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
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Lawton 2; McAlester 3 games, Ada 2; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 1.
1948 schedule
Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 1; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 2; Finals: Seminole 4 games, McAlester 2.
1949 schedule
Playoffs: Pauls Valley 3 games, Ada 2; Lawton 3 games, Chickasha 0; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Pauls Valley 1.
Duncan moved to Shawnee August 18. Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Ada 2; McAlester 3 games, Chickasha 0; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Pauls Valley 0; McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 0; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ardmore 2.
Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Shawnee 1; Pauls Valley 3 games, Chickasha 1; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Pauls Valley 3.
1953 to 1955
Playoffs: McAlester 3 games, Ardmore 1; Ada 3 games, Shawnee 1; Finals: McAlester 4 games, Ada 1.
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Shawnee 2; Lawton 3 games, McAlester 2; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Ardmore 0.
Gainesville moved to Ponca City May 19. Playoffs: Lawton 3 games, Paris 1; Muskogee 3 games, Shawnee 2; Finals: Lawton 4 games, Muskogee 2.
1956 to 1957
1956 schedule
Playoffs: Ardmore 3 games, Paris 2; Seminole 3 games, Lawton 1; Finals: Seminole 4 games, Ardmore 3.
1957 schedule
Playoffs: Paris 3 games, Shawnee 1; Ardmore 3 games, Muskogee 0; Finals: Ardmore 4 games, Paris 0.
Hall of Fame alumni
Whitey Herzog, 1949–1950 McAlester Rockets
Travis Jackson, 1954–1957 Manager Lawton Braves
Billy Williams, 1956–1957 Ponca City Cubs
References
McCann, M. (n.d.). Minor League Baseball History. Retrieved April 27, 2007, from https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/big_bunko/soonerstate4757.htm&date=2009-10-25+13:34:10 Pierce, Peter G., Baseball in the Cross Timbers: The Story of the Sooner State League (Oklahoma Heritage Association 2009)