The Evangeline League began in 1934 as a six–team Class D level minor league with teams based in Louisiana , United States , later adding Mississippi and Texas based franchises. In 1935, the league was expanded to eight teams and ceased operations in 1942, with six teams, during World War II . It resumed activities in 1946, getting promoted to Class C in 1949, and lasted through 1957. The Alexandria Aces were the only team that played in all 21 regular seasons. Due to its association with spicy Cajun cuisine , the league was commonly referred to as the "Pepper Sauce League" or the "Tabasco Circuit". Newspapers often abbreviated the league's name as "Vangy" or "Vangey" in headlines.
20-738: The Rayne Rice Birds were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1934 to 1941. In 1934, they were known as the Rayne Red Sox and from 1935 to 1941 known as the Rice Birds. They played in the Evangeline League and were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers . A previous version of the Rice Birds played in the Louisiana State League in 1920. This article about
40-572: A baseball team in Louisiana is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Evangeline League The Evangeline League was affected by a gambling scandal that surfaced after the 1946 Championship series. After the completion of the playoffs, which were won by the Houma Indians , allegations emerged that Houma Indians and Abbeville Athletics players had conspired with gamblers to achieve desired outcomes of three playoff games. At
60-628: A hearing on January 10–11, 1947. After interviews and further investigation, five players were put on the ineligible list, meaning they could not play in minor league baseball. Houma players William "Bill" Thomas, Leonard Pecou, Alvin Kaiser and Paul Fugit and Don Vettorel of Abbeville were placed on the ineligible list by Branham for their actions. Later, Thomas and Pecou appealed and were ultimately restored to eligibility by George Trautman, Bramham's successor after two years. On August 22, 1949, both players were reinstated and allowed to immediately to return to
80-419: A regular season record 62–62 in 1956, losing in the playoffs after a fourth place regular season. The Lake Charles Giants finished with a 43–67 in 1957 record, missing the playoffs with a fourth place finish. Following the 1957 season, Lake Charles has not hosted another minor league team. The Lake Charles Creoles were noted to have played home games at Athletic Field from 1906 to 1908. The Athletic Field
100-618: The Cincinnati Reds in 1935, Detroit Tigers in 1937 and Chicago Cubs in 1941 while playing as members of the Evangeline League. The Skippers captured the Evangeline League Championship in 1938. The Evangeline League folded on May 30, 1942. The 1950 Lake Charles Lakers were founding members of the revived Gulf Coast League and remained in the league through 1953. After the demise of
120-860: The Hammond Berries won the pennant three times, as did the Lafayette White Sox/Oilers ; the Alexandria Aces and New Iberia Cardinals/Pelicans won twice; and the Baton Rouge Red Sticks , Crowley Millers , Houma Indians , Jeanerette Blues , Lake Charles Skippers , Opelousas Indians , and Thibodaux Giants each won once. Lake Charles Skippers Minor league baseball teams were based in Lake Charles, Louisiana in various seasons between 1906 and 1957. Lake Charles teams played as members of
140-550: The Meridian Mets franchise moved to Lake Charles on June 17, 1929. On August 9, 1929, Newporters pitcher Pete Newman pitched a no–hitter against the Vicksburg Hill Billies in a 5–0 victory. The Newporters finished the 1929 season with a 28–43 record. The Lake Chares Newporters were 24–37, when the team disbanded on June 17, 1930. A new Legion Field was constructed in 1934. However, a fire destroyed
160-560: The South Texas League (1906), Gulf Coast League (1907–1908), Cotton States League (1929–1930), Evangeline League (1934–1942), Gulf Coast League (1950–1953) and Evangeline League (1954–1957). Lake Charles teams won three league championships and two league pennants. Lake Charles teams played as a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in 1935, Detroit Tigers in 1937, Chicago Cubs in 1941 and New York Giants in 1956. Lake Charles minor league baseball began with
180-643: The 1906 Lake Charles Creoles . The Creoles played in the South Texas League in 1906 and the Gulf Coast League in 1907 and 1908. Later, after a two decade stretch without a professional team, the Lake Charles Newporters formed as members of the Cotton States League , playing in 1929 and 1930. The 1934 Lake Charles Explorers , Lake Charles Skippers (1935–1942) and Lake Charles Giants (1956–1957) played as members of
