Sooner State League
# Sooner State League

The Sooner State League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1957. The league owners kept it alive in 1958, anticipating a return to play in 1959. However, when only Ardmore and Paris, Texas, were able to secure working agreements, the league folded on February 12, 1959. It was the last Class D league west of the Mississippi River. The league franchises were based in Oklahoma and Texas.

## Cities represented

* Ada, OK: Ada Herefords 1947–1954; Ada Cementers (August 3, 1954–season end)
* Ardmore, OK: Ardmore Indians 1947–1952; Ardmore Cardinals 1953–1957.
* Chickasha, OK: Chickasha Chiefs 1948–1952
* Duncan, OK: Duncan Cementers – 1947–1948; Duncan Uttmen 1949–1950
* Gainesville, TX: Gainesville Owls 1953–1955
* Greenville, TX: Greenville Majors 1957.
* Lawton, OK: Lawton Giants 1947–1951; Lawton Reds 1952–1953; Lawton Braves 1954–1957
* McAlester, OK: McAlester Rockets 1947–1956
* Muskogee, OK: Muskogee Giants 1955–1957
* Paris, TX: Paris Orioles 1955–1957
* Pauls Valley, OK: Pauls Valley Raiders 1948–1954
* Ponca City, OK: Ponca City Cubs 1955–1957
* Seminole, OK: Seminole Oilers 1947–1949; Seminole Ironmen 1950–1951; Seminole Oilers 1954–1957
* Shawnee, OK: Shawnee Hawks 1950–1957
* Sherman, TX & Denison, TX: Sherman Twins 1952; Sherman-Denison Twins 1953

## Standings & statistics

### 1947 to 1952

1947 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lawton Giants | 98 | 42 | .700 | – | 24,248 | Louis Brower |
| Ada Herefords | 86 | 51 | .628 | 10.5 | 41,872 | Uke Clanton |
| McAlester Rockets | 73 | 67 | .521 | 25.0 | 43,657 | William Nebroak |
| Ardmore Indians | 72 | 67 | .518 | 25.5 | 27,943 | Dutch Prather |
| Seminole Oilers | 48 | 90 | .348 | 49.0 | 30,003 | John Taber / Hugh Willingham |
| Duncan Cementers | 39 | 99 | .283 | 58.0 | 8,220 | Otto Utt |

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Russell Hawley | McAlester | BA | .382 | Forrest Smith | Ada | W | 23 |
| Robert Andrlik | Ardmore | Runs | 158 | William Donaghey | Ada | SO | 244 |
| A.B. Everett | McAlester | Hits | 188 | Forest Smith | Ada | ERA | 2.00 |
| Paul Richardville | Ada | RBI | 111 | Joseph Galioto | Lawton | PCT | .800 20–5 |
| Howard Weeks | Lawton | HR | 11 |
| Paul Richardville | Ada | HR | 11 |

1948 schedule

1948 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| McAlester Rockets | 91 | 47 | .659 | – | 63,060 | Vern Hoscheit |
| Lawton Giants | 77 | 59 | .566 | 13.0 | 33,861 | Louis Brower |
| Seminole Oilers | 75 | 62 | .547 | 15.5 | 40,053 | Hugh Willingham |
| Chickasha Chiefs | 73 | 63 | .537 | 17.0 | 35,640 | Ray Honeycutt |
| Ada Herefords | 63 | 76 | .453 | 28.5 | 27,050 | Uke Clanton |
| Ardmore Indians | 60 | 78 | .435 | 31.0 | 37,944 | Donald Smith / Jim Cooke |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 56 | 81 | .409 | 34.5 | 27,071 | Dutch Prather / Jennings Poindexter |
| Duncan Cementers | 54 | 83 | .394 | 36.5 | 27,066 | Jess Welch / Otto Utt |

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2; Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cromer Smotherman | McAlester | BA | .347 | Bob Giddings | Lawton | W | 25 |
| Bob Hyatt | Pauls Valley | Runs | 122 | Tom Kruta | Ardmore | SO | 186 |
| Al Billingsley | McAlester | Hits | 190 | Buddy Yount | McAlester | ERA | 2.11 |
| Howard Martin | McAlester | RBI | 122 | Buddy Yount | McAlester | PCT | .944; 17–1 |
| Howard Martin | McAlester | HR | 19 |

