Harlingen, Texas minor league baseball history

Minor league baseball teams were based in Harlingen, Texas in various seasons between 1931 and 2014. Harlingen teams played as members of the 1931 Rio Grande Valley League, 1938 Texas Valley League, 1950 Rio Grande Valley League, the Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953, Big State League in 1954 and 1955, Texas League in 1960 and 1961, 1976 Gulf States League and 1977 Lone Star League , winning four league championships. The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings played in various leagues between 1994 and 2014. The Harlingen minor league home ballpark was Harlingen Field.

Harlingen, Texas
minor league baseball teams
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass B (1931, 1938, 1951–1953)
Class C (1950)
Class AA (1960-1961)
Class A (1976-1977)
Independent (1994–2014)
LeagueRio Grande Valley League (1931)
Texas Valley League (1938)
Rio Grande Valley League (1950)
Gulf Coast League (1951–1953)
Big State League (1954–1955)
Texas League (1960–1961)
Gulf States League (1976)
Lone Star League (1977)
Texas–Louisiana League (1994–2001)
Central Baseball League (2002–2003)
United League Baseball (2006–2010)
North American League (2011–2012)
United League Baseball (2013–2014)
Major league affiliations
TeamDetroit Tigers (1938)
San Francisco Giants (1960–1961)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1938
  • 1952
  • 2000
  • 2014
Conference titles (2)
  • 1950
  • 1960
Wild card berths (3)
  • 1951
  • 1952
  • 1953
Team data
NameHarlingen Ladds (1931)
Harlingen Hubs (1938)
Harlingen Capitals (1950–1955)
Rio Grande Valley Giants (1960–1961)
Rio Grande Valley White Wings (1976)
Harlingen Suns (1977)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (1994–2014)
BallparkHarlingen Field

Harlingen teams were a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers in 1938 and San Francisco Giants in 1960 and 1961.

History

Minor league baseball began in Harlingen, Texas in 1931. The Harlingen Ladds played briefly as members of the 1931 Rio Grande Valley League and placed thirrd in their first season of play.[1] On July 29, 1931, the Ladds had a record of 43–49, playing under manager Paul Trammel, when the Rio Grande Valley League folded.[2]

Harlingen returned to minor league play in 1938, winning a championship. The Harlingen Hubs became members of the 1938 Texas Valley League and were a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The Hubbs finished second in the regular season in 1938, but swept through the playoffs undefeated to capture the Texas Valley League Championship, while playing under manager Jake Atz. The league folded after the 1938 season.[2]

The Harlingen Capitals were members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League in 1950 and Class B level Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953.[3] They were founding members of the Gulf Coast League, along with the Brownsville Charros, Corpus Christi Aces, Galveston White Caps, Lake Charles Lakers, Laredo Apaches, Port Arthur Seahawks and Texas City Texans.[4] When the Gulf Coast League folded after the 1953 season, Harlingen joined the Big State League, playing in the 1954 and 1955 seasons.[5][2]

The Rio Grande Valley Giants, played in the Class AA level Texas League in 1960 and 1961 as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.[6] Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Gaylord Perry played for the Giants in 1960.[7] The franchise moved to Victoria, Texas on June 10, 1961, to complete the season. In 1976, the Rio Grande Valley White Wings played in the Gulf States League and the Harlingen Suns played in the 1977 Lone Star League, both leagues folded after one season.[8] Later Rio Grande Valley White Wings teams played in independent professional leagues through 2015.[9][2]

The ballpark

Beginning in 1950, Harlingen minor league teams were noted to have played home games at Harlingen Field. Opening as Lon C. Hill Field, the ballpark was also called Giants Field. Harlingen Field is still in use today and most recently was home to the Independent professional Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. The ballpark address is North O Street & Fair Park Boulevard, Harlingen, Texas.[10][11]

(1957) Jackson Street. Harlingen, Texas.

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
193143–493rdPaul TrammelNo playoffs held
193884–532ndJake AtzLeague Champions
195086–621stSam HarshaneyLost League Finals
195186–682ndSam HarshaneyLost in 1st round
195280–732ndBob HamricLeague Champions
195377–693rdBob HamricLost in 1st round
195453–947thSam HarshaneyDid not qualify
195565–795thFord GarrisonDid not qualify
196085–591stRay MurrayLost in 1st round
196169–714thRay MurrayTeam moved June 10
197632–404thTed UhlaenderDid not qualify
197740–382ndPaul ThomasNo playoffs held

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

See also

Harlingen Capitals players
Harlingen Hubs players

References
  1. "1931 Harlingen Ladds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  3. "1950 Rio Grande Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "1951 Gulf Coast League (GCL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1951 Gulf Coast League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1960 Rio Grande Valley Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "Gaylord Perry Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1977 Harlingen Suns Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "Harlingen, Texas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "Harlingen Field - Harlingen, Texas". ballparkreviews.com.
  11. "Harlingen Field, Harlingen, Texas". www.charliesballparks.com.
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