The Cotton States League[1] was a minor league baseball league that played between 1902 and 1955. The Cotton States League formed on five separate occasions in its history. The first Cotton States League played from 1902 through 1908 as a Class D level league. After the league did not play in 1909, the Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six 1908 members returning for the new campaign and three new teams joining them. The league played for four seasons, through 1913 before being interrupted by World War I.
In 1922, the Cotton States League reformed after a nine-year hiatus. The 1923 league folded during the season on July 24, 1923, before resuming the next year. The league played for 11 seasons before folding on July 13, 1932, during the Great Depression.
The next revival of the Cotton States League took place in 1936, and the league played six seasons before folding, as many other minor leagues did when World War II began. This time, it operated as a Class C level league. Following the war, the league was resumed play in 1947 continuing play as Class C level league. The Cotton States League played through the 1955 season before permanently folding following its fifth incarnation in less than half a century. In 1953 the Cotton States League tried to evict the Hot Springs Bathers for attempting to include a black player, Jim Tugerson.
Cities represented/Teams/Seasons
[2]
1902 Cotton States League
1903 Cotton States League
1905 Cotton States League
Natchez (18–27) moved to Mobile June 26. Hattiesburg and Pine Bluff folded July 16. League disbanded July 31, with National Association approval, due to Yellow Fever epidemic.
1906 Cotton States League
1907 Cotton States League
1908 Cotton States League
The Cotton States League did not play in 1909[2]
1910 Cotton States League
1911 Cotton States League
1912 Cotton States League
New Orleans moved to Yazoo City May 9, Yazoo City disbanded August 3; Hattiesburg moved to Columbus June 5; Meridian disbanded August3; Vicksburg disbanded August 13. Playoff: Second half champion Greenwood declared champion after first half champion Vicksburg disbanded.
1913 Cotton States League
Season schedule was shortened to August 15. No playoff held.
1922 Cotton States League
Playoff: Greenwood 4 games, Meridian 0
1923 Cotton States League
The league disbanded July 24.
1924 Cotton States League
1925 Cotton States League
1926 Cotton States League
Playoffs: None were played due to second half irregularities.
1927 Cotton States League
Playoff: Jackson 4 games, Monroe 1.
1928 Cotton States League
Playoff: Vicksburg 4 games, Hattiesburg 3.
1929 Cotton States League
Hattiesburg (15–19) moved to Baton Rouge May 30; Meridian (23–27) moved to Lake Charles June 17 Playoff: El Dorado 4 games, Jackson 3.
1930 Cotton States League
Alexandria & Lake Charles disbanded June 17 Playoff: Pine Bluff 4 games, El Dorado 3.
1931 Cotton States League
Playoff: Jackson 4 games, Vicksburg 0.
1932 Cotton States League
Vicksburg moved to Jackson June 1.; Port Arthur moved to DeQuincy June 19; DeQuincy moved to Opelousas July 7. League disbanded July 13.
1936 Cotton States League
Playoffs: El Dorado 3 games, Greenwood 1; Greenville 3 games, Pine Bluff 1. Finals: El Dorado 4 games, Greenville 1.
1937 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Pine Bluff 4 games, Greenville 1; El Dorado 4 games, Greenwood 2. Finals: El Dorado 4 games, Pine Bluff 1.
1938 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Monroe 3 games, Helena 1; Greenville 3 games, El Dorado 1. Finals: Monroe 4 games, Greenville 2.
1939 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Hot Springs 3 games, Monroe 2; Greenville 3 games, Clarksdale 1. Finals: Greenville 4 games, Hot Springs 1.
1940 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Monroe 3 games, Greenville 1; El Dorado 3 games, Helena 1. Finals: Monroe 4 games, El Dorado 1.
1941 Cotton States League
Clarksdale (33–47) moved to Marshall July 10. Playoffs: Vicksburg 3 games, Monroe 2; Hot Springs 3 games, Greenville 0; Finals: Hot Springs 4 games, Vicksburg 0.
1947 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Greenwood 3 games, Clarksdale 1; Greenville 3 games, El Dorado 2. Finals: Greenwood 4 games, Greenville 3.
1948 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Greenwood 3 games, Natchez 0; Hot Springs 3 games, Clarksdale 0. Finals: Hot Springs 4 games, Greenwood 3.
1949 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Natchez 4 games, El Dorado 3; Pine Bluff 4 games, Greenwood 2. Finals: Natchez 4 games, Pine Bluff 1.
1950 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Hot Springs 4 games, Monroe 2; Natchez 4 games, Pine Bluff 1. Finals: Hot Springs 4 games, Natchez 3.
1951 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Natchez 4 games, Monroe 3; Pine Bluff 4 games, Greenwood 3. Finals: Natchez 4 games, Pine Bluff 1.
1952 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Meridian 4 games, Monroe 2; Natchez 4 games, Greenwood 2. Finals: Meridian 4 games, Natchez 3.
1953 Cotton States League
Jackson defeated Hot Springs 6–2 in a one-game playoff for fourth place. Playoffs: Meridian 4 games, Jackson 2; El Dorado 4 games, Pine Bluff 0. Finals: Meridian 4 games, El Dorado 0.
1954 Cotton States League
Playoffs: Greenville 4 games, Monroe 1; El Dorado 4 games, Meridian 3. Finals: El Dorado 4 games, Greenville 2.
1955 Cotton States League
Pine Bluff moved to Meridian June 16. Playoffs: Monroe 4 games, Hot Springs 0; El Dorado 4 games, Meridian 1. Finals: Monroe 4 games, El Dorado 3.