1946 Knoxville Smokies

Overview

The Class B Tri-State League of 1946 started and ended with six teams. This was the first season that the Knoxville team was in the Tri-State League. Knoxville was a farm team for the Detroit Tigers. Dale Alexander was the manager for the Smokies. The 1946 season opened on April 24 and closed on September 8, 1946. First Baseman Harold Kollar and Pitcher Porter Witt was selected to the Tri-State All-Star team. Charlotte was declared the league champion, defeating Knoxville in a seven game series.

Playoffs - Knoxville defeated Asheville, four games to one. Charlotte defeated Shelby four games to two. Charlotte defeated Knoxville, four games to three in the finals. Shelby won the one game play-off over Asheville for third place.

News and Notes

• A judgment of $5,000 against Edgar and Robert Allen, co-owners of Mobile, for alleged failure to live up to contract agreements in the lease of Caswell Park, was awarded the city of Knoxville by Chancellor A.E. Mitchell, April 25. The Allens, who rented the Knoxville park for $1,800 a year, shifted their franchise to Mobile in July, 1944. - The Sporting News - May 2, 1946, page 29

• Birmingham optioned Catcher Paul O'Neil to Knoxville - The Sporting News - May 2, 1946, page 29

• Knoxville bought Pitcher Nick Beecheko, Infielders Jack Whitson and Carl Alexander from Greenveille. - The Sporting News - May 2, 1946, page 29

• Birmingham assigned Catcher Paul O'Neil to Knoxville - The Sporting News - May 9, 1946, page 28

• Carl Lyerly, Greenville businessman, became the sole owner of the Knoxville Smokies, May 9, when he purchased Dr. Hobart Ford's interest in the club. Ford retired because his Newport dental practice required much of his time and prevented him from driving to Knoxville for each home game. - The Sporting News - May 9, 1946, page 28

• Jacksonville, Fla. - Sold Infielder Sindo Valle to Knoxville - The Sporting News - May 23, 1946, page 12

• Walt Brickner, former manager of Greenville, has been sold to Knoxville of the Tri-State League - The Sporting News - May 23, 1946, page 27

• Catcher Les McGarity of Knoxville and Pitcher Claude Crocker of Asheville worked the game at Asheville, May 22, when Umpires Ross Badger and E.T. Garner didn't show up, thinking it was a night contest, and the player duo ran the tilt off in 1:25, the fastest regulation game of the season. - The Sporting News - June 5, 1946, page 28

• Albany, of the Georgia-Florida League, signed Outfielder John L. Dance of Knoxville, Tenn. - The Sporting News - June 5, 1946, page 30

• Shortstop Sindo Valle of Knoxville suffered a fractured collarbone in a collision with Outfielder Hal Lee, June 6, while both were trying to catch a pop fly, and he will be out of the game for several weeks. - The Sporting News - June 19, 1946, page 28

• A settlement in the involved affairs between the city and the former Knoxville Southern Association club, which was moved to Mobile by Bob and Edgar Allen, has been reached. The Allens recovered the lighting equipment the city sought to hold and are also freed of any further obligations. The club, during its latter years in Knoxville, was caught in a the middle of a political feud that also involved the press and the Allens found conditions so intolerable that they shifted the franchise to Mobile, following a demand from the city for $20,000 for repairs and a refusal to renew the contract for the stadium. Since then, a ndw administration was voted in and the compromise settlement resulted. - The Sporting News - July 10, 1946, page 28

• After doubling three times, driving in a run and scoring two, Lazaro Bernal, Cuban outfielder of the Knoxville Tri-State League, got into a heated argument with Outfielder Fred Marsh, in the field, over a signal from manager Dale Alexander, June 24, with both Bernal and Marsh being ejected by Umpire Ellis Garner. Bernal failed to shift for a pull hitter and Marsh, catching the signal from his manager, told Bernal to move over and the Cuban, not understanding it was orders from Alexander, took exception and the two tangled. - The Sporting News - July 10, 1946, page 34

• Charlotte - Sold Pitcher Al Rossi to Knoxville. - The Sporting News - July 24, 1946, page 29

