Poplar Bluff Tigers

The Poplar Bluff Tigers were a minor league baseball team that represented Poplar Bluff, Missouri in the Arkansas State League in 1908. During the season, Poplar Bluff relocated to Brinkley, Arkansas and became the Brinkley Infants for the remainder of the 1908 season.

Poplar Bluff Tigers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1908)
LeagueArkansas State League (1908)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NamePoplar Bluff Tigers (1908)
Brinkley Infants (1908)
BallparkSportsman's Park (1908)
Brinkley City Park (1908)

History

Minor league baseball began in Poplar Bluff, Missouri when the 1908 Poplar Bluff Tigers began play as members of the six–team Class D level Arkansas State League. [1][2][3]

After beginning league play on April 20, 1908, the Poplar Bluff Tigers lost their first five games. It was reported that the Poplar Bluff franchise was having financial difficulties. Manager Al Sullivan left the team two weeks into the season and Arkansas State League president Thomas Craighead took over operations of the team.[4][5]

The Poplar Bluff franchise relocated to Brinkley, Arkansas during the season. On June 8, 1908, the franchise relocated with a 16–58 record and became the Brinkley Infants for the remainder of the 1908 season.[6][5][7][8]

The 1908 team continued play and compiled a 12–21 record playing as the Brinkley Infants. Combined, the Poplar Bluff/Brinkley team placed last in the standings in their one season of minor league play. The team ended the 1908 Arkansas State League season with an overall record of 28–79, to place 6th in the Arkansas State League standings. Poplar Bluff/Brinkley finished 45.5 games behind the 1st place Hot Springs Giants and were managed by Al Sullivan and Lee Dawkins. The Helena Ponies (67–48), Newport Pearl Diggers (65–44), Pine Bluff Pine Knotts (51–61) and Argenta Shamrocks (49–68) finished ahead of Poplar Bluff/Brinkley in the final standings.[9][2][10]

In 1909, the Arkansas State League expanded to eight teams, but the Brinkley franchise did not return to the league.[11][12]

Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Brinkley, Arkansas have not hosted other minor league teams.[13][14][15]

The ballparks

The 1908 Poplar Bluff Tigers were noted to have played home games at Sportsman's Park. The park is still in use today as a public park in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation. The park is located on Business Highway 60E, Poplar Bluff, Missouri.[16][17]

After the team moved to Brinkley, Arkansas the Brinkley Infants reportedly played home games at Brinkley City Park. Brinkley City Park is still in use as a public park. The park is located at 211 West Cypress Street, Brinkley, Arkansas.[18][19]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1908(1)1Poplar Bluff TigersClass DArkansas State League
1908(2)1Brinkley Infants

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
190828–796thAl Sullivan / Lee DawkinsPoplar Bluff (16–58) moved to Brinkley June 8

Notable alumni

See also

Poplar Bluff (minor league baseball) players
Brinkley (minor league baseball) players

References
  1. "Poplar Bluff Tigers/Brinkley Infants minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1908 Poplar Bluff/Brinkley Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Poplar Bluff Tigers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  4. "Wild Bill Luhrsen – Society for American Baseball Research".
  5. "1908 Arkansas State League (ASL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1908 Poplar Bluff Tigers/Brinkley Infants minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "Arkansas State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "Brinkley Infants - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  9. "1908 Arkansas State League (ASL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1908 Arkansas State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "1909 Arkansas State League (ASL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1909 Arkansas State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Brinkley, Arkansas Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Poplar Bluff, MO - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  15. "Arkansas Baseball Encyclopedia | Brinkley (1908)".
  16. "Sportsmans Park in Poplar Bluff, MO minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "Sportsman's Park | Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation | Poplar Bluff, MO". www.pbparks.org.
  18. "Brinkley City Park in Brinkley, AR minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. "Brinkley City Park · 211 W Cypress St, Brinkley, AR 72021, USA". opengovny.com.
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