Statesboro Pilots

The Statesboro Pilots were a minor league baseball team in Statesboro, Georgia. The Statesboro Pilots were members of the Class D Georgia State League from 1952 to 1955.

Statesboro Pilots
1952–1955
Statesboro, Georgia
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1952–1955)
LeagueGeorgia State League (1952–1955)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
  • Independent (1952–1955)
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Previous parks
Pilots Field (1952–1955)

History

In 1952, the Statesboro Pilots began play and the franchise folded following the 1955 season. The Georgia State League itself then folded after the 1956 season. The Pilots were 39–56 in 1952, 59–77 in 1953, 57–73 in 1954 and 25–40 in 1955. The team drew 32,146 (1952), 38,431 (1953), 18,532 (1954) and 8,750 (1955).[1][2][2]

On July 19, 1952, at Pilots Field, Joe Louis Reliford of the visiting Fitzgerald Pioneers, age 12, became the youngest person to play in a professional baseball game. Relaford simultaneously broke the racial barrier for the segregated Georgia State League. A photo of Reliford in uniform is housed in the Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown, N.Y.[3][4]

During the game, Reliford, playing outfield for one inning, made a catch over the wall, robbing Pilot player Jim Shuster of a home run to end the game. He was congratulated by Pilot fans, who came on the field and cheered him.[4]

The ballpark

The Pilots played at Pilots Field. Regarding Pilots Field today, according to the Statesboro Herald: "the field, which had wooden stands and wooden box seats, was on the road that runs by the old Georgia State Patrol headquarters, now the Department of Driver Services office, from U.S. Highway 301 North toward Brodie International. The location is still visible as the first clearing on the right past the Driver Services parking lot." The address of the Driver Services facility is 19051 US Highway 301 South, Statesboro, Georgia, 30461.[2] [5][4]

Notable alumni

The Pilots had no alumni make the Major Leagues.

References
  1. "Statesboro, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  2. "Pilots Field in Statesboro, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "Joe Reliford: The Inning of a Lifetime - Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org.
  4. "Baseball's youngest pro made here". www.statesboroherald.com.
  5. https://dmvconnect.com/dmv-office/statesboro-driver-license-office-of-statesboro-georgia/
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