• A group of Knoxville fans planned to honor Owner Carl Lyerly of the Smokies, with an "Appreciation Day," July 15, but the president asked that the affair be postponed until the club bettered its third place position in the Tri-State League. - The Sporting News - July 24, 1946, page 30

• Tri-State League sports writers elected Bob Wilson of the Knoxville News-Sentinel president at the organization meetin of their writers' chapter in Asheville, N.C., July 15. Irvin Cribb of the Spartanbur Herald was named vice-president; L.P. Miller of the Asheville Times, secretary-treasurer. - The Sporting News - July 24, 1946, page 32

• Spartanburg turned the first triple play in the Tri-State League, July 26, when, with two Knoxville runners on bases. Second Baseman Lynn grabbed a liner and threw to First Baseman Lee for the second out, a relay to Shortstop Scott retiring the side. The Smokies won the game, however, 6 to 5. - The Sporting News - August 7, 1946, page 30

• Until Knoxville scored in the eighth and ninth innings, August 20, Gaspar Del Monte, Charlotte Tri-State League hurler pitched 35 consecutive scoreless innings, but he won, 7 to 2, after registering three straight shutouts. - The Sporting News - September 4, 1946, page 30

• Chico Bernal, Cuban outfielder, was given his outright release by Knoxville. - The Sporting News - October 9, 1946, page 36

1946 League Final Standings

Team	W	L	PCT
Charlotte	93	46	.669
Asheville	83	57	.593
Knoxville	73	67	.521
Anderson	59	81	.421
Shelby	59	81	.421
Spartanburg	52	87	.374

1946 Team Names and Managers

Team	Manager 1	Manager 2
Charlotte Hornets	Spencer Abbot	Jimmy Bloodworth
Asheville Tourists	Bill Sayles
Knoxville Smokies	Dale Alexander
Anderson A’s	Robert Richards
Shelby Cubs	Clyde McDowell
Spartanburg Peaches	Ed Dancisak

Statistics

1946 League Batting

Team	R/G	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	BB	SO	RBI	BA	SLG	TB	HB	SH	OR	LOB
Charlotte	5.27	139	4704	733	1298	220	68	22	78	504	632	624	.276	.366	1720	27	88	486	1081
Knoxville	4.81	140	4613	674	1247	187	54	26	117	458	555	559	.270	.351	1620	31	113	646	985
Asheville	4.62	140	4715	647	1257	175	41	19	80	547	536	559	.267	.333	1571	31	97	579	1084
Shelby	4.64	140	4732	649	1200	163	66	71	91	411	845	559	.254	.361	1708	36	54	688	1052
Spartanburg	4.27	139	4618	594	1160	184	40	45	87	510	697	516	.251	.338	1559	22	74	762	1056
Anderson	4.52	140	4572	633	1138	191	47	36	103	604	743	507	.249	.335	1531	39	71	742	995

