of Gulfport, Mississippi, Gulfport to its west. The adjacent cities ar ...

: Gulfport-Biloxi Crabs (1908) * Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Hattiesburg Tar Heels (1905); Hattiesburg Woodpeckers (1910–1911); Hattiesburg Timberjacks (1912); Hattiesburg Hubmen (1923–1924); Hattiesburg Hubbers (1925); Hattiesburg Pinetoppers (1926–1929) *

Helena, Arkansas Helena is the eastern portion of Helena–West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It was founded in 1833 by Nicholas Rightor and is named after the daughter of Sylvanus Phil ...

: Helena Seaporters (1936–1941, 1947–1949) *

Hot Springs, Arkansas Hot Springs is a resort city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Garland County, Arkansas, Garland County. The city is located in the Ouachita Mountains among the U.S. Interior Highlands, and is set among several natural hot springs ...

: Hot Springs Bathers (1938–1941, 1947–1955) *

Jackson, Mississippi Jackson is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Mississippi, most populous city of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city sits on the Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana), Pearl River and is locate ...

: Jackson Senators (1905–1908, 1912); Jackson Tigers (1910); Jackson Drummers (1911); Jackson Lawmakers (1913); Jackson Senators (1922–1931); Jackson Mississippians (1932); Jackson Senators (1936, 1953) * Lake Charles, Louisiana: Lake Charles Newporters (1929–1930) *

Laurel, Mississippi Laurel is a city in and the second county seat of Jones County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,161. Laurel is northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat, which contains the first county ...

: Laurel Lumberjacks (1923–1927); Laurel Cardinals (1928–1929) * Marshall, Texas: Marshall Tigers (1941) *

Meridian, Mississippi Meridian is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, eighth most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, with a population of 35,052 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, ...

: Meridian White Ribbons (1905–1911); Meridian Metropolitans (1912–1913); Meridian Mets (1925–1929); Meridian Millers (1952–1955) *

Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. After a successful vote to annex areas west of the city limits in July 2023, Mobil ...

: Mobile Sea Gulls (1905–1907) *

Monroe, Louisiana Monroe is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the parish seat and largest city of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolitan statistical ...

: Monroe Hill Citys (1903–1904); Monroe Municipals (1908); Monroe Drillers (1924–1930); Monroe Twins (1931–1932, 1937); Monroe White Sox (1938–1941); Monroe Sports (1950–1955) *

Natchez, Mississippi Natchez ( ) is the only city in and the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,520 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Mississippi River across from Vidalia, Louisiana, Natchez was ...

: Natchez Indians (1902–1903); Natchez Hill Climbers (1904–1905); Natchez Indians (1948–1953) *

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

: New Orleans Little Pels (1912) * Opelousas, Louisiana: Opelousas Orphans (1932) *

Pensacola, Florida Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only incorporated city, city in Escambia County, Florida, Escambia County. The population was 54,312 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

: Pensacola Snappers (1913) *

Pine Bluff, Arkansas Pine Bluff, officially the City of Pine Bluff, is the List of municipalities in Arkansas, tenth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, Jefferson County. The population of the city wa ...

: Pine Bluff Lumbermen (1903–1904); Pine Bluff Judges (1930–1932, 1936–1940); Pine Bluff Cardinals (1948–1949); Pine Bluff Judges (1950–1955) *

Port Arthur, Texas Port Arthur is a city in the state of Texas, United States of America, located east of metro Houston. Part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area, the city lies primarily in Jefferson County, with a small extension in Orange County. ...

: Port Arthur Refiners (1932) *

Selma, Alabama Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, in the Black Belt region of south central Alabama and extending to the west. Located on the banks of the Alabama River, the city has a population of 17,971 as of the 2020 census. Abou ...

: Selma Centralites (1913) *

Texarkana, Texas Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States, in the Ark-La-Tex region. Located approximately from Dallas, Texarkana is a twin cities, twin city with neighboring Texarkana, Arkansas. The Texas city's population was 36,193 at the 2 ...

: Texarkana Twins (1941) * Vicksburg, Mississippi: Vicksburg Hill Billies (1902–1908, 1910–1912, 1922–1932, 1937, 1941, 1955) * Yazoo City, Mississippi: Yazoo City Zoos (1910–1911); Yazoo City (1912) The Official Record of Minor League Baseball

Championship teams

First stage (1902–1908)

* 1902 – Natchez Indians * 1903 – Baton Rouge Cajuns * 1904 – Pine Bluff Lumbermen * 1905 – Greenville Cotton Pickers * 1906 – Mobile Sea Gulls * 1907 – Mobile Sea Gulls * 1908 – Jackson Senators * 1909 – ''The league did not play''

Second stage (1910–1913)

