Sparta Saints

The Sparta Saints were a minor league baseball team based in Sparta, Georgia from 1948 to 1949. Sparta played exclusively as members of the Class D level Georgia State League. The Saints were the only minor league team hosted in Sparta, Georgia.[1]

Sparta Saints
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1948–1949)
LeagueGeorgia State League (1948–1949)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (1)1948
Team data
NameSparta Saints (1948–1949)

History

Sparta, Gerogia first hosted minor league play in 1948. The Sparta Saints became charter members of the reformed in the six–team Class D level Georgia State League 1948. The Baxley Red Sox, Douglas Rebels, Eastman Dodgers, Fitzgerald Pioneers and Vidalia-Lyons Twins joined Sparta in league play.[2]

In their first season of play the 1948 Sparta Saints finished 1st in the regular season standings. Sparta ended the regular season with a 81–37 record under player/manager Woody Bottoms to win the Georgia State League pennant, finishing 16.0 games ahead of the 2nd place Baxley Red Sox. In the playoffs, Sparta defeated the Eastman Dodgers 3 games to 2 to advance. In the Finals, the Fitzgerald Pioneers defeated Sparta 4 games to 3. Player/manager Woody Bottoms led the league in batting average, hitting .375 and Sparta teammate Alan Swygert led the Georgia State League with 88 RBI. Sparta pitcher Paul Brock led the league with both 21 wins and 270 strikeouts.[3][4][5]

In their second and final season in 1949, the Saints missed the playoffs, placing 5th in the eight–team Georgia State League regular season standings. Sparta ended the season with a record of 69–68, playing under managers Woody Bottoms and Parnell Ruark. James Stoyle of Sparta led the Georgia State League with a batting average of .400 and 191 hits. Sparta had home attendance of 33,436 and 27,191 in their two seasons.[4][6][7]

The Saints franchise Saints franchise folded after the 1949 season and the team was replaced by the Jesup Bees in the 1950 Georgia State League. The Georgia State League folded after the 1956 season. Sparta, Georgia has not hosted another minor league team.[8]

The ballpark

The Sparta Saints reportedly played home minor league games at the Sparta Baseball Park in Sparta, Georgia. Sparta Baseball Park had a capacity of 2,000. Today, the ballpark is noted to be used by youth teams and the grandstands remain.[9][10]

(2014) Sparta Historic District. National Register of Historic Places. Sparta, Georgia.

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliate
1948–19492Sparta SaintsClass DGeorgia State LeagueNone

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
194881–371stWoody BottomsLost League Finals
194969–685thWoody Bottoms / J.B. RuarkDid not qualify

[11]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Sparta Saints - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "1948 Georgia State League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1948 Sparta Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "Georgia State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Georgia State League". minorleaguesource.com.
  6. "1949 Sparta Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "Georgia State League - BR Bullpen".
  8. "Georgia State League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  9. "Sparta Baseball Park in Sparta, GA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "WWW.DIGITALBALLPARKS.COM - All Ballparks Listed by State". www.digitalballparks.com.
  11. "Sparta Saints - BR Bullpen".
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