Houma Indians
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| League titles | 2 1946, 1948 |
| Conference titles | 1949 |
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The Houma Indians were a minor league baseball franchise based in Houma, Louisiana in 1940 and 1946–1952. The Indians played as members of the Evangeline League (1940, 1946–1952). The Houma Indians won the 1946 and 1948 Evangeline League Championships.
History
The Houma Buccaneers first brought minor league baseball to Houma, Louisiana in 1940, when the Buccaneers began play in the Evangeline League. The Houma Buccaneers moved to Natchez, Mississippi on June 27, 1940 and finished the season as the Natchez Pilgrims, finishing 7th in 1940.[1][2][3]
The Houma Indians joined the reformed Evangeline League in 1946 and won the league championship. The Indians joined the Abbeville Athletics, Alexandria Aces, Baton Rouge Red Sticks, Hammond Berries, Natchez Giants, New Iberia Cardinals and Thibodaux Giants in the 1946 Evangeline League. The Indians finished the 1946 regular season 92–39. Houma then defeated the Alexandria Aces 4 games to 1 in the first playoff series. In the Evangeline League Finals, the Indians defeated the Abbeville Athletics 4 games to 1 to capture the 1946 Evangeline League Championship.[3][4][3]
After finishing 63–76 in 1947, the Indians captured Evangeline League pennants in 1948 (81–55) and 1949 (81–58). In 1948, the Indians' playoff series against the Baton Rouge Red Sticks was tied 1 game to 1 and the Hammond Berries - Thibodaux Giants were tied 2 games to 2, when the entire 1948 playoffs were cancelled due to bad weather.[3][5][3]
After capturing the Evangeline League pennant in 1949 with an 81–58 record, the Indians were defeated by the Alexandria Aces 4 games to 1 in the first round of the playoffs.[6][7]
The Indians finished 53–84, 60–78 and 59–79 from 1950–1952, finishing 7th in the eight–team Evangeline League each season. Their home attendance had fallen from 100,934 in 1947 to 25,821 in 1953. After the 1952 season, the Houma Indians and Abbeville Athletics were folded, leaving the Evangeline league with a 6–team field for 1953. The Evangeline League folded following the 1957 season.[8][3]
The ballpark
The Houma Buccaneers and Houma Indians played at American Legion Park (1940, 1946-1952). The ballpark had a capacity of 3,000 (1940), 3,800 (1950) and 4,500 (1952). American Legion Park had a wooden grandstand and was destroyed by fire in 1956. American Legion Park was located at Lafayette & Crescent Boulevard, Houma, Louisiana.[9][3][10]
Notable alumni
- Harry Bright (1947)
- Sid Gautreaux (1951, MGR)
- Armando Roche (1948)
- Lefty Scott (1940)
- George Washburn (1947–1950, MGR)
References
- ^ "Houma Buccaneers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ "Natchez Pilgrims - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Evangeline League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ "1946 Houma Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1948 Houma Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1949 Houma Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "Houma Indians - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ "Houma Indians Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "American Legion Park in Houma, LA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ EllzeyColumnist, Bill. "Readers provide memories of Houma's American Legion Park". Houma Today.