200-540: The Evangeline League. The Lake Charles Creoles rebounded from a 30–94 initial season and captured the 1907 Gulf Coast League Championship. On May 8, 1907, Thomas Haley of the Creoles pitched a no–hitter in defeating the Lafayette Browns 3–0. In 1908, the Creoles were leading the standings with a 18–9 record, when the Gulf Coast League folded on June 3, 1908. The Lake Charles Newporters were formed when
220-593: The Gulf Coast League, the Lakers joined the 1954 Evangeline League , remaining as members through 1957. The unaffiliated Lakers finished no higher than fourth in any of their six seasons and never had a winning record. In 1956, the franchise returned to play, as an affiliate of the New York Giants , becoming the Lake Charles Giants in returning to the Evangeline League. The Giants finished with
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#1732797588582240-473: The Houma roster. After his reinstatement, Thomas would continue his career to set the minor league career records for total games, victories, losses, hits and runs. Baseball reference shows his career record as 305–264 over 24 seasons and other sources have his minor league win total at 383. The Evangeline League permanently folded following the 1957 season and had never become an integrated league, despite
260-551: The October 23, 1946 league meeting, it was alleged that Houma players conspired with gamblers for Houma to lose the fourth game of the first round of the playoffs, lose the first game of the second round and win the fourth game of the second round. After learning of the allegations, Judge W. G. Bramham, president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, summoned the unnamed accused players to attend
280-658: The ballpark originally opened, but they were rebuilt for the 1935 season. The ballpark also hosted games by the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues . In 2009, Legion Field was renovated and renamed "Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field", after Lake Charles native and big league player and manager Alvin Dark . Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field is located at 1450 5th Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 2019,
300-892: The efforts of major league affiliates (the Chicago Cubs ) to assign players to the Lafayette Oilers and integrate team rosters. Lafayette was an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. In 1956, some boycotts of attending games began after the Lafayette Oilers refused to accept the players to their team. Subsequently, Lafayette Parrish, home of the Baton Rouge Rebels , passed legislation making it illegal for black players to play in its ballparks. The Evangeline League itself also officially banned non–white players from appearing on their rosters. These blocks forced
320-448: The first- and fourth-best records and the second- and third-best records would compete in a semifinal round with the winners competing for the league pennant. In 1948, the league canceled its playoffs due to bad weather, which had reduced attendance significantly, and again in 1956 due to "decreased interest and attendance." In both 1942 and 1957, the league folded before a playoff series could be held. In terms of repeat league champions,
340-775: The grandstands on May 29, 1934. Therefore, the Lake Charles Explorers of the Evangeline League were forced to finish the season in Jeanerette, Louisiana , playing as the Jeanerette Blues and spawning a new franchise in Jeanerette. The team had a 14–13 record based in Lake Charles and finished with a 39–42 overall record. The Lake Charles Skippers were formed in 1935, beginning play in the rebuilt Legion Field. The Skippers were affiliates of
360-478: The major league teams to reassign the players to other leagues. Due to boycotts, the 1956 playoff finals, featuring Lafayette, were cancelled as a result. Both the Lafayette Oilers and the Baton Rouge Rebels folded before the end of the 1957 season, on June 20, 1957. Starting in its second year, the Evangeline League used a Shaughnessy two-round playoff system in which the teams with the teams with
380-409: The site is still in use today as a high school football stadium and is called Cougar Stadium. There is an historical marker at the site honoring Killen Field. Opening in 1934, Lake Charles minor league teams played home games at the new Legion Field . The ballpark is still in use today, located directly across the street from Cougar Stadium. The original grandstands burned down just two months after
400-576: Was owned by the Lake Charles Athletic Association. The ballpark was utilized as a baseball spring training site by the Philadelphia Athletics . The Lake Charles Newporters reportedly played home games at American Legion Park . American Legion Park was located on 3rd street, near Enterprise Avenue in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The original ballpark was later re-purposed and renamed Killen Field . Today,
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