1946 Knoxville Individual Batting

Last Name	First Name	Team 1	Team 2	Bats	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	SLG	TB	HBP	SH	Notes
Marsh	Fred	Knoxville		R	140	561	96	180	29	9	3	73	38	23	26	.321	.421	236	4	4
Jackson	Rufus	Knoxville		L	65	132	7	42	3	1	0	17	0	20	7	.318	.356	47	0	1
Davis	Greyson	Knoxville		L	123	444	72	140	34	4	5	68	8	53	21	.315	.444	197	3	6
Bernal	Lazaro	Knoxville		R	127	498	89	154	22	7	8	56	29	27	48	.309	.430	214	1	4
Justice	William	Knoxville		R	11	392	68	119	18	7	3	64	6	29	27	.304	.408	160	2	7
Peckman	Howard	Knoxville		L	43	72	10	21	2	0	0	6	0	6	9	.292	.319	23	1	2
Vallee	Sindo	Knoxville		R	95	317	44	87	11	4	0	47	2	45	35	.274	.334	106	4	8
Kollar	Harold	Knoxville		R	135	489	75	127	17	4	2	62	8	55	45	.260	.323	158	4	23
Alexander	Carl	Knoxville		R	134	443	53	113	18	7	5	56	8	58	61	.255	.361	160	1	19
Lee	Harold	Knoxville	Spartanburg	R	72	250	38	62	10	3	2	37	8	19	27	.248	.336	84	0	3	28 Knoxville – 44 Spartanburg
Rocek	John	Knoxville		R	104	330	31	81	11	0	0	36	3	17	27	.245	.279	92	2	4
Pate	Ralph	Knoxville		R	53	100	10	22	3	2	0	8	0	4	13	.220	.290	29	0	3
O’Shields	Garland	Knoxville		R	56	167	17	35	4	3	0	15	1	8	38	.210	.269	45	0	5
Widmayer	Walter	Knoxville		L	39	96	16	20	3	0	0	6	1	20	10	.208	.240	23	0	3
Bonine	Charles	Knoxville		R	11	20	5	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	0	.200	.200	4	0	0
Frumin	Zelig	Knoxville		R	22	86	9	17	1	0	0	4	0	1	1	.198	.209	18	0	3
Hice	Paul	Knoxville		L	23	31	3	6	0	0	0	2	0	2	4	.194	.194	6	0	0
Sugrue	Joseph	Knoxville		R	13	37	6	7	1	0	0	0	1	3	4	.189	.216	8	0	0
Rossi	Alfred	Charlotte	Knoxville	R	36	79	13	14	2	1	0	5	0	5	15	.177	.228	18	0	1	18 Charlotte – 18 Knoxville
Melton	Dewey	Knoxville		R	28	38	3	5	0	1	0	2	0	2	10	.132	.184	7	0	5
Witt	Porter	Knoxville		L	18	39	2	5	2	0	0	4	2	4	10	.128	.179	7	0	3
Wolfenbarger	Burgess	Knoxville		R	12	23	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	.087	.087	2	0	0
Calfee	Howard	Knoxville		R	33	70	4	5	0	0	0	2	0	5	41	.071	.071	5	1	2
Dove	Patric	Knoxville		L
DelToro	Gazpar	Knoxville		R
O’Neil	Paul	Knoxville		L
McGarity	Leslie	Knoxville		L
Scott	Marshall	Knoxville		L
Tobin	Marion	Knoxville		R
Douthat	Robert	Knoxville		L
Rogers	Frank	Knoxville		L

1946 League Fielding

Team	G	Ch	DP	TP	PB	PO	A	E	Fld %
Charlotte	139	5482	120	0	23	3654	1607	221	.960
Asheville	140	5536	106	1	19	3687	1595	254	.954
Knoxville	140	5309	81	1	14	3590	1474	245	.954
Anderson	140	5286	135	0	16	3573	1455	258	.951
Shelby	140	5490	128	0	8	3585	1624	281	.949
Spartanburg	139	5229	92	1	23	3514	1394	321	.939

1946 Knoxville Individual Fielding

Last Name	First Name	Throws	Team 1	Team 2	Position	G	Ch	PO	A	E	DP	TP	PB	Fld %	RF/G	Notes
Kollar	Harold	R	Knoxville		1B	135	1174	1124	35	15	63	1		.987	8.585
Lee	Harold	R	Knoxville	Spartanburg	1B	21	175	157	10	8	13			.954	7.952	28 Knoxville – 44 Spartanburg
Justice	William	R	Knoxville		2B	102	423	228	181	14	24			.967	4.010
Vallee	Sindo	R	Knoxville		2B	18	89	34	51	4	1			.955	4.722
Alexander	Carl	R	Knoxville		2B	31	136	54	73	9	9	1		.934	4.097
Frumin	Zelig	R	Knoxville		2B	13	53	14	31	8	7			.849	3.462
Alexander	Carl	R	Knoxville		3B	103	416	133	253	30	26			.928	3.748
O’Shields	Garland	R	Knoxville		3B	16	62	15	42	5	3			.919	3.563
Lee	Harold	R	Knoxville	Spartanburg	3B	13	34	14	17	3	1			.912	2.385	28 Knoxville – 44 Spartanburg
Sugrue	Joseph	R	Knoxville		SS	10	32	12	18	2	2			.938	3.000
Vallee	Sindo	R	Knoxville		SS	77	439	155	247	37	30	1		.916	5.221
O’Shields	Garland	R	Knoxville		SS	18	103	35	56	12	4			.883	5.056
Widmayer	Walter	L	Knoxville		OF	26	30	29	1	0	0			1.000	1.154
Bonine	Charles	R	Knoxville		OF	10	10	8	2	0	0			1.000	1.000
Lee	Harold	R	Knoxville	Spartanburg	OF	30	39	38	0	1	0			.974	1.267	28 Knoxville – 44 Spartanburg
Davis	Greyson	L	Knoxville		OF	123	212	192	13	7	2			.967	1.667
Bernal	Lazaro	R	Knoxville		OF	119	300	265	19	16	0			.947	2.387
Marsh	Fred	R	Knoxville		OF	136	315	286	10	19	0			.940	2.176
Wolfenbarger	Burgess	R	Knoxville		P	12	15	1	14	0	0			1.000	1.250
Calfee	Howard	R	Knoxville		P	33	33	2	30	1	1			.970	0.970
Rossi	Alfred	R	Charlotte	Knoxville	P	33	73	6	64	3	2			.959	2.121	18 Charlotte – 15 Knoxville
Hice	Paul	L	Knoxville		P	23	19	3	15	1	0			.947	0.783
Melton	Dewey	R	Knoxville		P	28	34	5	27	2	2			.941	1.143
Pate	Ralph	R	Knoxville		P	34	42	7	32	3	3			.929	1.147
Witt	Porter	L	Knoxville		P	18	39	4	30	5	1			.872	1.889
Peckman	Howard	L	Knoxville		P	34	34	5	24	5	2			.853	0.853
Rocek	John	R	Knoxville		C	103	534	451	75	8	10	1	2	.985	5.107
Jackson	Rufus	R	Knoxville		C	41	173	149	20	4	2		2	.977	4.122

