Sparta Saints
| Sparta Saints | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class D (1948–1949) |
| League | Georgia State League (1948–1949) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Conference titles (1) | 1948 |
| Team data | |
| Name | Sparta Saints (1948–1949) |
| Ballpark | Sparta Baseball Park |
The Sparta Saints were a minor league baseball team based in Sparta, Georgia. From 1948 to 1949, the Saints played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia State League, winning the 1948 league pennant. The Saints hosted minor league home games at the Sparta Baseball Park.
History
Sparta, Georgia first hosted minor league play in 1948, when the Saints became charter members of the reformed in the six–team Class D level Georgia State League.[1] The Baxley Red Sox, Douglas Rebels, Eastman Dodgers, Fitzgerald Pioneers and Vidalia-Lyons Twins joined Sparta in beginning league play on May 6, 1948.[2]
In their first season of play the 1948 Sparta Saints finished 1st in the regular season standings. Sparta ended the regular season with a 81–37 record under player/manager Woody Bottoms to win the Georgia State League pennant, finishing 16.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Baxley Red Sox. In the playoffs, Sparta defeated the Eastman Dodgers 3 games to 2 to advance. In the Finals, the Fitzgerald Pioneers defeated Sparta 4 games to 3. Player/manager Woody Bottoms led the league in batting average, hitting .375 and Sparta teammate Alan Swygert led the Georgia State League with 88 RBI. Sparta pitcher Paul Brock led the league with both 21 wins and 270 strikeouts.[3][4][5]
In their second and final season in 1949, the Saints missed the playoffs, placing 5th in the eight–team Georgia State League regular season standings. Sparta ended the season with a record of 69–68, playing under managers Woody Bottoms and Parnell Ruark. James Stoyle of Sparta led the Georgia State League with a batting average of .400 and 191 hits. Sparta had home attendance of 33,436 and 27,191 in their two seasons.[4][6]
The Saints franchise Saints franchise folded after the 1949 season and were replaced by the Jesup Bees franchise in the 1950 Georgia State League. The Georgia State League eventually folded following the completion of the 1956 season.[4] Sparta, Georgia has not hosted another minor league team.[7]
The ballpark
The Sparta Saints played home minor league games at the Sparta Baseball Park. The Sparta Baseball Park had a capacity of 2,000. Today, the ballpark still in use, hosting youth teams. The original grandstands remain.[8][9]
Timeline
| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948–1949 | 2 | Sparta Saints | Class D | Georgia State League |
Year–by–year records
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 81–37 | 1st | Woody Bottoms | Lost League Finals |
| 1949 | 69–68 | 5th | Woody Bottoms / J.B. Ruark | Did not qualify |
Notable alumni
- Izzy Leon (1948)
References
- ^ "1948 Georgia State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1948 Georgia State League (GSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1948 Sparta Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ a b c d The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Georgia State League". minorleaguesource.com.
- ^ "1949 Sparta Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Sparta, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Sparta Baseball Park in Sparta, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "WWW.DIGITALBALLPARKS.COM - All Ballparks Listed by State". www.digitalballparks.com.
External links
- Baseball teams established in 1948
- Baseball teams disestablished in 1949
- Defunct Georgia State League teams
- Professional baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state)
- 1948 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- 1949 disestablishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Defunct baseball teams in the United States
- Hancock County, Georgia
- Defunct baseball teams in Georgia