Henderson Gamecocks

The Henderson Gamecocks were a minor league baseball team based in Henderson, North Carolina. From 1929 to 1931, Henderson teams played exclusively as members of the Class C level Piedmont League, winning the 1930 pennant. The 1929 team was known as the "Henderson Bunnies," in reference to manager Bunny Hearn. The Bunnies and the Gamecocks hosted minor league home games as Lassiter Park.

Henderson Gamecocks
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass C (1929–1931)
LeaguePiedmont League (1929–1931)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (1)1930
Team data
NameHenderson Bunnies (1929)
Henderson Gamecocks (1930–1931)
BallparkLassiter Park (1929–1931)

History

Henderson, North Carolina first hosted league baseball play in 1929. The Henderson Bunnies became members of the six–team Class C level Piedmont League. The Durham Bulls, Greensboro Patriots, High Point Pointers, Salisbury-Spencer Colonials,and Winston-Salem Twins joined Henderson as 1929 league members. The Henderson franchise replaced the Raleigh Capitals in league play.[1][2]

Beginning Piedmont League play on April 24, 1929, the Henderson Bunnies placed fifth in the six–team Piedmont League regular season standings. The Bunnies ended the regular season with a record of 54–85, playing under manager and "Bunnies" namesake Bunny Hearn. On May 24, 1929, Hearn was replaced as manager by Lewis Murphy. Other managers during the season were Guy Winston and Lee Gooch. Henderson finished 32.5 games behind the first place Durham Bulls in the final Piedmont League regular season standings. The Bunnies did not qualify for the two–team playoffs won by the Greensboro Patriots.[3][4][5][6]

Continuing in their second season of play, the team became known as the Henderson "Gamecocks" and won the 1930 Piedmont League pennant. The Gamecocks placed first in the six–team Piedmont League regular season standings, ending the regular season with a record of 78–63, playing under manager Jimmy Teague. Henderson finished 9.0 games ahead the second place Durham Bulls in the Piedmont League regular season standings and qualified for the two–team playoff. The Durham Bulls defeated the Henderson 4 games to 3 in the Finals.[7][8][9][6]

In their final season of play, the 1931 Henderson Gamecocks played in the final season of eight–team Piedmont League, which expanded in 1931 adding the Asheville Tourists and Charlotte Hornets franchises. The Gamecocks ended their final season in seventhth place. With a record of 51–82, playing under managers Jimmy Teague and Mack Arnette, the Gamecocks finished 42.5 games behind the first place Charlotte Hornets in the final regular season standings. Henderson did not qualify for the two–team playoff, won by the Charlotte Hornets. The Piedmont League permanently folded following the 1931 season.[2][10][11][12][6]

Henderson, North Carolina has not hosted another minor league team.[13]

(1930) Main street, looking North. Henderson, North Carolina

The ballpark

The Henderson Bunnies and Gamecocks teams hosted home minor league home games at Lassiter Park. It was reported the ballpark had a capacity of 3,000.[14]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
19291Henderson BunniesClass CPiedmont LeagueNoneLassiter Park
1930–19312Henderson Gamecocks

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
192954–855thBunny Hearn / Guy Winston /
Lewis Murphy / Lee Gooch		Did not qualify
193078–631stJimmy TeagueLeague pennant
Lost in Finals
193151–827thJimmy Teague / Mack ArnetteDid not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Henderson Bunnies players
Henderson Gamecocks players

References
  1. "1929 Piedmont League (PL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "Piedmont League (C) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1929 Piedmont League (PL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1929 Henderson Bunnies minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1929 Henderson Bunnies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  7. "1930 Piedmont League (PL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1930 Henderson Gamecocks minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1930 Henderson Gamecocks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1931 Henderson Gamecocks minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1931 Piedmont League (PL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1931 Piedmont League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Henderson, North Carolina Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Lassiter Park (Field) in Henderson, NC minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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