Morristown Cubs

The Morristown Cubs were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Short Season Appalachian League from 1959 to 1961. They were located in Morristown, Tennessee, and were named for their Major League Baseball affiliate, the Chicago Cubs. Morristown won the Appalachian League pennant in 1959.

Morristown Cubs
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D Short Season (1959–1961)
LeagueAppalachian League (1959–1961)
Major league affiliations
TeamChicago Cubs (1959–1961)
Minor league titles
Pennants (1)1959
Team data
NameMorristown Cubs (1959–1961)
BallparkSherwood Park (1959–1961)
A black and white portrait photograph of a baseball player wearing a dark cap with a "C" on the center
Ken Hubbs of the 1959 team won the 1962 National League Rookie of the Year Award.[1]

History

Professional baseball in Morristown, Tennessee, began in 1910 when the Morristown Jobbers became charter members of the Southeastern League.[2] The Jobbers continued in the Appalachian League in 1911 and, with the exception of a brief absence in the first month of the 1913 campaign, played each season through 1914.[3] From 1923 to 1925, the city's entry in the league was called the Morristown Roosters.[2] In 1948, the Morristown Red Sox became charter members of the Mountain States League in which they played through 1954.[2] The Red Sox folded early in the 1954 season and were replaced in the league by the Morristown Reds.[4][5]

After four years without a team, the Morristown Cubs joined the Appalachian League in 1959 as a Class D Short Season affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.[2][6] As had the city's previous teams, the Cubs played at Sherwood Park.[7] The team was managed in its first season by Red Hayworth, who had played with the St. Louis Browns in 1944 and 1945.[8] Their scheduled June 25 season opener on the road with the Johnson City Phillies was postponed due to wet grounds.[9] They lost the next day's game at home, 7–4, versus the Phillies.[10] The Cubs won their first game on June 28, besting the Bluefield Orioles, 13–6, on the road.[11] Morristown captured the Appalachian League pennant with a 41–27 (.603) record.[12] The feat was accomplished on the last day of the season when the Cubs split their doubleheader with Johnson City and the second-place Salem Rebels lost to the Lynchburg Senators.[13]

The next two iterations of the team were less successful. In 1960, Morristown finished fourth of six teams at 32–35 (.478).[14] The 1961 team was fifth of eight teams with a record of 34–36 (.486).[15] The Cubs played their final game on August 31, defeating Johnson City at home, 8–7, in 14 innings.[16] The city did not field another team after the 1961 season.[2]

Season-by-season results
Season Regular season Postseason Ref.
Record Win % Finish GB Record Win % Result
1959 41–27 .603 1st — — — Won Appalachian League pennant [12]
1960 32–35 .478 4th 9+1⁄2 — — — [14]
1961 34–36 .486 5th 7 — — — [15]
Totals 107–98 .522 — — — — — —

Notable players

Six Cubs also played in at least one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their seasons with Morristown were:

References
  1. "Ken Hubbs Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  2. "Morristown, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. "Sports in Morristown, Tennessee". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. "Sox Officially Out of MSL". Morristown Sun. Morristown. May 19, 1954. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Hodges, Bill (June 20, 1954). "Morristown Back in MSL League". Morristown Gazette Mail. Morristown. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "1959 Morristown Cubs Roster". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. "Sherwood Park". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  8. "Red Hayworth Minor, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  9. "Phillies-Morristown Opener Postpones by Wet Grounds". Johnson City Press. Johnson City. June 26, 1959. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Phils Top Morristown, 7-4; Salem is Here Tonight". Johnson City Press. Johnson City. June 27, 1959. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Cubs Thrash Bluefield". Johnson City Press. Johnson City. June 29, 1959. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "1959 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  13. "Morristown Takes Flag". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville. September 3, 1959. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1960 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  15. "1961 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  16. "Cards Bow, 9-7, in Final Game". Johnson City Press. Johnson City. September 1, 1961. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Ron Campbell Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  18. "Ossie Chavarria Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  19. "Ken Hubbs Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  20. "Jake Jaeckel Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  21. "Pat Jarvis Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  22. "Nelson Mathews Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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