Texas Leaguer

Tom came through with another minor league giant bat. This one is also a Texas Leaguer.

In 1919, Billy Smith managed the Shreveport Gassers to a 81-64 record, good for 3rd place. But they must have stepped up their game in the post season, taking home the league championship and inspiring this giant bat. The Texas League was Class B at the time.

In 1942, the Shreveport club was called the Sports. Currently, the town boasts the independent Captains.

3B/Manager Salty Parker was not deterred when the club finished 2nd at 83-61. They brought home their first title in 23 years, winning the Texas League crown, long a class A circuit, despite Dick Wakefield of the Beaumont Exporters winning Player of the Year honors.

Salty, a baseball lifer, managed at many levels of ball from 1939 to 1976, including 12 big league games. He's the only undefeated Houston major league manager (1-0), and is a member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame. More.

Joe Vitter, left, a 31-year-old OF in the middle of a 16-season minor league career, hit .220 with five homers.

Jerry Bozeman, went on to found the town of Bozeman, MT ... OK, that's not true.

The team and the league shut down before the next season for the duration of WWII.