Gulf States League
Encyclopedia
The Gulf States League was a Class A American
minor baseball league that existed for one season — — and was based in the American states of Texas
and Louisiana
. Although its teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball
farm systems, the GSL was an "official" minor circuit and a member of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. Established before the boom in minor and independent league baseball attendance that began in the 1980s, the Gulf States League did not survive after its maiden season. Instead, the league reorganized without any teams in Louisiana, and was renamed the Lone Star League
for .
Six teams comprised the Gulf States League: the Baton Rouge Cougars, Beeville Bees, Corpus Christi Seagulls, Rio Grande Valley White Wings (representing Harlingen, Texas
), Seguin Toros and Victoria Cowboys. Despite drawing the second-most fans in the league, the Baton Rouge franchise folded its tent on August 13, 1976, and Corpus Christi won both the regular season and playoff championships.
Managers included Leo Mazzone
of Corpus Christi, future pitching coach
of the Atlanta Braves
and Baltimore Orioles
; former MLB catcher
Matt Batts
of Baton Rouge; and ex-MLB outfielder
Ted Uhlaender
, who was the playing skipper of the Rio Grande Valley White Wings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor baseball league that existed for one season — — and was based in the American states of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Although its teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
farm systems, the GSL was an "official" minor circuit and a member of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. Established before the boom in minor and independent league baseball attendance that began in the 1980s, the Gulf States League did not survive after its maiden season. Instead, the league reorganized without any teams in Louisiana, and was renamed the Lone Star League
Lone Star League
The Lone Star League was the name of three American minor professional baseball leagues located in the state of Texas during the 20th century. The leagues operated from 1927–1929 , 1947–1948 and 1977 ....
for .
Six teams comprised the Gulf States League: the Baton Rouge Cougars, Beeville Bees, Corpus Christi Seagulls, Rio Grande Valley White Wings (representing Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, United States, about from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than , and is the second largest city in Cameron County and the sixth largest in the Rio Grande Valley...
), Seguin Toros and Victoria Cowboys. Despite drawing the second-most fans in the league, the Baton Rouge franchise folded its tent on August 13, 1976, and Corpus Christi won both the regular season and playoff championships.
Managers included Leo Mazzone
Leo Mazzone
Leo David Mazzone is a former pitcher in minor league baseball and coach in Major League Baseball. He began working with the Atlanta Braves' organization in 1979.-Early life:...
of Corpus Christi, future pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
; former MLB catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Matt Batts
Matt Batts
Matthew Daniel Batts was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Batts batted and threw right-handed...
of Baton Rouge; and ex-MLB outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Ted Uhlaender
Ted Uhlaender
Theodore Otto Uhlaender was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds from –. He was also the father of Olympic women's skeleton competitor Katie Uhlaender.Signed by the Twins out of Baylor University in 1961, he made his major league...
, who was the playing skipper of the Rio Grande Valley White Wings.