Overview
The Class B Tri-State League of 1947 started and ended with eight teams. This was the second season that the Knoxville team was in the Tri-State League. Dale Alexander was the manager in both 1946 and 1947. The 1947 season closed on September 5, 1947. Charlotte was declared the league champion.
Playoffs - Charlotte defeated Spartanburg, four games to one; Anderson defeated Knoxville, four games to two; Charlotte defeated Anderson, four games to three.
News and Notes
- Outfielder Cheno Bernal made a free agent by Knoxville of the Tri-State League, has signed with Charlotte of the same circuit. - The Sporting News - February 12, 1947, page 29
- Jim Poole, Jr., son of Jim Poole, Sr., former first baseman for the Philadelphia A's and manager of numerous minor league clubs, has signed to play with Knoxville in the Tri-State League. Young Poole is a secondbaseman and recently returned from the service. He was with Fort Pierce, Greensboro and Roanoke before joining the armed forces. - The Sporting News - March 26, 1947, page 25
- Atlanta sent ... outfielder Joe Moody to Knoxville. - The Sporting News - April 9, 1947, page 29
- Umpire Ellish Garner and Bill Kovach cleared the Knoxville bench in the Tri-State's first major rhubarb at Charlotte, April 26. After Fred March had been chased for protesting a third strike, the Smokies fired such a tirade at the two arbiters that every man on the bench, except Manager Dale Alexander, was ordered out. - The Sporting News - May 7, 1947, page 31
- Second Baseman Jim Poole of the Knoxville Tri-State League club has quite the game and asked to go on the voluntary retired list in or to re-enter the University of North Carolina. He has another year of university work to gain his degree and also will assist the Tarheel football coaching staff. - The Sporting News - May 14, 1947, page 31
- Knoxville - Bought Pitcher Woody Johnson from Portsmouth; rleased Pitchers Dick Douthat and Howard Peckman - The Sporting News - May 14, 1947, page 36
- A 19-game winner for Charlotte of the Tri-State League las season, Sonny Dixon made his first start for the Hornets, after his return from Chattanooga of the Southern Association, May 17, and lost to Knoxville, 5 to 2. - The Sporting News - May 28, 1947 - page 32
- Pitching his first shutout of the season, Gaspare Del Monte of the Charlotte Tri-State League club registered his fifth win, May 17, with a 3 to 0 decision over Knoxville, yielding only five hits to the Smokies. - The Sporting News - May 28, 1947 - page 32
- Knoxville - Sent Pitcher Paul Hice to Leaksville, released Outfielder Fred Marsh, Infielder Red Hawkins and Utilityman Bill Justicel acquired Outfielder Bob Churchill and Infielders George Gribble and Lloyd Moore from Greensvillel Signed Outfielder J.V. Oliver. - The Sporting News - June 11, 1947. page 32
- Memphis sold ... Outfielder William Burgo to Knoxville. - The Sporting News - June 18, 1947, page 16
- A home run by Roy Peeler with two on in the ninth ining gave Knoxvile a 7 to 6 Tri-State League victory over Charlotte, June 8, and enabled Lacy James to notch his ninth win of the season. Jame went the routhe, although the Hornets got to him for five runs in the second frame. - The Sporting News - June 18, 1947, page 37
