Sweetwater Sports

The Sweetwater Sports were a minor league baseball team based in Sweetwater, Texas. In 1947 and 1948, the Sports played exclusively as members of the Class D level Longhorn League, qualifying for the 1947 playoffs. Hosting home games at City Park, the Sports evolved to continue play as the Sweetwater Swatters in 1949.

Sweetwater Sports
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1947–1948)
LeagueLonghorn League (1947–1948)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (1)
  • 1947
Team data
NameSweetwater Sports (1947–1948)
BallparkCity Park (1947–1948)

History

The Sports were preceded in minor league play by the 1922 Sweetwater Swatters, who ended a tenue of playing as members of the Class D level West Texas League.[1][2]

Minor league baseball resumed in Sweetwater in 1947, when the Sweetwater "Sports" became charter members of the six-team Class D level Longhorn League.[3] The Ballinger Cats, Big Spring Broncs, Midland Indians, Odessa Oilers and Vernon Dusters joined Sweetwater in beginning Longhorn League play on April 23, 1947.[4][5][6]

In their first season of play, the Sports qualified for the Longhorn League playoffs. With a 63–67 record, Sweetwater placed fourth in the Longhorn League regular season, reaching the four-team playoffs. The Big Spring Broncs defeated Sweetwater in seven games in their first round series. Managed by Ronald Murphy, the Sports finished 18.5 games behind first place Big Spring in the regular season standings.[7][2][8] Sports' player Bob Cowsar led the Longhorn with 37 home runs and 176 RBI, while also topping the league with 209 total hits.[2]

In 1948, the San Angelo Colts and Del Rio Cowboys franchises joined the Longhorn League, as the league expanded from six teams to eight teams.[9] The Sweetwater Sports placed sixth in the eight–team league with a 64–76 record, playing under player/manager Clarence Gann and did not qualify for the four-team playoffs.[10][11][2] The Sports finished 22.5 games behind the first place Big Spring Broncs in the regular season standings, as the Midland Indians were the eventual league champion. Sweetwater's Kenneth Peacock led the Longhorn League with 34 home runs and 162 RBI. Pitcher Clarence Gann had 207 strikeouts to lead the league.[2]

In 1949, the franchise renamed, as the Sweetwater Swatters continued play in the Longhorn League.[11][2]

(2015) Newman Park Entrance. Sweetwater, Texas

The ballpark

The Sweetwater Sports hosted minor league home games at City Park. The ballpark was also called "Sportsman's Park". Today, the site is called Newman Park.[12] Newman Park still hosts baseball, along with other amenities and the park is located at 1000 Jack Hazard Drive.[13]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1947–19482Sweetwater SportsClass DLonghorn LeagueCity Park

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
194763–674thRonald MurphyDid not qualify
194864–766thClarence GannDid not qualify

[2]

Notable alumni
  • No Sweetwater Sports players advanced to the major leagues.[3]

References
  1. "1922 Sweetwater Swatters minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  3. "1947 Sweetwater Sports Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "Longhorn League (C) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. Vernon by Preston Cary. Arcadia Publishing (2013)p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7385-9546-7.
  6. "1947 Longhorn League (LL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1947 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1947 Vernon Dusters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "1948 Longhorn League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1948 Sweetwater Sports minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1949 Sweetwater Swatters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "City Park in Sweetwater, TX minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "Parks & Recreation | City of Sweetwater, TX". www.sweetwatertx.gov.
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