Mountain State League

[kahunakats]

Anyone out there have any information on West Virginia's old Mountain State League that played in the laste 1940's?

[benwhancock]

I remember it well, but your dates are a little off.The league started in 1937 and operated through 1941. There were six teams - Beckley, Huntington, Logan, Williamson, Bluefield and Welch. I lived in Welch and saw a lot of games.

The most notable alumni was Stan Musial, who started as a pitcher for Williamson in his first year in baseball.

I suppose there could have been a subsequent Mountain State League in the forties but I lived in the state until 1950 and don't remember any thing about it.

[totalautoracing]

There was a Mountain States League that played from the late 40's into the early 50's. It had the following teams:

Harlan Smokies
Lexington Colts
Kingsport Cherokees
Big Stone Gap Rebles
Maryville-Alcoa Twins
Hazard Bombers
Morristown Twins
Middlesboro Athletics
Morristown Red Sox
Oak Ridge Pioneers
Norton Braves
Newport Canners
Jenkins Cavaliers
Pennington Gap Miners
Oak Ridge Bombers

From what I can see, this was more of a Tennessee & Kentucky based league (but my geography of that area is not up to snuff).

[Digitalparks]

I remember it well, but your dates are a little off.The league started in 1937 and operated through 1941. There were six teams - Beckley, Huntington, Logan, Williamson, Bluefield and Welch. I lived in Welch and saw a lot of games.

The most notable alumni was Stan Musial, who started as a pitcher for Williamson in his first year in baseball.

I suppose there could have been a subsequent Mountain State League in the forties but I lived in the state until 1950 and don't remember any thing about it.

We're putting together a gallery of every baseball stadium in the world. (10,000 photos online so far) As far as I know none of the old Mountain States League ballparks are standing. If i'm wrong let me know.

If anyone out there has photographs of the ballpark or news about a ballpark still standing from that era, could you please contact me at eric@digitalballparks.com.

thanks
Eric
www.digitalballparks.com

[Iuka-bird]

1941 Final Standings
Logan 80 48 .625
Williamson 77 50 .606
Bluefield 64 61 .512
Welch 64 62 .506
Ashland 53 76 .411
Huntington 43 84 .339

IAW Charleston Gazette Sept. 2, 1941

[mikey1]

The League Champions as I have are:
1937 Beckley
1938 Logan
1939 Williamson
1940 Williamson
1941 Logan
1942 Huntington
1943-47 did not operate
1948 Morristown
1949 Harlan
1950 Harlan
1951 Hazard
1952 Hazard

(source 1953 Sporting News Baseball Guide)