New Iberia Sugar Boys

The New Iberia Sugar Boys were a minor league baseball team based Alexandria, Louisiana. In 1920, the Sugar Boys played as members of the short–lived Class D level Louisiana State League, as New Iberia folded from the league in a shortened season. The Sugar Boys hosted home games at the New Iberia Park and were succeeded by the 1924 New Iberia Cardinals of the Evangeline League.

New Iberia Sugar Boys
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1920)
LeagueLouisiana State League (1920)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameNew Iberis Sugar Boys (1920)
BallparkNew Iberia City Park (1920)

History

In 1920, the New Iberia "Sugar Boys" began play as charter members of the Class D level Louisiana State League.[1] The Abbeville Sluggers, Alexandria Tigers, Lafayette Hubs, Oakdale Lumberjacks and Rayne Rice Birds joined Alexandria in beginning league play on April 20, 1920.[2][3]

The use of the "Sugar Boys" nickname ties to local sugar cane agriculture and history.[4] Today, New Iberia remains home to the annual "Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival."[5][6]

During their first season of play, the Sugar Boys folded during the season. On July 6, 1920, the New Iberia and the Rayne Rice Birds teams both folded. Shortly after, the Louisiana State League itself permanently folded on July 14, 1920. Managed by Daniel Gandolfi, the Sugar Boys were in a battle for 1st place with a 36–25 record when the team folded during the season. When New Iberia and Rayne simultaneously folded on July 6, 1920, it left the league with four teams for the next eight days of league play.[2][7] Oakdale had won the first–half title and the Abbeville Sluggers had the best second–half record when the league folded.[8] Overall, the Oakdale Lumberjacks finished 1.0 game ahead 2nd place New Iberia Sugar Boys (36–25) in the final standings. They were followed by the Lafayette Hubs (36–31), Abbeville Sluggers (33–35), Rayne Rice Birds (30–33) and Alexandria Tigers (23–47) in the final 1920 Louisiana State League standings.[9][3]

New Iberia was without minor league baseball until the 1934 New Iberia Cardinals began play as members of the Class D level Evangeline League.[10][3]

The ballpark

The 1920 New Iberia Sugar Boys hosted minor league home games at the New Iberia Park. The ballpark was located at Marie Street & Parkview Drive.[11] Today, New Iberia City Park is still in use as a public park with ballfields and other amenities. The park is located at 300 Parkview Drive.[12]

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
192036–252ndDaniel GandolfiTeam folded July 6
League folded July 14

Notable alumni

The player roster for the 1920 New Iberia Sugar Boys is unknown.[1][7]

References
  1. "1920 New Iberia Sugar Boys Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1920 Louisiana State League (LSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  4. Worth, Richard (February 21, 2013). Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011. McFarland. ISBN 9780786491247 – via Google Books.
  5. "Home". Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival.
  6. "History of Sugar Cane in Louisiana". Iberia Travel. August 20, 2020.
  7. "1920 New Iberia Sugar Boys minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1920 Louisiana State League (LSL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1920 Louisiana State League (LSL) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1934 New Iberia Cardinals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. "New Iberia City Park in New Iberia, LA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "PARK LOCATIONS". Cityofni.
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