By George Frasher, Leesville Leader Editor
On July 16, 1950, the Angels of Lufkin, Texas, of the Class C Gulf States Minor League, moved to Leesville to finish the season as the Leesville Angels.
Even with a 32-19 record in July in Lufkin, the attendance was bad enough the management decided to move the team to Leesville. Possibly, it was felt the support Leesville citizens had given a semi-pro town team in the old Red River Valley League, was an omen to cut the team’s financial losses.
The Leesville Angels played in the old ballpark located in what is now the Vernon Parish School Board, East Leesville Elementary and Wampus Cat Stadium. Home plate was where the Board office is now located.
The Leesville Angels won their first game 8-0 over the Port Arthur Seahawks on Sunday, July 16, 1950.
A pitcher named Wallie Eaves went the distance for the Angels. Class C ball in those days was a major requirement since teams were limited to 17 players on the active roster and played some 145 games.
The Angels came back on Monday night to again shut out the Seahawks 2-0. They were kept from sweeping the series Tuesday night, losing 7 to 0 to the Seahawks. Marlin Pox was the loser for Leesville.
Other cities in the Gulf States League that year were the Crowley Millers, the Galveston White Caps, and Jacksonville Jaxs. The Angles finished the season with a record of 75-70, good for fourth place and a spot in the post season Shaughnassy Playoffs that were popular in the Minor Leagues in those days. However, Crowley eliminated Leesville in the first round, 4 games to 2.
That marked the end in Leesville for organized semi-pro baseball.
Jim Garner, the catcher who came with the team from Lufkin, liked Leesville so much that when the season ended he also ended his career in professional baseball and became a permanent resident. Garner ran a service station for a number of years that was located on Fifth Street, across from where Hixson’s Funeral Home (now Leesville City Hall) is located.