The Georgia-Alabama League was a minor league baseball league that operated in its two namesake states. The circuit first operated from 1913 to 1917, was revived from 1928 to 1930, then returned to operation for a final time from 1946 through 1951. The league's existence thus spanned some 39 years, but it only fielded teams in 14 seasons. All versions of the Georgia-Alabama League were Class D leagues, the lowest classification in Organized Ball during their years of operation.
Sixteen cities fielded teams in the league at one time or another--nine from Alabama and seven from Georgia. No city was represented in all three of the league's runs. Out of the 14 seasons that the league played, the Georgia teams won eleven titles while the Alabama cities captured only three. Four Georgia teams won two titles each over the league's three eras: Newnan, GA won the first of their two crowns in 1915, then waited some 34 years to collect the second in 1949; Lindale, GA won in 1929 and 1930; Carrollton, GA picked up two back to back titles in 1946 & 1947 and LaGrange, GA took the league's last two championships in 1950 and 1951.
Attendance figures were available for the last run of six years, during which the league drew just shy of 2,000,000 fans to the parks. The turnstile count peaked at about 480,000 in 1947 but by 1951 it had dropped to a little over 175,000, which was insufficient to keep the circuit in operation.
Cities Represented, Teams & Stats-1913-1917
- Anniston, AL: Anniston Moulders 1913-1917
- Gadsden, AL: Gadsden Steel Makers 1913-1914
- Gadsden, AL, Alabama City, AL & Attalla, AL: Tri-Cities Triplets 1917
- Griffin, GA: Griffin Lightfoots 1915-1916; Griffin Griffs 1917
- LaGrange, GA: LaGrange Terrapins 1913-1915; LaGrange Grangers 1916-1917
- Newnan, GA: Newnan Cowetas 1913-1916
- Opelika, AL: Opelika Opelicans 1913; Opelika Pelicans 1914
- Rome, GA & Lindale, GA: Rome Romans 1914-1916; Rome-Lindale Romans 1917
- Selma, AL: Selma River Rats 1914
- Talladega, AL: Talladega Indians 1913-1914; Talladega Tigers 1915-1917
1913 Georgia-Alabama League
President: W. J. Boykin
No Playoffs Scheduled
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
George Randall | Gadsden | BA | .410 | | Ed Ery | Opelika | W | 19 |
Larry Pezold | Gadsden | Runs | 76 | | Ed Ery | Opelika | Pct | .792; 19-5 |
Midge Craven | Newnan | Hits | 121 |
1914 Georgia-Alabama League
President: W. J. Boykin
#Gadsden became a road club August 3.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Lloyd Howell | Newnam | BA | .332 | | Jack Reidy | Rome | Hits | 117 |
Jack Reidy | Rome | Runs | 76 |
1915 Georgia-Alabama League
President: C. L. Bruner
The league disbanded July 14.
Player statistics
1916 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Dick Jemison
Player statistics
1917 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Dick Jemison / Dred Johnson
Team Standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
Anniston Moulders | 13 | 5 | .722 | 0 | Bill Pierre |
Griffin Griffs | 10 | 7 | .588 | 2.5 | Matty Matthews |
Tri-Cities Triplets # | 10 | 8 | .556 | 3 | Martin Dudley |
Rome-Lindale Romans | 9 | 9 | .500 | 4 | Dannie Overton |
Talladega Tigers | 6 | 12 | .333 | 7 | Ed Goosetree |
LaGrange Grangers | 5 | 12 | .294 | 7.5 | Heisman Jones |
#Represented Gadsden-Alabama City-Attalla, Alabama.