* 1910 – Greenwood Scouts * 1911 – Vicksburg Hill Billies * 1912 – Vicksburg Hill Billies * * 1913 – Jackson Lawmakers : * Greenwood Scouts was declared champion as first half champion Vicksburg had disbanded. * ''From 1914 through 1921 the league did not play''

Third stage (1922–1932)

* 1922 – Greenwood Indians; Playoff: Greenwood defeated Meridian Mets, 4 games to 0 * 1923 – Greenville Swamp Angels No playoff after the league disbanded * 1924 – Hattiesburg Hubmen * 1925 – Meridian Mets * 1926 – Hattiesburg Pinetoppers * 1927 – Jackson Red Sox; Playoff: Jackson defeated Monroe Drillers, 4 games to 1 * 1928 – Jackson Red Sox; Playoffs: Hattiesburg Pinetoppers defeated Meridian, 4 games to 1; Vicksburg Hill Billies defeated Jackson, 4 games to 2
Final series: Vicksburg defeated Hattiesburg, 4 games to 3 * 1929 – Alexandria Reds; Playoffs: El Dorado Lions defeated Laurel Cardinals, 4 games to 1; Jackson Red Sox defeated Alexandria, 4 games to 1
Final series: El Dorado defeated Jackson, 4 games to 1 * 1930 – Pine Bluff Judges; Playoff: Pine Bluff Judges defeated El Dorado, 4 games to 0 * 1931 – Jackson Red Sox; Playoff: Jackson defeated Vicksburg, 4 games to 0 * 1932 – Baton Rouge Senators; No playoff after the disbanding of the league * ''From 1933 through 1935 the league did not play''

Fourth stage (1936–1941)

* 1936 – Greenwood Giants; Playoffs: El Dorado Lions defeated Greenwood, 3 games to 1; Greenville Bucks beat Pine Bluff, 3 games to 1
Final series: El Dorado beat Greenville, 4 games to 1 * 1937 – Pine Bluff Judges; Playoffs: Pine Bluff beat Greenville, 4 games to 1; El Dorado defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 1
Final series: El Dorado beat Pine Bluff, 4 games to 1 * 1938 – Greenville Bucks; Playoffs: Monroe White Sox defeated beat Helena, 3 games to 1; Greenville defeated El Dorado, 3 games to 1
Final series: Monroe beat Greenville, 4 games to 2 * 1939 – Monroe White Sox; Playoffs: Hot Springs Bathers defeated Monroe, 3 games to 2; Greenville Buckshots defeated Clarksdale, 3 games to 1
Final series: Greenville defeated Hot Springs, 4 games to 1 * 1940 – Monroe White Sox; Playoffs: Monroe defeated Greenville, 3 games to 1; El Dorado Oilers defeated Helena, 3 games to 1
Final series: Monroe defeated El Dorado, 4 games to 1 * 1941 – Monroe White Sox; Playoffs: Vicksburg Hill Billies defeated Monroe, 3 games to 2; Hot Springs Bathers defeated Greenville, 3 games to 0
Final series: Hot Springs defeated Vicksburg, 4 games to 0 * ''From 1942 through 1946 the league did not play''

Fifth stage (1947–1955)

* 1947 – Greenwood Dodgers; Playoffs: Greenwood defeated Hot Springs Bathers defeated Clarksdale, 3 games to 0
Final series: Hot Springs defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 3 * 1949 – Greenwood Dodgers; Playoffs: Natchez Indians defeated El Dorado, 4 games to 3; Pine Bluff Cardinals defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 2
Final series: Natchez defeated Pine Bluff, 4 games to 1 * 1950 – Pine Bluff Judges; Playoffs: Hot Springs Bathers defeated Monroe, 4 games to 2; Natchez Indians defeated Pine Bluff, 4 games to1
Final series: Hot Springs defeated Natchez, 4 games to 3 * 1951 – Monroe Sports; Playoffs: Natchez Indians defeated Monroe, 4 games to 2; Pine Bluff Judges defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 3
Final series: Natchez defeated Pine Bluff, 4 games to 1 * 1952 – Meridian Millers; Playoffs: Meridian defeated Monroe, 4 games to 2; Natchez Indians defeated Greenwood, 4 games to 2
Final series: Meridian defeated Natchez, 4 games to 3 * 1953 – Meridian Millers; Playoffs: Meridian defeated Jackson, 4 games to 2; El Dorado Oilers defeated Pine Bluff, 4 games to 0
Final series: Meridian defeated El Dorado, 4 games to 0 * 1954 – Greenville Tigers; Playoffs: Greenville defeated Monroe, 4 games to 1; El Dorado Oilers defeated Meridian, 4 games to 3
Final series: El Dorado defeated Greenville, 4 games to 2

Standings & statistics

1902 to 1908

1902 Cotton States League 1903 Cotton States League 1905 Cotton States League Natchez (18–27) moved to Mobile June 26.
Hattiesburg and Pine Bluff folded July 16. League disbanded July 31, with National Association approval, due to Yellow Fever epidemic. 1906 Cotton States League 1907 Cotton States League 1908 Cotton States League The Cotton States League did not play in 1909

1910 to 1913

1910 Cotton States League 1911 Cotton States League 1912 Cotton States League New Orleans moved to Yazoo City May 9, Yazoo City disbanded August 3; Hattiesburg moved to Columbus June 5; Meridian disbanded August3; Vicksburg disbanded August 13. Playoff: Second half champion Greenwood declared champion after first half champion Vicksburg disbanded. 1913 Cotton States League Season schedule was shortened to August 15. No playoff held.