- The city council at Knoxville, Tenn., took a step toward the return of Southern Association ball, instead of being content with the Tri-State variety, by agreeing to spend $75,000 in renovating Smithson Stadium grandstand, when and if a Double-A franchise is obtained. - The Sporting News - July 9, 1947, page 38
- Third Baseman Motto of Reidsville started a triple play against Knoxville in a Tri-State League game, June 26, snaring a line drive, with the relay catching runners off second and first. The play only kept down the score, as Knoxville won, 12 to 4. Leonard Cross made a home run, triple and double. - The Sporting News - July 9, 1947, page 38
- Roy Peeler of Knoxville, wha was blasted out of the Tri-State League all-star game by Anderson, two nights before, took the mound against the same team, July 18, and turned in a 7 to 4 victory on a six-hit performance. - The Sporting News - July 30, 1947, page 32
- Spartanburg and Knoxville completed a Tri-State League night game at Spartanburg, S.C., July 11, 1947, after all of the fans had left the park. A prankster switched off the lights in the ninth inning when Pete Milne apparently singled a runner home with the winning run for Spartanburg. Manager Dale Alexander of Knoxville protested that the light failure nullified the hit, but Plate Umpire Eddie Hearn held the tally counted and 2,355 cash customers filed out of the park. Later, the official scorer was hastily summoned from his residence to the park, where Umpire Hearn explained that League President C.M. Llewellyn, in a telephone conversation, had ordered play resumed at the point before Milne made his hit, with the bases loaded. Milne then grounded out and Lew Urcho flied out to force the game into an extra inning. Knoxville then tallied six times in the tenth to win, 13 to 7. - 1948 The Sporting News Baseball Guide and Record Book, page 341 - at archive.org
- Overruling President D.M. Llewellyn's disapproval of Spartanburg's protest against a replay of the game with Knoxville, halted when a prankster switched off the lights as the winning run crossed the plate, the Tri-State League's board of directors awarded the contest to the Spartans. The Smokies, originally won, 13 to 7. Erasure of the replay left Jim Kreckley with only three defeats and he celebrated July 31, by notching his fifteenth triumph. - The Sporting News - August 13, 1947, page 32
- A spectator at Spartanburg was arrested during a Tri-State League game with Knoxville, August 29, for throwing a pop bottle that hit Outfielder Joe Moody of the Smokies on the arm. - The Sporting News - September 10, 1947, page 32
League Final Standings
Team |
W |
L |
T |
PCT
|
Spartanburg |
88 |
51 |
1 |
.633
|
Anderson |
84 |
55 |
1 |
.604
|
Knoxville |
73 |
67 |
0 |
.521
|
Charlotte |
72 |
68 |
0 |
.514
|
Rock Hill |
68 |
71 |
0 |
.489
|
Asheville |
65 |
74 |
0 |
.468
|
Fayetteville |
61 |
78 |
0 |
.439
|
Reidsville |
45 |
92 |
0 |
.328
|
Team Names and Managerss
Team Names |
Manager 1 |
Manager 2
|
Spartanburg Peaches |
Kerby Ferrell |
|
Anderson Rebels |
Bob Richards |
|
Knoxville Smokies |
