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Several different minor league baseball teams were based in Sherman, Texas, intermittently for a total of 14 seasons between 1895 and 1952.[1]: 100 These teams won one championship, shared; that of the Texas Association in 1923.
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| League titles | Texas Association co-champions (1923) |
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The 14 seasons saw nine different team names used, with only two names used for more than a single season; the Lions (four seasons) and the Twins (three seasons). The 14 seasons were contested in seven different leagues. Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Ross Youngs played for Sherman in 1916.
Sherman Orphans
The Orphans played only during 1895, as a member of the Class B Texas-Southern League, finishing in fourth place within the eight-team league, with a record of 53–64.[1]: 168
Sherman Students
The Students only played part of the 1896 season, as a member of the Class C Texas-Southern League, compiling a record of 25–27 before disbanding in June.[1]: 171 Their spot in the league, and record, were taken over by a team located in Paris, Texas.[1]: 171 The league renamed itself as the Texas Association in July, and four of its eight teams (including Paris) folded in early August.[1]: 171
Sherman Cubs
The Cubs played only during 1912, as a member of the Class D Texas–Oklahoma League, finishing in third place within the eight-team league, with a record of 56–37; the team was managed by Jimmie Humphries.[1]: 240
Sherman Hitters
The Hitters played only during 1915, as a member of the Class D Western Association, finishing in third place within the eight-team league, with a record of 70–65; the team was managed by A. L. "Dad" Ritter.[1]: 260
Sherman Lions
The Lions played during four seasons: 1913, 1914, 1916, and 1921. They competed in the Class D Texas–Oklahoma League in 1913, 1914, and 1921. They were members of the Class D Western Association in 1916.
The 1913 team finished fourth of eight teams, with a record of 68–58, managed by Jimmie Humphries.[1]: 246 Ed Appleton of Sherman pitched a no hitter on July 6 against the Denison Blue Sox.[1]: 246 Pitcher Ben Tincup led the league with 233 strikeouts.[1]: 246 The 1914 team disbanded at the end of July, with a record of 30–75; the team had been led by three different managers.[1]: 255 The 1916 team finished seventh of eight teams, with a record of 61–76, led by two different managers.[1]: 265 The 1921 team finished last in a six-team league, with a record of 48–78, led by two different managers.[1]: 282 Pitcher Sam Gray led the league with 237 strikeouts.[1]: 282
In addition to Appleton, Gray, and Tincup, Lions players who appeared in the major leagues include Howard Murphy, Farmer Ray, and Hall of Fame inductee Ross Youngs.
Sherman Browns
The Browns played only during 1917, as a member of the Class D Western Association, finishing in third place within the eight-team league, with a record of 79–73; the team was managed by Leo Hellman.[1]: 268 Notable players for the Browns include pitcher Charlie Robertson,[2] who in 1922 would pitch the fifth perfect game in major league history.
Sherman Red Sox
The Red Sox played only during 1922, as a member of the Class D Texas–Oklahoma League, finishing in fifth place within the eight-team league, with a record of 48–60; the team was managed by Grady Higginbotham.[1]: 287
Sherman Snappers
The Snappers played only during 1929, as a member of the Class D Lone Star League, finishing in third place within the four-team league, with a record of 9–9; the team was managed by Red Snapp.[1]: 317 The league disbanded in mid-May when the Texarkana Twins folded.[1]: 317
Sherman Twins
The Twins played during 1923, 1946, and 1952 in the Class D Texas Association, Class C East Texas League, and Class D Sooner State League, respectively.
The 1923 team won the first half of a split season, with the Austin Rangers winning the second half; the Twins had an overall record of 72–67 for the entire season, third-best in the six-team league.[1]: 291 The Twins and Rangers tied a six-game playoff series, three games each.[3][1]: 291 The Twins had two different managers, one being player-manager Otto McIvor, who had played in the major leagues in 1911.[4] Longtime minor league outfielder Tom Pyle[5] of the Twins led the league in batting average (.359), runs (94), and hits (199).[1]: 291 Pitcher Murray Richburg[6] led the league in strikeouts with 197.[1]: 291
The 1946 team finished fifth in an eight-team league, with a 70–70 record under manager Guy Sturdy,[1]: 403 a native of Sherman.[7] The squad had several players who appeared in the major leagues: Larry Drake, Buck Frierson, Pat McLaughlin, Monty Stratton, and John Whitehead.[8] Stratton, who had pitched for the Chicago White Sox during 1934–1938, was notable for having an artificial leg, the result of a hunting accident following the 1938 season.[9]
The 1952 team finished fifth in an eight-team league with a record of 72–68.[1]: 465 A 6–1 loss to the Shawnee Hawks on the final day of the regular season resulted in Sherman missing the league's four-team postseason by a single game.[10] The Twins were led by player-manager Bennie Warren, who had played six seasons in the major leagues as a catcher.[11][12]
Note that another team, also known as the Twins, based jointly in Sherman and nearby Denison, competed from 1947 to 1951 and again in 1953.
| Season | Team name | Record | Win pct. | Finish | League name | Class | Manager(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1895 | Orphans | 53–64 | .453 | 4th of 8 | Texas-Southern League | B | N. M. Legg, Frank Ryan, Mike O'Connor, Klondike Douglass |
| 1896 | Students | 25–27 | .481 | n/a | C | Frank Ryan | |
| 1912 | Cubs | 56–37 | .602 | 3rd of 8 | Texas–Oklahoma League | D | Jimmie Humphries |
| 1913 | Lions | 68–58 | .540 | 4th of 8 | |||
| 1914 | 30–75 | .286 | n/a | Dolly Gray, Charley Moran, Harry Webber | |||
| 1915 | Hitters | 70–65 | .519 | 3rd of 8 | Western Association | D | A. L. "Dad" Ritter |
| 1916 | Lions | 61–76 | .445 | 7th of 8 | Walter Frantz, Jack Love | ||
| 1917 | Browns | 79–73 | .520 | 3rd of 8 | Leo Hellman | ||
| 1921 | Lions | 48–78 | .381 | 6th of 6 | Texas–Oklahoma League | D | Babe Peebles, James "Curley" Maloney |
| 1922 | Red Sox | 48–60 | .444 | 5th of 8 | Grady Higginbotham | ||
| 1923 | Twins | 72–67 | .518 | 3rd of 6 | Texas Association | D | A. B. Sands, Otto McIvor |
| 1929 | Snappers | 9–9 | .500 | n/a | Lone Star League | D | Red Snapp |
| 1946 | Twins | 70–70 | .500 | 5th of 8 | East Texas League | C | Guy Sturdy |
| 1952 | 72–68 | .514 | 5th of 8 | Sooner State League | D | Bennie Warren | |
| TOTAL | 14 seasons | 761–827 | .479 | ||||
Notes:
- In 1896, the team disbanded on June 10.
- In 1914, the team disbanded on July 30.
- In 1923, the team won the first-half of a split season, and were league co-champions.
- In 1929, the league disbanded on May 16.
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