Vidalia Indians

The Vidalia Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Vidalia, Georgia from 1952–1956. The Indians followed the Vidalia-Lyons Twins (1948-1950). The Indians and Twins played in the Class D Georgia State League. The Vidalia Indians won Georgia State League championships in 1952 and 1954. The team folded, along with the league, following the 1956 season.[1]The Vidalia Indians were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (1952–1956).

Vidalia Indians
1948–1956
(1948–1950, 1952–1956)
Vidalia, Georgia
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1948–1950, 1952–1956)
Previous leagues
Georgia State League (1948–1950, 1952–1956)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 2 1952, 1954
Team data
Previous names
  • Vidalia-Lyons Twins (1948–1950)
  • Vidalia Indians (1952–1956)
Previous parks
Vidalia Municipal Stadium (1948-1950, 1952–1956)

History

Vidalia was home to the Vidalia-Lyons Twins, sharing the team with nearby Lyons, Georgia and playing in the newly reformed six-team Georgia State League from 1948–1950. The Twins did not have a major league affiliate. The team was named the "Twins" because of the close proximity of Vidalia and Lyons. The Vidalia-Lyons Twins advanced to the Georgia State League Finals in 1949. The Twins finished the regular season 54–66 (5th) in 1948, 72–65 (4th) in 1949 and 56–83 (7th) in 1950.[2][3][4]

After not having a team in 1951, the Vidalia Indians began play in the 1952 Class D Georgia State League as an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.[5]

The Vidalia Indians captured the 1952 Georgia State League championship, Vidalia finished 66–58 (3rd) in the 1952 regular season under Manager Frank "Bull" Hamons. After beating the Hazlehurst-Baxley Cardinals 4 games to 2, the Vidalia Indians defeated the Douglas Trojans 4 games to 2 in the league finals to win the championship. The season attendance for Vidalia was 37,485, an average of 605.[6][5][7]

In the 1953 season, the Indians finished in 8th place, with a 41–82 record under managers Frank Hamons, Jake Daniel and Don Cross.[8][9]

In 1954, Vidalia won their second Georgia State League Championship. The Indians finished in 1st place in the regular season, with a 85–44 record under manager James Beavers. In the 1954 playoffs, after defeating the Statesboro Pilots 4 games to 2, Vidalia swept the Douglas Trojans 4 games to 0 in the league finals.[10]

In 1955, Vidalia finished 56–54 (4th) to qualify for the playoffs. The Indians lost in the first round of the playoffs under player/manager Ed Levy. In the playoffs,the Douglas Trojans defeated the Vidalia Indians 3 games to 1. Gary Bell finished 7–5 with a 3.33 ERA.[11][12]

In their final season, the Indians finished 3rd in the 1956 regular season, with a 63–57 record under manager Mark Wylie. In the first round of the playoffs, the Douglas Reds beat the Vidalia Indians 3 games to 2. Dick Stigman was 17–9 with a 1.44 ERA. Vidalia had 1956 season attendance of 17,273, an average of 288 per game. The Georgia State League folded operations after the 1956 season.[13][9][14]

Vidalia has not hosted another minor league baseball team.[15]

The ballpark

The Indians and Twins played at Vidalia Municipal Stadium. During their championship season of 1954, the Indians had season attendance of 53,334.[16][17][18]

Notable alumni

See also

Category:Vidalia Indians players

References
  1. "Vidalia, Georgia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  2. "1949 Register League Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Vidalia-Lyons Twins History". toombsnow.com.
  4. "Vidalia-Lyons Twins - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Vidalia Indians - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. "1952 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1952 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1953 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. "Georgia State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  10. "1954 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1955 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1955 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1956 Vidalia Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "1956 Vidalia Indians Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "Vidalia, GA - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  16. "Pro Baseball". toombsnow.com.
  17. "Digitalballparks.com - Cleveland Indians Affiliation Listing". www.digitalballparks.com.
  18. "Municipal Stadium in Vidalia, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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