1949 schedule

1949 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 88 | 52 | .629 | – | 61,085 | Red Phillips |
| Lawton Giants | 87 | 52 | .626 | 0.5 | 45,501 | Louis Brower |
| Chickasha Chiefs | 78 | 61 | .561 | 9.5 | 59,306 | Ray Honeycutt |
| Ada Herefords | 69 | 70 | .497 | 18.5 | 33,525 | Bill Krueger |
| Duncan Uttmen | 65 | 74 | .468 | 22.5 | 36,678 | Edward Marleau / James Skidgel/ Hosea Pfeiffer |
| McAlester Rockets | 58 | 82 | .414 | 30.0 | 56,733 | Vern Hoscheit |
| Ardmore Indians | 57 | 81 | .413 | 30.0 | 43,348 | Dutch Prather / James Skidgel |
| Seminole Oilers | 54 | 84 | .391 | 33.0 | 33,258 | Hugh Willingham / Paul Schoendienst |

Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pete Runnels | Chickasha | BA | .372 | Jim Melton | Pauls Valley | W | 23 |
| Kelly Wingo | Chickasha | Runs | 123 | Joseph Micciche | Lawton | SO | 297 |
| Pete Runnels | Chickasha | Hits | 188 | James Spencer | Lawton | ERA | 1.96 |
| A.B. Pearson | Pauls Valley | RBI | 123 | Joseph Micciche | Lawton | PCT | .769; 20–6 |
| Daryl Spencer | Pauls Valley | HR | 23 |
| Bill Milligan | Ada | HR | 23 |

1950 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ada Herefords | 96 | 41 | .701 | – | 31,981 | Bill Krueger |
| McAlester Rockets | 92 | 48 | .657 | 5.5 | 58,048 | Vern Hoscheit |
| Chickasha Chiefs | 80 | 59 | .575 | 17.0 | 43,759 | Ray Honeycutt |
| Ardmore Indians | 75 | 65 | .536 | 22.5 | 44,454 | Bennie Warren |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 68 | 72 | .486 | 29.5 | 25,848 | Red Phillips / Joseph Jacobs |
| Seminole Ironmen | 55 | 83 | .399 | 41.5 | 21,366 | Kelly Wingo / Lloyd Giger / Dennis Rackley |
| Duncan Uttmen / Shawnee Hawks | 51 | 85 | .375 | 44.5 | 15,950 | Hosea Pfeiffer / Dutch Prather / Kelly Wingo |
| Lawton Giants | 37 | 101 | .268 | 59.5 | 31,817 | Louis Brower |

Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18. Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Clinton Weaver | McAlester | BA | .378 | William Donaghey | Ada | W | 26 |
| Ron Jackson | Ada | Runs | 154 | Jack Urban | McAlester | SO | 279 |
| Jack Taylor | McAlester | Hits | 212 | Jack Urban | McAlester | ERA | 2.15 |
| Stephen Molinari | Ada | RBI | 162 | Bill Starr | Ada | PCT | .917; 11–1 |
| Stephen Molinari | Ada | HR | 39 |

1951 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ardmore Indians | 99 | 40 | .712 | – | 40,742 | Bennie Warren |
| Shawnee Hawks | 96 | 44 | .686 | 3.5 | 44,428 | Lou Fitzgerald |
| McAlester Rockets | 91 | 48 | .655 | 8.0 | 42,028 | Vern Hoscheit |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 90 | 50 | .643 | 9.5 | 27,580 | Louis Brower |
| Ada Herefords | 54 | 86 | .386 | 45.5 | 12,779 | Stan Galle |
| Chickasha Chiefs | 46 | 94 | .329 | 53.5 | 21,107 | Kelly Wingo / Jerry Jackson / Chet Bryan / William Reyes |
| Lawton Giants | 46 | 94 | .329 | 53.5 | 17,252 | Ray Baker |
| Seminole Ironmen | 37 | 103 | .264 | 62.5 | 16,915 | Ripper Collins / Dutch Prather |

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lou Fitzgerald | Shawnee | BA | .379 | Dee Sanders | McAlester | W | 27 |
| Joe Nodar | Ardmore | Runs | 179 | Ken Hemphill | Pauls Valley | W | 27 |
| Dan Toma | Pauls Valley | Hits | 195 | Armin Somonte | Ardmore | SO | 341 |
| Manuel Temes | Ardmore | Hits | 195 | Dee Sanders | McAlester | ERA | 1.67 |
| Glenn Snyder | Ardmore | RBI | 155 | Dee Sanders | McAlester | PCT | .871; 27–4 |
| Manuel Temes | Ardmore | RBI | 155 |
| Dan Demby | Pauls Valley | HR | 30 |
| Don Williamson | Pauls Valley | HR | 30 |

