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Morristown Roosters

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Morristown Roosters
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1910–1914, 1923–1925)
League
Major league affiliations
TeamUnaffiliated (1910–1914, 1923–1925)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
Name
  • Morristown Roosters (1923–1925)
  • Morristown Jobbers (1910–1914)
BallparkSherwood Park (1910–1914, 1923–1925)

The Morristown Roosters were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Morristown, Tennessee, from 1910 to 1914 and 1923 to 1925. Known as the Morristown Jobbers, they were members of the Class D Southeastern League in 1910 before moving to the Appalachian League from 1911 to 1914. The team was revived in the Appalachian League as the Roosters from 1923 to 1925. Over eight seasons of competition, their all-time regular season win–loss record was 325–340 (.489).

History

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First run (1910–1914)

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The Morristown Jobbers became the first professional baseball team to hail from Morristown, Tennessee, when they joined the Class D Southeastern League in 1910.[1] They won their inaugural game, 4–2, on the road against the Gadsden Steel Makers on June 6.[2] Their Sherwood Park home opener was played on June 13.[3][4] The Jobbers defeated the Asheville Moonshiners, 7–6, before a home crowd of over 1,000 people.[4] On June 20, Douglas pitched a no-hitter against the Rome Romans, a 6–0 win.[5] Morristown ended their first season in second place with a record of 46–37 (.554), 5+1⁄2 games behind the champion Knoxville Appalachians.[6]

Rather than continue in the Southeastern League, the Jobbers moved to the newly formed Class D Appalachian League for 1911.[7] They placed fourth at 46–50 (.479).[7] In 1912, they posted a franchise-low 41–60 (.406) record, finishing last of six teams.[8] Morristown initially did not field another team in 1913.[9] This changed after league president Walter E. Rodgers surrendered his Cleveland Counts to the league fearing the circuit would soon collapse due to the recent withdrawal of the Bristol Boosters.[10] The league operated the team until it was transferred to Morristown as the Jobbers on June 7.[11] On August 21, Cliff Markle tossed a no-hitter against the Knoxville Reds, winning 3–0.[12] Combined, the Cleveland/Morristown team finished third at 55–46 (.545).[9]

Following the disbandment of the Harriman Boosters on June 17, 1914, and the other three teams in the circuit losing money from poor attendance, the Appalachian League disbanded on June 18.[13][14] The Jobbers' last game was a 5–4 loss to the Middlesboro Colonels on June 17.[15] They were tied with the Colonels for first place at 15–13 (.536).[16] Their five-year record across the Southeastern and Appalachian Leagues was 203–206 (.496).

Second run (1923–1925)

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The Appalachian League reorganized seven years later in 1921 without a Morristown team.[17] The Morristown franchise was revived in 1923 as the Morristown Roosters.[18] In the season opener on May 11, the Roosters were defeated by the Knoxville Pioneers, 5–3.[19] At the season's end, Morristown was last of six teams with a 45–60 (.429) record.[18] In 1924, the club improved to 55–52 (.514), placing second, but missed the playoffs having not won either half of the split season.[20]

On July 15, 1925, the Bristol State Liners dropped out of the league due to financial difficulties, and the remaining three-team league disbanded the same day.[21] The Roosters won both games of a doubleheader against the Greeneville Burley Cubs, 3–2 and 10–4, on July 15.[21] At the time of the disbandment, Morristown was in second place with a 22–22 (.500) record, six games behind Greeneville.[22] Over their second stint of three seasons in the Appalachian League, the team had accumulated a record of 122–134 (.477). Over all eight years in the Southeastern and Appalachian Leagues, their all-time record was 325–340 (.489).

The city went without another team for 23 years until the Morristown Red Sox became charter members of the Mountain States League in 1948.[1]

Season-by-season results

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Season Regular season Postseason Ref.
Record Win % Finish GB Record Win % Result
1910 46–37 .554 2nd 5+1⁄2 — — — [6]
1911 46–50 .479 4th 13+1⁄2 — — — [7]
1912 41–60 .406 6th 16+1⁄2 — — — [8]
1913 55–46 .545 3rd 9+1⁄2 — — — [9]
1914 15–13 .536 1st (tie) — — — — [16]
1923 45–60 .429 6th 21+1⁄2 — — — [18]
1924 55–52 .514 2nd (tie) 10+1⁄2 — — — [20]
1925 22–22 .500 2nd 6 — — — [22]
Totals 325–340 .489 — — — — — —

Notable players

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A black and white portrait photograph of a baseball player in a white uniform with "Sox" written on the chest
Lefty Williams of the 1912 team was involved in the 1919 World Series fix, known as the Black Sox Scandal.[23]

Nine Jobbers/Roosters also played in at least one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their seasons with Morristown were:

References

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  1. ^ a b "Morristown, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Southeastern League Opens Its Season". The Birmingham News. Birmingham. June 7, 1910. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Sherwood Park". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Southeastern League". The Morristown Gazette. Morristown. June 15, 1910. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Same Old Story; Rome Stung Again". The Rome Tribune-Herald. Rome. June 21, 1910. p. 4 – via Google News.
  6. ^ a b "1910 Southeastern League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "1911 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "1912 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "1913 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "Appalachian President Hands in Resignation". Knoxville Sentinel. Knoxville. June 4, 1913. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Fisher Heads Appalachian; Cleveland Out, Jobbers In". Knoxville Sentinel. Knoxville. June 5, 1913. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Brilliant Fielding Exhibition Puts Markle in No-Hit Column". Knoxville Sentinel. Knoxville. August 22, 1913. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Last Battle Was a Thriller". Journal and Tribune. Knoxville. June 18, 1914. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ ""Poor Attendance" is Reason why Appalachian Disbanded". Knoxville Sentinel. Knoxville. June 18, 1914. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Middlesboro Annexed Deciding Contest". Journal and Tribune. Knoxville. June 18, 1914. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "1914 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "1921 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c "1923 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "Knoxville 5; Morristown 3". Johnson City Chronicle. Johnson City. May 11, 1923. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "1924 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "App League". The Knoxville Journal. Knoxville. July 16, 1925. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "1925 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Lefty Williams Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  24. ^ "Tiny Graham Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  25. ^ "Harvey Grubb Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  26. ^ "Harry Hedgpeth Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  27. ^ "Cliff Markle Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  28. ^ "Lee Meadows Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  29. ^ "Scottie Slayback Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  30. ^ "Buck Thrasher Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  31. ^ "Fritz Von Kolnitz Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  32. ^ "Jake Jaeckel Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
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