McAllen Palms

The McAllen Palms were a minor league baseball team based in McAllen, Texas. In 1931, the Palms played as members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League, winning the league championship in a shortened season.

McAllen Palms
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1931)
LeagueRio Grande Valley League (1931)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1931
Conference titles (1)1931
Team data
NameMcAllen Palms (1931)
BallparkUnknown (1931)

History

The Palms were preceded in minor league play by the 1928 "McAllen" team, which played the season as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League.[1]

The McAllen "Palms" began play in 1931. The four–team, Class D level Rio Grande Valley League began the season with the Corpus Christi Seahawks, Harlingen Ladds and San Benito Saints joining McAllen in beginning league play on April 22, 1931.[2][3] On June 4, 1931, Corpus Christi moved to become the La Feria Nighthawks.[4][2]

The "Palms" nickname corresponds to local agriculture in the era. Palm trees became prevalent in the area and were harvested. McAllen is nicknamed as "The City of Palms."[5][6][7][8]

(2012) Casa de Palmas. McAllen, Texas. National Register of Historic Places.

During its first season of league play, the Rio Grande Valley League folded on July 30, 1931, with the Palms in first place. Despite folding, the league held finals that featured McAllen vs. La Feria. The Palms were in first place overall when the league folded, finishing the 1931 overall regular season with a record of 55–37, playing under manager Tex Covington. McAllen won the first-half pennant and finished 7.5 games ahead of the Seahawks/Nighthawks in the final overall standings.[9] The Palms played La Feria in a playoff, after the Nighthawks won the second–half title in the split–schedule season. In the 1931 finals, the McAllen Palms swept La Feria in three games.[10][4]

Harry Bonds of McAllen led the Rio Grande Valley League with eight home runs, while teammate Frank Denson led the league with 70 stolen bases, 109 total hits and 99 runs scored. Palms pitcher Horace Hardy led the league with an 11–3 record.[4]

Following the 1931 season, the Rio Grande Valley League did not return to play in 1932.[4] McAllen next hosted the 1938 McAllen Packers, who played as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League, which reformed after a nine–season hiatus.[4][11][12][13]

The ballpark

The name of the home ballpark for 1931 McAllen Palms minor league games is unknown.[14]

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
193155–371stTex CovingtonWon 1st half pennant
League champions

Notable alumni

References
  1. "1928 McAllen Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1931 Rio Grande Valley League (RGVL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1931 Rio Grande Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  5. "McAllen Palms Farm in Mcallen, TX 78503 - (956) 631-2133". www.chamberofcommerce.com.
  6. Popik, Barry. "Barry Popik". www.barrypopik.com.
  7. "McALLEN, TEXAS, the City of Palms [cover title]: (1930) | Bartleby's Books, ABAA". www.abebooks.com.
  8. "McAllen, Texas, the city of palms". John H. Shary Collection. January 1, 1927.
  9. "1931 McAllen Palms Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1931 Rio Grande Valley League (RGVL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1938 Texas Valley League (TVL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1938 Texas Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. Presswood, Mark (2009). "The Minor League in Texas: Professional Baseball Had an Early Start in Small Towns" (PDF). Texas Almanac 2008–2009: 180–191.
  14. "Unknown in McAllen, TX minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1931 McAllen Palms minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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