1952 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| McAlester Rockets | 87 | 53 | .621 | – | 52,395 | William Cope |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 80 | 59 | .576 | 6.5 | 34,500 | Louis Brower |
| Chickasha Chiefs | 78 | 62 | .557 | 9.0 | 27,494 | Ray Taylor |
| Shawnee Hawks | 73 | 67 | .521 | 14.0 | 44,680 | Lou Fitzgerald / James Jolly |
| Sherman Twins | 72 | 68 | .514 | 15.0 | 19,815 | Bennie Warren |
| Lawton Reds | 63 | 77 | .450 | 24.0 | 52,807 | Tuck McWilliams |
| Ada Herefords | 57 | 82 | .410 | 29.5 | 38,387 | Bill Enos / Virl Loman / Jim England |
| Ardmore Indians | 49 | 91 | .350 | 38.0 | 24,362 | Jackie Sullivan / Royce Mills / Hugh Willingham / Clyde Baldwin / Julian Morgan |

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ray Taylor | Chickasha | BA | .365 | Charles Seymour | McAlester | W | 25 |
| Vincent Downs | Lawton | Runs | 142 | Charles Seymour | McAlester | SO | 292 |
| Jim England | Ada | Hits | 198 | Charles Seymour | McAlester | ERA | 1.91 |
| Don Williamson | Pauls Valley | RBI | 148 | Charles Seymour | McAlester | PCT | .806; 25–6 |
| Bob Hertel | McAlester | HR | 22 |
| Don Williamson | Pauls Valley | HR | 22 |

### 1953 to 1955

1953 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ardmore Cardinals | 91 | 46 | .664 | – | 43,000 | Bennie Warren |
| Shawnee Hawks | 86 | 53 | .619 | 6.0 | 39,441 | Boyd Bartley |
| Ada Herefords | 84 | 54 | .609 | 7.5 | 36,128 | Louis Brower |
| McAlester Rockets | 83 | 56 | .597 | 9.0 | 40,485 | William Cope |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 63 | 74 | .460 | 28.0 | 18,453 | Richard Klaus |
| Sherman-Denison Twins | 61 | 77 | .442 | 30.5 | 18,784 | Red McCarty |
| Lawton Reds | 47 | 89 | .346 | 43.5 | 18,029 | Tuck McWilliams |
| Gainesville Owls | 36 | 102 | .261 | 55.5 | 20,523 | James Grigg / Ernest Shadid / Jesse Landrum |

Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Ardmore 1; Ada 3 games, Shawnee 1; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ada 1.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Russ Snyder | McAlester | BA | .432 | J.L. Rhodes | Ada | W | 21 |
| Al Viotta | Ardmore | Runs | 159 | Don Huffman | Shawnee | SO | 250 |
| Russ Snyder | McAlester | Hits | 240 | James Peterson | Shawnee | ERA | 1.94 |
| Al Viotta | Ardmore | RBI | 161 | Robert Shipman | McAlester | PCT | .813; 13–3 |
| Ron Slawski | Ada | HR | 31 |
| Bob Norden | Ada | HR | 31 |

1954 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shawnee Hawks | 92 | 48 | .657 | – | 42,189 | Jack Banta |
| Lawton Braves | 81 | 58 | .583 | 10.5 | 47,431 | Travis Jackson |
| McAlester Rockets | 76 | 64 | .543 | 16.0 | 53,410 | Bunny Mick |
| Ardmore Cardinals | 72 | 67 | .518 | 19.5 | 31,090 | Bennie Warren / Frank Mancuso |
| Gainesville Owls | 72 | 68 | .514 | 20.0 | 14,385 | Richard Rigazio |
| Ada Herefords / Cementers | 64 | 76 | .457 | 28 | 28,482 | Louis Brower / John Densmore |
| Seminole Oilers | 61 | 79 | .436 | 31.0 | 16,840 | Tom Warren / Ray Taylor |
| Pauls Valley Raiders | 41 | 99 | .293 | 51.0 | 29,468 | Lloyd Pearson / Bennie Warren |

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Shawnee 2; Lawton 3 games, McAlester 2; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Ardmore 0.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ray Mitchell | Shawnee | BA | .371 | Wendell Doss | Lawton | W | 24 |
| Bill Fox | Shawnee | Runs | 139 | Joe Roberson | Shawnee | SO | 225 |
| Bill Fox | Shawnee | Hits | 193 | Joe Roberson | Shawnee | ERA | 2.52 |
| Jim Humbert | Shawnee | RBI | 136 | Tom Warren | Seminole | PCT | .909 10–1 |
| Gene Green | Ardmore | HR | 34 |