The league disbanded May 23.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
W.W. Waldron | Griffin | BA | .388 | | E.A. Verrett | Talladega | W | 4 |
W.W. Waldron | Griffin | Runs | 21 | | Conrad Fields | La Grange | SO | 39 |
W.W. Waldron | Griffin | Hits | 26 | | Bennett | Tri-Cities | Pct | 1.000; 3-0 |
Cities Represented, Teams & Stats-1928-1930
- Anniston, AL: Anniston Nobles 1928-1930
- Carrollton, GA: Carrollton Frogs 1928; Carrollton Champs 1929-1930
- Cedartown, GA: Cedartown Sea Cows 1928-1929; Cedartown Braves 1930
- Gadsden, AL: Gadsden Eagles 1928-1929
- Huntsville, AL: Huntsville Springers 1930
- Lindale, GA: Lindale Dragons 1928; Lindale Collegians 1929; Lindale Pepperells 1930
- Talladega, AL: Talladega Indians 1928-1930
1928 Georgia-Alabama League
President: C. I. Scarborough
Playoff: Talladega 2 games, Anniston 1, for the second half title.
Finals: Carrollton 4 games, Talladega 2.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Clark Taliaferro | Carrollton | BA | .392 | | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | W | 21 |
Joyner White | Carrollton | Runs | 92 | | Abe White | Carrollton | SO | 141 |
Murray Howell | Carrollton | Hits | 152 | | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | Pct | .913; 21-2 |
Joyner White | Carrollton | HR | 27 | | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | ERA | 1.60 |
1929 Georgia-Alabama League
President: C. I. Scarborough
Playoff: Carrollton 4 games, Lindale 0.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Bernard Lewis | Talladega | BA | .420 | | James Soward | Gadsden | W | 17 |
Charles Knowles | Cedartown | Runs | 92 | | Abe White | Carrollton | SO | 101 |
Bernard Lewis | Talladega | Hits | 159 | | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | Pct | .889; 16-2 |
Charles Knowles | Cedartown | HR | 25 |
1930 Georgia-Alabama League
President: L. H. Carre
#Carrollton and Talladega disbanded August 14.
Playoff: Cedartown 4 games, Lindale 3, one tie.
Player statistics
Cities represented, teams and statistics: 1946-1951
- Alexander City, AL: Alexander City Millers 1947-1951
- Carrollton, GA: Carrollton Hornets 1946-1950
- Griffin, GA: Griffin Pimientos 1947-1949; Griffin Tigers 1950; Griffin Pimientos 1951
- LaGrange, GA: LaGrange Troupers 1946-1951
- Newnan, GA: Newnan Brownies 1946-1950
- Opelika, AL: Opelika Owls 1946-1951
- Rome, GA: Rome Red Sox 1950-1951
- Tallassee, AL: Tallassee Indians 1946-1948; Tallassee Cardinals 1949
- Valley, AL, Lanett, AL & West Point, GA: Valley Rebels 1946-1951
1946 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Carl W. East
#Represented Valley-Lanett(AL)-West Point(GA)
Playoff: Tallassee 3 games, Carrollton 2; Valley 3 games, Newnan 2;
Finals: Tallassee 3 games, Valley 2.
Player statistics
1947 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Arthur R. Decatur
Playoff: Valley 3 games, Carrollton 1; Opelika 3 games, Newnan 1;
Finals: Valley 3 games, Opelika 2.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Red Roberts | Carrollton | BA | .385 | | Paul Brock | Newnan | W | 23 |
Ted Browning | Newnan | Runs | 122 | | Paul Brock | Newnan | SO | 220 |
Vern Morgan | Valley | Hits | 184 | | Jesse Danna | Valley | ERA | 2.15 |
Ken Guettler | Griffin | RBI | 103 | | Ken Guettler | Griffin | HR | 25 |
1948 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Arthur R. Decatur
Playoff: Valley 3 games, Newnan 1; Carrollton 3 games, Alexander City 2 ;
Finals: Valley 4 games, Carrollton 0.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Fred Campbell | Griffin | BA | .357 | | William Kallaher | Opelika | W | 23 |