1922 to 1927

1922 Cotton States League Playoff: Greenwood 4 games, Meridian 0 1923 Cotton States League The league disbanded July 24. 1924 Cotton States League 1925 Cotton States League 1926 Cotton States League Playoffs: None were played due to second half irregularities. 1927 Cotton States League Playoff: Jackson 4 games, Monroe 1.

1928 to 1932

1928 Cotton States League Playoff: Vicksburg 4 games, Hattiesburg 3. 1929 Cotton States League Hattiesburg (15–19) moved to Baton Rouge May 30; Meridian (23–27) moved to Lake Charles June 17 Playoff: El Dorado 4 games, Jackson 3. 1930 Cotton States League Alexandria & Lake Charles disbanded June 17 Playoff: Pine Bluff 4 games, El Dorado 3. 1931 Cotton States League Playoff: Jackson 4 games, Vicksburg 0. 1932 Cotton States League Vicksburg moved to Jackson June 1.; Port Arthur moved to DeQuincy June 19; DeQuincy moved to Opelousas July 7. League disbanded July 13.

1936 to 1941

1936 Cotton States League Playoffs: El Dorado 3 games, Greenwood 1; Greenville 3 games, Pine Bluff 1. Finals: El Dorado 4 games, Greenville 1. 1937 Cotton States League Playoffs: Pine Bluff 4 games, Greenville 1; El Dorado 4 games, Greenwood 2. Finals: El Dorado 4 games, Pine Bluff 1. 1938 Cotton States League Playoffs: Monroe 3 games, Helena 1; Greenville 3 games, El Dorado 1. Finals: Monroe 4 games, Greenville 2. 1939 Cotton States League Playoffs: Hot Springs 3 games, Monroe 2; Greenville 3 games, Clarksdale 1. Finals: Greenville 4 games, Hot Springs 1. 1940 Cotton States League Playoffs: Monroe 3 games, Greenville 1; El Dorado 3 games, Helena 1. Finals: Monroe 4 games, El Dorado 1. 1941 Cotton States League Clarksdale (33–47) moved to Marshall July 10. Playoffs: Vicksburg 3 games, Monroe 2; Hot Springs 3 games, Greenville 0; Finals: Hot Springs 4 games, Vicksburg 0.

1947 to 1955

1947 Cotton States League Playoffs: Greenwood 3 games, Clarksdale 1; Greenville 3 games, El Dorado 2. Finals: Greenwood 4 games, Greenville 3. 1948 Cotton States League Playoffs: Greenwood 3 games, Natchez 0; Hot Springs 3 games, Clarksdale 0. Finals: Hot Springs 4 games, Greenwood 3. 1949 Cotton States League Playoffs: Natchez 4 games, El Dorado 3; Pine Bluff 4 games, Greenwood 2. Finals: Natchez 4 games, Pine Bluff 1. 1950 Cotton States League Playoffs: Hot Springs 4 games, Monroe 2; Natchez 4 games, Pine Bluff 1. Finals: Hot Springs 4 games, Natchez 3. 1951 Cotton States League Playoffs: Natchez 4 games, Monroe 3; Pine Bluff 4 games, Greenwood 3. Finals: Natchez 4 games, Pine Bluff 1. 1952 Cotton States League Playoffs: Meridian 4 games, Monroe 2; Natchez 4 games, Greenwood 2. Finals: Meridian 4 games, Natchez 3. 1953 Cotton States League Jackson defeated Hot Springs 6–2 in a one-game playoff for fourth place. Playoffs: Meridian 4 games, Jackson 2; El Dorado 4 games, Pine Bluff 0. Finals: Meridian 4 games, El Dorado 0. 1954 Cotton States League Playoffs: Greenville 4 games, Monroe 1; El Dorado 4 games, Meridian 3. Finals: El Dorado 4 games, Greenville 2. 1955 Cotton States League Pine Bluff moved to Meridian June 16. Playoffs: Monroe 4 games, Hot Springs 0; El Dorado 4 games, Meridian 1. Finals: Monroe 4 games, El Dorado 3.

Sources

External links

Cotton States League memorabilia
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