Dale Alexander |
|
Charlotte Hornets |
Spencer Abbott |
Cal Ermer
|
Rock Hill Chiefs |
Dan Carnavale |
|
Asheville Tourists |
William Sayles |
|
Fayetteville Cubs |
Clyde McDowell |
|
Reidsville Luckies |
Lee Gamble |
|
Statistics
League Batting
Team |
R/G |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
SB |
BB |
SO |
RBI |
BA |
SLG |
TB |
HB |
SH |
OR |
LOB
|
Knoxville |
5.39 |
140 |
4830 |
755 |
1380 |
255 |
82 |
58 |
125 |
525 |
527 |
695 |
.286 |
.408 |
1973 |
36 |
95 |
716 |
1074
|
Spartanburg |
6.11 |
140 |
4822 |
856 |
1377 |
230 |
68 |
64 |
113 |
641 |
668 |
770 |
.286 |
.401 |
1935 |
38 |
131 |
659 |
1162
|
Asheville |
5.47 |
139 |
4809 |
761 |
1372 |
187 |
71 |
48 |
105 |
585 |
565 |
676 |
.285 |
.384 |
1845 |
40 |
87 |
726 |
1149
|
Fayetteville |
5.36 |
139 |
4863 |
745 |
1348 |
255 |
41 |
66 |
122 |
516 |
716 |
659 |
.277 |
.387 |
1883 |
27 |
56 |
798 |
1110
|
Anderson |
5.64 |
140 |
4702 |
790 |
1289 |
221 |
54 |
83 |
142 |
588 |
574 |
591 |
.274 |
.397 |
1867 |
25 |
73 |
687 |
1023
|
Rock Hill |
5.06 |
139 |
4775 |
703 |
1305 |
215 |
69 |
52 |
66 |
567 |
668 |
648 |
.273 |
.380 |
1814 |
29 |
51 |
778 |
1107
|
Reidsville |
4.82 |
137 |
4657 |
661 |
1259 |
226 |
40 |
45 |
44 |
490 |
513 |
574 |
.270 |
.365 |
1700 |
44 |
70 |
920 |
1052
|
Charlotte |
5.06 |
140 |
4744 |
709 |
1253 |
205 |
65 |
26 |
72 |
551 |
624 |
641 |
.264 |
.351 |
1666 |
59 |
95 |
696 |
1128
|
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 |
HB |
SH |
Notes
|
Kollar |
Harold |
Knoxville |
|
L |
140 |
548 |
106 |
181 |
35 |
12 |
11 |
108 |
13 |
83 |
37 |
.330 |
.498 |
273 |
7 |
6 |
|
Moody |
Joseph |
Knoxville |
|
R |
133 |
496 |
97 |
159 |
43 |
11 |
5 |
87 |
9 |
68 |
50 |
.321 |
.482 |
239 |
2 |
10 |
|
Moore |
Lloyd |
Knoxville |
|
R |
71 |
266 |
55 |
85 |
23 |
1 |
2 |
38 |
11 |
43 |
10 |
.320 |
.436 |
116 |
0 |
6 |
|
Peeler |
Roy |
Knoxville |
|
L |
85 |
198 |
28 |
63 |
16 |
6 |
6 |
37 |
1 |
24 |
35 |
.318 |
.551 |
109 |
0 |
3 |
32 G at Char, 106 at Knox
|
Mincy |
Russell |
Charlotte |
Knoxville |
L |
138 |
522 |
85 |
164 |
35 |
11 |
2 |
90 |
3 |
74 |
20 |
.314 |
.435 |
227 |
5 |
11 |
|
Poole |
James Jr. |
Knoxville |
|
R |
15 |
55 |
7 |
17 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
12 |
.309 |
.364 |
20 |
0 |
4 |
|
Davis |
Lewis |
Knoxville |
|
R |
138 |
558 |
104 |
170 |
21 |
20 |
6 |
79 |
49 |
65 |
52 |
.305 |
.446 |
249 |
1 |
7 |
|
Gribble |
George |
Knoxville |
|
L |
96 |
370 |
72 |
109 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
33 |
13 |
48 |
23 |
.295 |
.324 |
120 |
4 |
12 |
|
Rocek |
James |
Knoxville |
|
R |
115 |
396 |
48 |
108 |
15 |
2 |
3 |
37 |
5 |
17 |
28 |
.273 |
.343 |
136 |
0 |
4 |
|
Cross |
Leonard |
Knoxville |
|
R |
114 |
438 |
69 |
119 |
26 |
11 |
21 |
78 |
7 |
29 |
84 |
.272 |
.525 |
230 |
4 |
3 |
|
Marsh |
Frederick |
Knoxville |
|
R |
41 |
169 |
16 |
44 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
24 |
9 |
5 |
11 |
.260 |
.349 |
59 |
2 |
4 |
|
Jackson |
Rufus |
Knoxville |
|
L |
55 |
135 |
11 |
35 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
11 |
15 |
.259 |
.311 |
42 |
1 |
0 |
|
Frye |
Dean |
Knoxville |
|
R |
27 |
95 |
18 |
24 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