Robert Edwards | Valley | Runs | 114 | | Eugene Doerflinger | Carrollton | W | 23 |
George Bailey | Opelika | Hits | 174 | | Eugene Doerflinger | Carrollton | SO | 2.33 |
Fred Campbell | Griffin | RBI | 105 | | Leon Lindsey | Alexander City | ERA | 2.00 |
James Acton | La Grange | HR | 14 |
1949 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Arthur R. Decatur
Playoff: Newnan 3 games, Tallassee 2; Alexander City 3 games, La Grange 1 ;
Finals: Alexander City 4 games, Newnan 2.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Joel Chapman | Valley | BA | .351 | | John McFadden | Newnan | W | 21 |
John Heusman | Alexander City | Runs | 108 | | John McFadden | Newnan | SO | 180 |
J.W. Spruil | Valley | Hits | 153 | | Elmer Wallace | Newnan | ERA | 2.02 |
Robert Schmidt | Newnan | RBI | 108 | | Carl Franson | Newnan | HR | 28 |
1950 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Arthur R. Decatur
Playoff: La Grange 2 games, Carrollton 0; Alexander City 2 games, Newnan 0 ;
Finals: La Grange 3 games, Alexander City 2.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Eugene Solt | Carrollton | BA | .365 | | Don Bessent | La Grange | W | 22 |
Fred DeSouza | Carrollton | Runs | 149 | | Don Bessent | La Grange | SO | 229 |
Eugene Solt | Carrollton | Hits | 168 | | Don Bessent | La Grange | ERA | 2.33 |
Eugene Solt | Carrollton | RBI | 151 | | Eugene Solt | Carrollton | HR | 38 |
1951 Georgia-Alabama League
President: Arthur R. Decatur
##Opelika disbanded July 1; #Alexander City disbanded July 15.
Player statistics
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
Joe Campbell | Griffin | BA | .379 | | Marvin Chappell | La Grange | W | 21 |
Fred Campbell | Griffin | Runs | 111 | | Marvin Chappell | La Grange | SO | 120 |
Claude Shoemake | Rome | Hits | 171 | | Joe Pennington | Valley | ERA | 2.45 |
Claude Shoemake | Rome | RBI | 135 | | Claude Shoemake | Rome | HR | 26 |
League Records 1913-1951
Batting |
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr |
Jack Daniels | Valley/La Gra | G | 129 | 46 | | Johnny Allen | La Grange | G | 129 | 46 |
Bernard Lewis | Lindale | BA | .422 | 30 | | McDonald Turner | Newnan | AB | 526 | 48 |
Fred DeSouza | Carrollton | R | 149 | 50 | | Malvern Morgan | Lanett | H | 184 | 47 |
Eugene Solt | Carrollton | RBI | 151 | 50 | | John Stowe | Rome | 2B | 39 | 51 |
Earl Persons | Gadsden | 3B | 17 | 29 | | Eugene Solt | Carrollton | HR | 38 | 50 |
Bernard Lewis | Lindale | EBH | 69 | 30 | | Eugene Solt | Carrollton | TB | 311 | 50 |
Jack Shipley | Cedartown | SAC | 21 | 29 | | John Heusman | Alexander City | SB | 85 | 49 |
Fred DeSouza | Carrollton | BB | 165 | 50 | | Ted Przeworski | La Gra/Carroll | SO | 118 | 48 |
Pitching |
Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr | | Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Yr |
Marvin Chappell | Alexander City | GA | 51 | 49 | | Paul Brock | Newnan | CG | 28 | 47 |
Bill Kallaher | Opelika | WI | 23 | 48 | | Paul Brock | Newnan | WI | 23 | 48 |
Gene Doerflinger | Carrollton | WI | 23 | 48 | | Claude Jackson | Opelika | L | 17 | 49 |
John Nabors | Talladega/New | Pct | .933-12-1 | 15 | | Paul Fittery | Carrollton | ERA | 1.60 | 28 |
Paul Fittery | Carrollton | Pct | .913-21-2 | 28 | | Paul Brock | Newnan | IP | 313 | 47 |
Marvin Chappell | Alexander City | ShO | 6 | 49 | | Gene Doerflinger | Carrollton | SO | 233 | 48 |
Mickey Mihalik | Newnam | BB | 149 | 48 |
Hall of Fame Alumni
Source
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition via Baseball-reference.com under GFDL.