Carthage Pirates

Carthage Pirates
Carthage Pirates
(1938–1941, 1946–1951); Carthage, Missouri ;
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Class C (1941); Class D (1938–1940, 1946–1951);
Previous leagues	Arkansas-Missouri League (1938–1940); Western Association (1941); Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League (1946–1951);
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Pittsburgh Pirates (1938–1940); St. Louis Browns (1940); St. Louis Cardinals (1946–1948); Chicago Cubs (1949–1951);
Minor league titles
League titles	3 (1938, 1939, 1951)
Team data
Name	Carthage Pirates (1938–1940)
Previous names	Carthage Browns (1941); Carthage Cardinals (1946–1948); Carthage Cubs (1949–1951);
Ballpark	Carl Lewton Stadium

The Carthage Pirates was a primary name of the minor league baseball club based in Carthage, Missouri from 1938–1941 and 1946–1951.

History

Carthage was initially a Class D affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates that played in the Arkansas–Missouri League from 1938–1940. The Arkansas–Missouri League existed for only two full seasons, with the Pirates winning the league title each of those years. The league formally disbanded on July 1, 1940. When this occurred, the Pirates held a 10 1/2 game lead on first place in the league standings. The team then folded with the league.

The franchise then became the Class C Carthage Browns in 1941 after the St. Joseph Ponies relocated to Carthage on June 3, 1941. They were an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, playing in the Western Association.^[1]^[2]

From 1946–1948, the Carthage Cardinals were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals playing in the Class D Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League. The franchise remained in the league until 1951, becoming the Carthage Cubs, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They won the league title in 1951. ^[3]^[4]

The ballpark

Carthage played at Carl Lewton Stadium. The ballpark is still in use today, located at Richard Webster Drive & Oak Street (old Route 66), Carthage, MO. The Stadium's namesake was a local umpire and educator.^[5]^[6]

Notable alumni

Cloyd Boyer (1946)
Dennis Burns (1941)
Frank Mancuso (1941)
Bob Speake (1949)

Season-by-season

(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)

Year	Record	Win-Loss %	Manager	Regular Season Finish	Playoffs/Notes
1938	69-49	.585	Adolph Arlitt	2nd place	Won Championship vs. Neosho Yankees, 4-1
1939	67-54	.554	Adolph Arlitt	2nd place	Won Championship vs. Fayetteville Angels, 4-1
1940	37-18	.673	Adolph Arlitt	1st place	League disbanded on July 1, 1940
1941	40-96	.294	Gus Albright /Dennis Burns	8th	St. Joseph Ponies moved to Carthage June 3
1946	54-66	.450	Adolph Arlitt	5th	None
1947	66-59	.573	Woody Fair/Alvin Kluttz	5th place	None
1948	51-67	.432	Alvin Kluttz	6th Place	None
1949	62-64	,492	Don Anderson	6th Place	None
1950	75-50	.600	Don Anderson	3rd Place	Lost in 1st round
1951	60-65	.480	Don Anderson (29-36)/Al Reitz (31-29)	4th Place	League Champs

References

^ "St. Joseph Ponies - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
^ "Carthage Browns - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
^ "Carthage Cardinals - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
^ "Carthage Cubs - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
^ "Carl Lewton Stadium, Carthage, Mo". www.charliesballparks.com.
^ Dyer, Cody. "Carthage sports icon Carl Lewton dies, former baseball umpire, educator". gm1-mowebvarnish.newscyclecloud.com.

[1] "St. Joseph Ponies - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[2] "Carthage Browns - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[3] "Carthage Cardinals - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[4] "Carthage Cubs - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.

[5] "Carl Lewton Stadium, Carthage, Mo". www.charliesballparks.com.

[6] Dyer, Cody. "Carthage sports icon Carl Lewton dies, former baseball umpire, educator". gm1-mowebvarnish.newscyclecloud.com.

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