.253 |
.368 |
35 |
5 |
4 |
|
Oliver |
Jefferson |
Knoxville |
|
R |
58 |
176 |
20 |
44 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
2 |
16 |
22 |
.250 |
.290 |
51 |
3 |
2 |
|
Justice |
William |
Knoxville |
|
R |
13 |
44 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
.227 |
.273 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|
James |
Lacy |
Knoxville |
|
L |
13 |
108 |
12 |
24 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
17 |
0 |
5 |
21 |
.222 |
.287 |
31 |
0 |
1 |
|
O’Shields |
Garland |
Knoxville |
|
R |
12 |
23 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
.217 |
.391 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
|
Pate |
Ralph |
Knoxville |
|
R |
41 |
78 |
5 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
.205 |
.231 |
18 |
0 |
5 |
|
Hawkins |
Fred |
Knoxville |
|
L |
13 |
44 |
2 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
6 |
.205 |
.250 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ennis |
Robert |
Knoxville |
|
L |
35 |
74 |
9 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
18 |
.162 |
.230 |
17 |
2 |
3 |
|
Rossi |
Alfred |
Knoxville |
|
R |
45 |
64 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
18 |
.141 |
.172 |
11 |
0 |
1 |
|
Bankston |
Thomas |
Knoxville |
|
R |
20 |
16 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
4 |
.125 |
.125 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Calfee |
Howard F. |
Knoxville |
|
R |
23 |
49 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
28 |
.122 |
.122 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
|
League Fielding
Team |
G |
Ch |
DP |
TP |
PB |
PO |
A |
E |
Fld %
|
Charlotte |
140 |
5264 |
132 |
0 |
11 |
3629 |
1430 |
205 |
.961
|
Asheville |
139 |
5350 |
117 |
0 |
15 |
3615 |
1521 |
214 |
.960
|
Knoxville |
140 |
5451 |
103 |
1 |
15 |
3652 |
1577 |
222 |
.959
|
Anderson |
140 |
5264 |
114 |
3 |
16 |
3604 |
1421 |
239 |
.955
|
Rock Hill |
139 |
5431 |
102 |
0 |
23 |
3604 |
1577 |
250 |
.954
|
Fayetteville |
139 |
5312 |
98 |
1 |
18 |
3573 |
1490 |
249 |
.953
|
Spartanburg |
140 |
5403 |
134 |
0 |
15 |
3659 |
1481 |
263 |
.951
|
Reidsville |
137 |
5343 |
117 |
2 |
30 |
3459 |
1614 |
270 |
.949
|
Knoxville Individual Fielding
Last Name |
First Name |
Throwing Hand |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Position |
G |
Ch |
PO |
A |
E |
DP |
PB |
TP |
PCT |
RF/G
|
Jackson |
Rufus |
R |
Knoxville |
|
C |
43 |
208 |
192 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
.995 |
4.814
|
Rocek |
James |
R |
Knoxville |
|
C |
112 |
754 |
671 |
73 |
10 |
7 |
12 |
1 |
.987 |
6.643
|
Kollar |
Harold |
L |
Knoxville |
|
1B |
140 |
1304 |
1214 |
68 |
22 |
93 |
|
1 |
.983 |
9.157
|
Rossi |
Alfred |
R |
Knoxville |
|
P |
39 |
55 |
12 |
42 |
1 |
1 |
|
0 |
.982 |
1.385
|
Peeler |
Roy |
L |
Knoxville |
|
P |
35 |
51 |
4 |
46 |
1 |
2 |
|
0 |
.980 |
1.429
|
Ennis |
Robert |
R |
Knoxville |
|
P |
35 |
43 |
8 |
34 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
.977 |
1.200
|
Moore |
Lloyd |
R |
Knoxville |
|
2B |
71 |
390 |
180 |
200 |
10 |
36 |
|
0 |
.974 |
5.352
|
Davis |
Lewis |
R |
Knoxville |
|
OF |
108 |
291 |
269 |
13 |
9 |
4 |
|
0 |
.969 |
