Gainesville Blue Ribbons

The Gainesville Blue Ribbons were a minor league baseball team based in Gainesville, Texas. In 1911, the Blue Ribbons played briefly as members of the Class D level Texas-Oklahoma League, before the team folded during the season. Gainesville hosted home minor league games at Fair Grounds Park. The Blue Ribbons preceded the Gainesville Owls, who began play as members of the Big State League in 1947.

Gainesville Blue Ribbons
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1911)
LeagueTexas-Oklahoma League (1911)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameGainesville Blue Ribbons (1911)
BallparkFair Grounds Park (1911)

History

In 1911, the Gainesville "Blue Ribbons" became a charter member of the eight–team, Class D level Texas–Oklahoma League.[1][2]

The Blue Ribbons joined the Altus Chiefs, Bonham Boosters, Ardmore Blues, Cleburne Railroaders, Durant Educators, Lawton Medicine Men and Wichita Falls Irish Lads in beginning Texas–Oklahoma League play on April 25, 1911.[3][4]

The "Blue Ribbons" nickname corresponds to Gainesville hosting home games at the Fair Grounds Park.[5]

On June 14, 1911, the Gainesville Blue Ribbons folded. When the team folded, Gainesville had played the season under managers John Stone and George Morris. Lawton disbanded within days of Altus, followed by Altus on July 18, whose folding corresponded with the end of the 1st half of the split–season schedule for the Texas–Oklahoma League.[6][7][1]

Gainesville finished their partial season with a final record of 19–30, with the Lawton Medicine Men (17–31) and Altus Chiefs (31–44) also ending their seasons early. In the final Texas–Oklahoma League overall standings, the Wichita Falls Irish Lads (65–38) led the league, followed by the Durant Educators (65–46), Cleburne Railroaders (61–50), Bonham Boosters (54–60) and Ardmore Blues (49–58).[1][8] The Wichita Falls Irish Lads won the 1st half title and Cleburne won the 2nd half title. In the playoff final, Wichita Falls had a two games to one lead, but refused to play game four after a financial dispute and Cleburne was awarded the championship.[1][9][8]

Gainesville did not field a franchise in the 1912 Texas–Oklahoma League.[10][1] Gainesville, Texas next hosted minor league baseball, when the 1947 Gainesville Owls began play as members of the Class B level Big State League.[11]

The Ballpark

The Gainesville Blue Ribbons hosted home games at Fair Grounds Park.[5]Today, the Cooke County Fair is still an annual event, having begun in 1871. The Fair Grounds were relocated to a new location in 1983.[12]

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
191119–30NAJohn Stone / George MorrisTeam folded June 14

Notable alumni

No Gainesville Blue Ribbons' alumni advanced to the major leagues.[13]

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "1911 Gainesville Blue Ribbons Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1911 Texas-Oklahoma League (TTL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1911 Texas-Oklahoma League | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "Fair Grounds Park in Gainesville, TX minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1911 Gainesville Blue Ribbons minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1911 Texas-Oklahoma League (TTL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1911 Texas-Oklahoma League (TTL) on StatsCrew.com". Statscrew.com.
  9. "Texas Almanac 2008–2009" (PDF). Texasalmanac.com. p. 180. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  10. "1912 Texas-Oklahoma League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1947 Gainesville Owls Statistics".
  12. Barlow, Christa. "Cooke County Fair Association".
  13. "1911 Gainesville Blue Ribbons Statistics".
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