Rome Red Sox

The Rome Red Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Rome, Georgia. In 1950 and 1951, the Red Sox played as members of the Class D level Georgia–Alabama League. Despite the nickname, the "Red Sox" were a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators (Today's Minnesota Twins). The Red Sox hosted home minor league games at Cole Stadium and were preceded in Georgia–Alabama League play by the 1917 Rome-Lindale Romans.

Rome Red Sox
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1950–1951)
LeagueGeorgia–Alabama League (1950–1951)
Major league affiliations
TeamWashington Senators (1950)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (0)None
Team data
NameRome Red Sox (1950–1951)
BallparkCole Stadium (1950–1951)

The Rome Red Sox directly preceded today's Rome Braves, who began play in the 2003 South Atlantic League.

History

The Rome Red Sox were preceded in league play by the Rome Romans and Rome-Lindale Romans, who played from 1914 to 1917 as members of the Class D level Georgia–Alabama League.[1] The Rome team proceeded to play the 1920 and 1921 seasons as members of the Class D level Georgia State League to immediately precede the Red Sox.[2][3]

The Rome "Red Sox" rejoined the eight-team Class D level Georgia–Alabama League in 1950, after a 33-season absence from the league. Despite being called the "Red Sox," the 1950 team was a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators.[4] The Alexander City Millers, Carrollton Hornets, Griffin Tigers, LaGrange Troupers, Newnan Brownies, Opelika Owls and Valley Rebels joined the Red Sox in beginning regular season play on April 26, 1950.[5]

The Red Sox finished last in the 1950 Alabama–Georgia League regular season standings.[4][6] With Myril Hoag, Norman Veazey and John Stowe serving as managers, Rome ended the regular season with a record of 49–71, finishing 23.5 games behind the first place LaGrange Troupers in the final regular season standings.[7][3]

In their final season of play, the Rome Red Sox placed third in the 1951 Georgia–Alabama League standings, as the league condensed to six teams to begin the season.[8][9] Rome ended the season in third place after the Alexander City Millers and Opelika Owls teams had both folded during the season, leaving the league with four remaining teams. With a 58–57 record, playing the season under manager Leon Culberson, the Red Sox finished 9.5 games behind the first place LaGrange Troupers. As a player/manager and a Rome native, Culberson was in his first managerial role after a major league playing career and subsequent minor league seasons.[10] No league playoffs were held in 1951.[3][11] Rome's Claude Shoemake led the league with both 26 home runs and 135 RBI.[3]

The Georgia–Alabama League permanently folded following the 1951 season.[3] Rome was without minor league baseball until 2003, when the Rome Braves began play as members of the Class A level South Atlantic League.[2]

The ballpark

In 1950 and 1951, the Rome Red Sox teams hosted minor league home games exclusively at Cole Stadium. The ballpark had a capacity of 2,500 in 1950.[12] The ballpark was demolished and is no longer in existence.[13] Cole Stadium was reportedly located at 14th Street and Flannery Street.[14]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
19501Rome Red SoxClass DGeorgia–Alabama LeagueWashington SenatorsCole Stadium
19511None

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerAttendPlayoffs/Notes
195049–718thMyril Hoag /
Norman Veazey / John Stowe		30,482Did not qualify
195158–573rdLeon Culberson41,000No playoffs held

[3]

Notable alumni

See also
  • Rome Red Sox players

References
  1. "1917 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "Rome, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  4. "1950 Rome Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. "1950 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1950 Rome Red Sox minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1950 Georgia-Alabama League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "1951 Georgia-Alabama League (GGL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1951 Rome Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "Leon Culberson – Society for American Baseball Research".
  11. "1951 Rome Red Sox minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "Cole Stadium in Rome, GA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "State Mutual Stadium - Rome Georgia - Home of the Rome Braves". digitalballparks.com.
  14. "Days of white lightning and mountain dew". Northwest Georgia News.
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