2.611
|
Oliver |
Jefferson |
R |
Knoxville |
|
2B |
19 |
84 |
33 |
48 |
3 |
7 |
|
0 |
.964 |
4.263
|
Davis |
Lewis |
R |
Knoxville |
|
2B |
26 |
134 |
61 |
67 |
6 |
9 |
|
0 |
.955 |
4.923
|
Moody |
Joseph |
R |
Knoxville |
|
OF |
132 |
221 |
196 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
|
0 |
.946 |
1.583
|
Poole |
James Jr. |
R |
Knoxville |
|
2B |
15 |
89 |
43 |
41 |
5 |
11 |
|
0 |
.944 |
5.600
|
Oliver |
Jefferson |
R |
Knoxville |
|
3B |
31 |
88 |
34 |
49 |
5 |
4 |
|
0 |
.943 |
2.677
|
Gribble |
George |
R |
Knoxville |
|
SS |
96 |
482 |
148 |
306 |
28 |
38 |
|
0 |
.942 |
4.729
|
Frye |
Dean |
R |
Knoxville |
|
SS |
22 |
112 |
37 |
68 |
7 |
16 |
|
0 |
.938 |
4.773
|
Mincy |
Russell |
L |
Charlotte |
Knoxville |
OF |
138 |
258 |
226 |
16 |
16 |
1 |
|
0 |
.938 |
1.754
|
James |
Lacy |
L |
Knoxville |
|
P |
31 |
32 |
6 |
24 |
2 |
0 |
|
0 |
.938 |
0.968
|
Pate |
Ralph |
R |
Knoxville |
|
P |
31 |
30 |
8 |
20 |
2 |
2 |
|
0 |
.933 |
0.903
|
Hawkins |
Fred |
R |
Knoxville |
|
SS |
13 |
68 |
29 |
33 |
6 |
4 |
|
1 |
.912 |
4.769
|
Marsh |
Frederick |
R |
Knoxville |
|
OF |
38 |
96 |
86 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
|
0 |
.906 |
2.289
|
Cross |
Leonard |
R |
Knoxville |
|
3B |
114 |
371 |
124 |
211 |
36 |
18 |
|
0 |
.903 |
2.939
|
Bankston |
Thomas |
R |
Knoxville |
|
P |
18 |
19 |
1 |
16 |
2 |
1 |
|
0 |
.895 |
0.944
|
Peeler |
Roy |
L |
Knoxville |
|
OF |
38 |
64 |
57 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
0 |
.891 |
1.500
|
Calfee |
Howard F. |
R |
Knoxville |
|
P |
23 |
25 |
1 |
18 |
6 |
0 |
|
0 |
.760 |
0.826
|
Knoxville Individual Pitching
Last Name |
First Name |
Throwing Hand |
Team |
W |
L |
Pct. |
ERA |
G |
CG |
SHO |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HBP |
BK |
WP |
WHIP |
H9 |
BB9 |
SO9 |
SO/W |
AB |
SH
|
Peeler |
Roy |
L |
Knoxville |
10 |
6 |
.625 |
3.99 |
35 |
10 |
0 |
185 |
188 |
97 |
82 |
82 |
167 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
1.459 |
9.1 |
4.0 |
8.1 |
2.0 |
716 |
18
|
Calfee |
Howard F. |
R |
Knoxville |
9 |
11 |
.450 |
4.19 |
23 |
8 |
0 |
144 |
158 |
88 |
67 |
64 |
89 |
9 |
1 |
3 |
1.542 |
9.9 |
4.0 |
5.6 |
1.4 |
582 |
8
|
Ennis |
Robert |
R |
Knoxville |
16 |
9 |
.640 |
4.20 |
35 |
14 |
0 |
197 |
205 |
105 |
92 |
79 |
138 |
7 |
0 |
4 |
1.442 |
9.4 |
3.6 |
6.3 |
1.7 |
775 |
9
|
Bankston |
Thomas |
R |
Knoxville |
2 |
2 |
.500 |
4.24 |
18 |
1 |
0 |
51 |
55 |
26 |
24 |
21 |
24 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1.490 |
9.7 |
3.7 |
4.2 |
1.1 |
195 |
4
|
Rossi |
Alfred |
R |
Knoxville |
10 |
13 |
.435 |
4.25 |
39 |
6 |
0 |
182 |
179 |
108 |
86 |
69 |
83 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
1.363 |
8.9 |
3.4 |
4.1 |
1.2 |
716 |
10
|
James |
Lacy |
L |
Knoxville |
13 |
11 |
.542 |
4.39 |
31 |
17 |
1 |
203 |
225 |
110 |
99 |
83 |
136 |
19 |
0 |
3 |
1.517 |
10.0 |
3.7 |
6.0 |
1.6 |
809 |
8
|
Pate |
Ralph |
R |
Knoxville |
8 |
12 |
.400 |
5.60 |
31 |
10 |
0 |
167 |
207 |
119 |
104 |
76 |
78 |
16 |
0 |
5 |
1.695 |
11.2 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
1.0 |
699 |
7
|
References / Resources
Credit
This page was assembled and presented by Mark D. Aubrey.
Please see Copyright info.