1946 Knoxville Individual Pitching

Last Name	First Name	Throws	Team 1	Team 2	W	L	PCT	ERA	G	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HB	Bk	WP	WHIP	H9	BB9	SO9	SO/W	AB	SH	Notes
Witt	Porter	L	Knoxville		8	6	.571	2.83	18	7	2	121	141	49	38	22	53	0		3	1.347	10.5	1.6	3.9	2.4	493	7
Pate	Ralph	R	Knoxville		15	11	.577	2.90	34	21		236	212	90	76	101	135	13	1	6	1.326	8.1	3.9	5.1	1.3	888	14
Calfee	Howard	R	Knoxville		16	8	.667	3.07	33	15	1	211	186	96	72	93	121	5		11	1.322	7.9	4.0	5.2	1.3	769	14
Rossi	Alfred	R	Charlotte	Knoxville	13	9	.591	3.55	33	18		208	215	94	82	60	68	4	2	3	1.322	9.3	2.6	2.9	1.1	806	17	18 Charlotte – 15 Knoxville
Melton	Dewey	R	Knoxville		9	10	.474	4.14	28	7		123	128	67	57	41	65	6	2	8	1.374	9.4	3.0	4.8	1.6	501	8
Peckman	Howard	L	Knoxville		11	10	.524	4.66	34	12	1	172	211	110	89	35	56	6		4	1.430	11.0	1.8	2.9	1.6	720	3
Wolfenbarger	Burgess	R	Knoxville		1	3	.250	4.79	12	2		62	69	37	33	32	31	0		0	1.629	10.0	4.6	4.5	1.0	240	2
Hice	Paul	L	Knoxville		3	7	.300	5.16	23	2		89	92	66	51	61	55	6		8	1.719	9.3	6.2	5.6	0.9	388	6
Douthat	Robert	L	Knoxville		1	1	.500		9	0	0	19	29	28		9	7	1	0	2	2.000	13.7	4.3	3.3	0.8
Lee	Harold	R	Knoxville						1			5
Bernal	Lazaro	R	Knoxville						1			3
Tobin	Marion	R	Knoxville						2			3
Rogers	Frank	L	Knoxville						1			3

References / Resources

• 1947 The Sporting News Baseball Guide and Record Book, pages 332-338 - at archive.org
• The Sporting News at Paper of Record
• various newspapers at GenealogyBank.com
• Allen, Ronald R. Same Old Smokies: A brief history of baseball in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1865-1954, self published, 2008
• Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles. Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, Baseball America, 2007, page 403
• 1946 Knoxville Smokies page at bbref.com

Credit

This page was assembled and presented by Mark D. Aubrey.

Please see Copyright info.