1955 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lawton Braves | 95 | 44 | .683 | – | 45,554 | Travis Jackson |
| Shawnee Hawks | 77 | 61 | .558 | 17.5 | 37,817 | Jack Banta |
| Muskogee Giants | 74 | 66 | .529 | 21.5 | 47,485 | Richard Klaus |
| Paris Orioles | 68 | 69 | .496 | 26.0 | 44,805 | Jimmy Adair |
| Ardmore Cardinals | 65 | 75 | .464 | 30.5 | 33,731 | Frank Mancuso |
| McAlester Rockets | 65 | 75 | .464 | 30.5 | 47,295 | Marvin Crater |
| Gainesville Owls / Ponca City Cubs | 56 | 83 | .403 | 39.0 | 26,169 | Eddie Carnett |
| Seminole Oilers | 56 | 83 | .403 | 39.0 | 26,775 | Charles Hopkins / Al Evans |

Gainesville moved to Ponca City May 19. Playoffs: Lawton 3 games, Paris 1; Muskogee 3 games, Shawnee 2; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Muskogee 2.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hal Gordon | Seminole | BA | .345 | Bob Dudley | Lawton | W | 23 |
| William Caye | Muskogee | Runs | 117 | Dale Hendrickson | Lawton | SO | 256 |
| Walt Massefski | Paris | Hits | 178 | Dale Hendrickson | Lawton | ERA | 1.26 |
| Walt Massefski | Paris | RBI | 107 | Mike Kirmer | Lawton | PCT | .813 13–3 |
| James Brown | Ardmore | HR | 21 |

### 1956 to 1957

1956 schedule

1956 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ardmore Cardinals | 83 | 56 | .597 | – | 47,110 | J.C. Dunn |
| Lawton Braves | 80 | 60 | .571 | 3.5 | 30,550 | Travis Jackson |
| Seminole Oilers | 74 | 66 | .529 | 9.5 | 31,249 | Burl Storie |
| Paris Orioles | 72 | 67 | .518 | 11.0 | 37,764 | Jimmy Adair / Barney Lutz |
| Ponca City Cubs | 70 | 70 | .500 | 13.5 | 20,674 | Don Biebel |
| Muskogee Giants | 63 | 76 | .453 | 20.0 | 37,983 | Richard Klaus |
| McAlester Rockets | 60 | 79 | .432 | 23.0 | 32,302 | Marvin Crater |
| Shawnee Hawks | 56 | 84 | .400 | 27.5 | 24,872 | Jack Banta |

Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Paris 2; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 1; Finals: Seminole 4 games, Ardmore 3.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Russell Gragg | Ponca City | BA | .352 | John Bartek | Ardmore | W | 21 |
| Robert Stangel | Ardmore | Runs | 132 | Vincent Kilpela | Ardmore | SO | 276 |
| Russell Gragg | Ponca City | Hits | 183 | [ Mike Mazzamorra | Seminole | ERA | 2.28 |
| J.C. Dunn | Ardmore | RBI | 134 | John Bartek | Ardmore | PCT | .778 21-6 |
| Gene Oliver | Ardmore | HR | 39 | Mike Mazzamorra | Seminole | PCT | .778 21–6 |

1957 schedule

1957 Sooner State League :

| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Attend | Managers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Paris Orioles | 74 | 51 | .592 | – | 33,953 | Barney Lutz / Bill Capps |
| Ardmore Cardinals | 74 | 52 | .587 | 0.5 | 36,201 | J.C. Dunn / Mike Ryba |
| Muskogee Giants | 71 | 55 | .563 | 3.5 | 21,253 | Andy Gilbert |
| Shawnee Hawks | 64 | 62 | .508 | 10.5 | 22,301 | Ed Serrano |
| Greenville Majors | 62 | 63 | .496 | 12 | 23,066 | Tom Gott |
| Lawton Braves | 59 | 66 | .472 | 15.0 | 15,065 | Travis Jackson |
| Ponca City Cubs | 52 | 74 | .413 | 22.5 | 21,253 | Don Biebel |
| Seminole Oilers | 46 | 79 | .368 | 28.0 | 17,379 | Lee Anthony |

Playoffs: Paris 3 games, Shawnee 1; Ardmore 3 games, Muskogee 0; Finals: Ardmore 4 games, Paris 0.

Player statistics :

| Player | Team | Stat | Tot | Player | Team | Stat | Tot |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jim McKnight | Ardmore | BA | .340 | Jack Curtis | Ponca City | W | 18 |
| Dick Simpson | Paris | Runs | 116 | Jack Curtis | Ponca City | SO | 219 |
| Dick Simpson | Paris | Hits | 163 | John Jeanes | Paris | ERA | 2.41 |
| Jim McKnight | Ardmore | RBI | 112 | Rudy Stoehr | Greenville | PCT | .750 12–4 |
| Bob Beattie | Paris | HR | 25 |

## Hall of Fame alumni

* Whitey Herzog, 1949–1950 McAlester Rockets
* Travis Jackson, 1954–1957 Manager Lawton Braves
* Billy Williams, 1956–1957 Ponca City Cubs
