Austin Senators

The "Austin Senators" is the name of various minor league baseball teams based in Austin, Texas, United States which played on-and-off between 1898 and 1964. Different incarnations of the Senators have played in the Texas League (1888–1890, 1905, 1907–1908, 1911–1914, 1956–1967), Texas-Southern League (1896), South Texas League (1906) Middle Texas League (1915) and Texas Association (1925–1926).

Austin Senators
1888–1964 (1888–1890, 1896–1899, 1905–1908, 1911–1915, 1923–1926, 1947–1955, 1956–1964) Austin, Texas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Class AA (1956–1964) Class B (1895, 1911–1914, 1947–1955) Class C (1896–1899) Class D (1915, 1923–1926)
Previous leagues	Texas League (1888–1890) Texas-Southern League (1895) Texas Association (1896) Texas League (1897-1899, 1905) South Texas League (1906) Texas League (1907–1908, 1911–1914) Middle Texas League (1915) Texas Association (1923–1926) Big State League (1947–1955) Texas League (1956–1964)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Milwaukee Braves (1956–1964)
Minor league titles
League titles	1906, 1907, 1911, 1959
Second-half titles	1906
Team data
Previous names	Austin Senators(1888–1890, 1895-99, 1905–1908, 1911–1914) Austin Representatives (1915) Austin Rangers (1925–1926) Austin Pioneers (1947–1955) Austin Senators(1956–1964) Austin Braves (1965-1967)
Previous parks	Riverside Park (Austin)

History

In 1915, the Senators moved to the Middle Texas League and won two games as the Austin Representatives before relocating to Taylor, Texas due to severe flooding.^[1] They were known as the Austin Rangers playing in the Texas Association from 1925 to 1926).^[2] From 1956 to 1967 they were affiliated with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. For the final three seasons of their existence, they were known as the "Austin Braves."^[3] After the 1967 season, the team relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, depriving Austin of professional baseball for the rest of the 20th century.^[4]

Over the course of their existence, they won multiple league championships. Their first came in 1906 under manager Warren Gill. They won their next in 1907 under Brooks Gordon; during the same year, the Senators would post one of the most lopsided victories in baseball history, by defeating the San Antonio Bronchos in the second game of a doubleheader 44–0.^[5] During this game, Senators player Harry Short scored seven runs on five hits, stole four bases and hit a double and a triple.^[6]

In 1911, the Senators won their third championship under manager Dale Gear. They won their final league championship in 1959 under the guidance of Ernie White. In that season, Charlie Gorin threw a no-hitter against the Mexico City Diablos Rojos.^[1] On the 50th anniversary of their championship season, members of the 1959 team reunited in Central Texas where they were honored during a Round Rock Express series and given championship rings.^[7]

Timeline

Year(s)	# Yrs.	Team	Level	League	Affiliate
1888–1890	3	Austin Senators	Class C	Texas League	None
1895	1	Austin Beavers	Independent	Texas-Southern League
1896	1	Austin Senators
1897–1899, 1905	4		Class C	Texas League
1906	1		Class D	South Texas League
1907–1908, 1911–1914	6		Class C	Texas League
1915	1	Austin Reps	Class D	Middle Texas League
1923–1924	2	Austin Rangers		Texas Association
1925–1926	2	Austin Senators
1947–1955	9	Austin Pioneers	Class B	Big State League
1956-1964	9	Austin Senators	Class AA	Texas League	Milwaukee Braves
1965–1967	3	Austin Braves	Class AA	Texas League	Atlanta Braves

See also

• Riverside Park (Austin)

References

1. "From Unknowns to Senators: A Central-Texas baseball timeline". Minor League Baseball. July 10, 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
2. "1926 Texas Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
3. "Austin, Texas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
4. Chamy, Michael (July 4, 2003). "A Short History of Professional Baseball in Austin". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
5. Hagerty, Tim. "The time a minor league team lost 44-0". Sporting News. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
6. "Austin Senators: 44-0" (PDF). Diamonds in the Dusk. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
7. "Austin Senators to Receive Rings 50 Years Later". Minor League Baseball. July 7, 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2015.