Goldsboro Giants

The Goldsboro Giants were a minor league baseball team based in Goldsboro, North Carolina. From 1908 to 1910, the Giants played exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Carolina League. Goldsboro hosted home minor league home games at the Goldsboro Athletic Park.

Goldsboro Giants
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1908–1910)
LeagueEastern Carolina League (1908–1910)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameGoldsboro Giants (1908–1910)
BallparkGoldsboro Athletic Park (1908–1910)

History

In 1908, the Giants were the first minor league team based in Goldsboro. The Goldsboro Giants began minor league play, when the team became charter members of the six–team, Class D level Eastern Carolina League. The Kinston, New Burn, Raleigh Red Birds, Wilmington Sailors and Wilson Tobacconists teams joined Goldsboro in beginning league play on June 8, 1908.[1][2]

The Goldsboro franchise was formed with funds raised by the "Goldsboro Athletic Association" with A. W. Edgerton serving as president of the association.[3]

Beginning Eastern Caroling League play in 1908, the Giants did not qualify for the playoffs in a split season schedule.[4] The Giants ended the Eastern Carolina League regular season with an overall record of 29–28, placing third in the final standings and finishing 8.5 games behind Wilson, with E. E. Kling serving as manager. The league played a split-season schedule and Wilmington won second half pennant, meeting the Wilson Tobacconists, winners of the first half pennant in the finals. The finals were won by Wilson.[5][6]

Continuing Eastern Caroling League play in their second season of play, the Giants finished in fifth place under manager H. E. Kling.[7][8] Goldsboro ended the 1909 season with a record of 43–46 to finish 7.0 games behind the first place Wilson Tobacconists (50–39) in the final standings of the six–team league.[6][9][10] Goldsboro pitcher Harry Otis led the Eastern Carolina League with 19 wins.[6]

In their final season of play, the 1910 Giants again placed fifth in the Eastern Carolina League overall standings.[11] Goldsboro ended the season with a record of 39-44 and did not qualify for the playoff in the split season format. The Giants were managed by M. J. Kelley and finished 7.5 games behind the first place Fayetteville Highlanders in the overall standings.[12] Fayetteville won the playoff over the Rocky Mount Railroaders.[6][13] The Giants' Curly Brown won the Eastern Carolina League batting championship, hitting .290.[6]

The Eastern Carolina League folded after the 1910 season, before the league reformed in 1928. The Goldsboro Maunfacturers resumed minor league play in Goldsboro when the Eastern Carolina league reformed.[6][14][15]

(1910) Davey Crockett. Goldsboro baseball card

The ballpark

The Goldsboro Giants hosted home minor league home games at the Goldsboro Athletic Park.[16] The team drew crowds of up to 1,200, with most crowds reported to be around 400.[3]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1908–19103Goldsboro GiantsClass DEastern Carolina LeagueGoldsboro Athletic Park

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190829–283rdE. E. KlingDid not qualify
190943–465thH. E KlingNo playoffs held
191039–445thM. J. KelleyDid not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Goldsoro Giants players

References
  1. "1908 Eastern Carolina League (ECL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1908 Eastern Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Holaday, J. Chris (September 11, 2015). Professional Baseball in North Carolina: An Illustrated City-by-City History, 1901-1996. McFarland. ISBN 9781476608686 – via Google Books.
  4. "1908 Goldsboro Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1908 Eastern Carolina League (ECL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  7. "1909 Goldsboro Giants minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1909 Goldsboro Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1909 Eastern Carolina League (ECL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1909 Eastern Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1910 Goldsboro Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1910 Eastern Carolina League (ECL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1910 Eastern Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Goldsboro, North Carolina Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "1928 Wilmington Pirates Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "Goldsboro Athletic Park in Goldsboro, NC minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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