Clarksville Colts

The Clarksville Colts were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (KITTY League) from 1946 to 1949. They were located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and played their home games at Goodrich Park. The team was known as the Clarskville Owls in 1946 before operating as the Clarksville Colts from 1947 to 1949.

Clarksville Colts
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1946–1949)
LeagueKentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (1946–1949)
Major league affiliations
TeamUnaffiliated (1946–1949)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
Name
  • Clarksville Colts (1947–1949)
  • Clarksville Owls (1946)
BallparkGoodrich Park (1946–1949)

History

Clarksville, Tennessee, had been previously represented in the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League by the Clarksville Villagers in 1903 and the Clarksville Grays in 1904.[1] From 1910 to 1916 the city fielded a team known as the Clarksville Volunteers (1910 and 1916), Clarksville Billies (1911), Clarksville Rebels (1912), and Clarksville Boosters (1913–1914).[1]

After a 39-year absence, Clarksville returned to the KITTY League in 1946 with the Colts, who played their home games at Goodrich Park.[2] They lost their season opener, 11–0, to the Hopkinsville Hoppers before a home audience of around 3,000 people on May 8.[3] The Colts gained their first win the next evening, beating the Hoppers 11–6.[4] Clarksville ended their first season in fifth place, just missing the playoffs, with a record of 58–67 (.464).[5]

The team became known as the Clarksville Colts in 1947.[6] They accumulated a record of 40–83 (.325), placing last of eight teams.[6] The Colts posted two more losing seasons in 1948 (49–77; .389) and 1949 (40–85; .320), placing sixth and seventh respectively.[7][8] Clarksville lost their last two games, 7–3 and 6–1, in a doubleheader with Hopkinsville on September 5, 1949.[9] Over four seasons, the team had accumulated a record of 187–312 (.375).

Clarksville did not field another professional team until 1996 with the Clarksville Coyotes of the independent Big South League.[1]

Season-by-season results
Season Regular season Postseason Ref.
Record Win % Finish GB Record Win % Result
1946 58–67 .464 5th 26+1⁄2 — — — [5]
1947 40–83 .325 8th 36 — — — [6]
1948 49–77 .389 6th 36 — — — [7]
1949 40–85 .320 7th 43+1⁄2 — — — [8]
Totals 187–312 .375 — — — — — —

Notable players

Three players also played in at league one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their seasons with Clarksville were:

References
  1. "Clarksville, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  2. "1946 Clarksville Owls Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. "Opening Game Crowds Indicate Good Season for Kitty League". The Nashville Banner. Nashville. May 8, 1946. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Mayfield Continues Its Terrific Slugging". The Paducah Sun-Democrat. Paducah. May 9, 1946. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "1946 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  6. "1947 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  7. "1948 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  8. "1949 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. "KITTY League Starts Finals". Mt. Vernon Register-News. Mt. Vernon. September 6, 1949. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Harley Boss Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  11. "Johnny Gill Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  12. "Hod Lisenbee Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
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