Crisp County GaArchives News.....Cordele Baseball Outlook is Best For Many Yeats April 19, 1955
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Clyde Watson clyde.nell@gmail.com August 5, 2009, 4:25 pm

Cordele Dispatch April 19, 1955
             CORDELE BASEBALL OUTLOOK IS BEST FOR MANY YEARS
                               April 19, 1955
     Cordele's baseball story has progressed from the sandlots to class D
organized ball in the past 50 years.
     The first professional baseball team in Cordele was in 1936. That year
Cordele took over the franchise of the Panama City entry in the Georgia_ Florida
League.
     Cordele, backed a player agreement with Cinncinnati, took the name of the
Reds and got Ivy Griffin as manager. After ending up a dismal fifth in the first
half of the season. Cordele picked up a big righthander named Woodrow "Babe"
Davis as the second half got underway.
     Davis turned in a 17-3 record during the latter stage of the season and the
Reds galloped home 3 1/2 games ahead of Moultrie. However, having run hot in the
second half of the regular season, they were rigid in the playoffs and
Tallahassee scuttled them in four straight games.
     IN 1937 the Cordele club retained Griffin as manager, but, switched their
working agreement from Cincinnati to Brooklyn. Cordele finished second in the
first half and copped the last half bunting by 2 1/2 games as the now grizzled
Ace Adams checked in with 26 wins and Don Amaral clubbed the ball at a .340
pace. The Reds downed Thomasville in the playoffs in five games.
     Cordele got Bob Hasty as manager in 1938, and got player help from Atlanta
instead of Brooklyn. The team finished next to last.
     THE 1939 SEASON saw Cordele changing it name from the Reds to the Bees and
giving up its player agreement with Atlanta to work independently. The Bees
finished in last place. 
    Little Bill Taylor, who had caught for Cordele in the early days of the
league, took over the managerial worries of the Bees in 1940. The bees did a
little better than in the previous year, winding up in next to last place.
     Bill Morrell moved from Valdosta in 1941 to Cordele to manage the Reds, who
were once again under a working agreement with Cincinnati. The Reds once again
wound up in seventh place. 
     CORDELE OPENED the 1942 season with Frank O'Rourke, Cincinnati scout, in
temporary command. Last place was as far as the Reds could go in the final
standings.
     War years forced abandonment and in 1946 Cordele was none the better after
the layoff. Once again they finished in the cellar. 
     Cordele which entered the Cleveland farm chain and adopted the nickname
Indians, was the only city to change affiliation in 1947. Along with its new
name the Indians got a new pilot, Mercer Harris.
     It was in 1950 when the agreement with Philadelphia was begun. In 1951 the
Athletics wound up the season in fifth place.
     OUTLOOK BRIGHT
     Prpspects of Cordele having a much better choice of players for the 1955
Georgia-Florida League play brightened considerably when the Baltimore Orioles,
parent club of the Cordele entry, announced it would slice its farm system in half.
     According to the Sporting News, Cordele would not only be the sole Class D
baseball outfit working with the American League team, but would also be one of
only six minor league teams of any classification operating  in the Orioles' chain.
     The problem in Cordele now is squarely one of local support. If Cordele is
to field a team, early indications must be made as to the caliber of support a
ball club can expect.
     Joe Bridges, long one of the most enthusiastic "angels" of organized ball
in the city, has stated that season passes for all Cordele home games will be
sold for $15.00 if enough pledges to buy these passes can be acquired. Mr.
Bridges said at least 1,500 such passes must be sold if Cordele is to be assured
of a minor league club in 1955 
     He asked that anyone who wishes to buy season passes contact him at Cordele
Auto Supply [phone 1072] immediately.
     No definite arrangements had been made at this writing for Cordele's
fielding a team. However, the city still owns the franchise and Paul Richards,
manager of the Baltimore club is at present including Cordele in his plans to
build the Oriole organization up to pennant-contender standards.
     The first problem to be dealt with is local support. It may be the only
problem, Mr. Bridges said. 


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