Greenville Cotton Pickers

[4] The Greenville franchise joined the Baton Rouge Cajuns, Natchez Indians and Vicksburg Hill Climbers teams as charter members in the newly formed league.

[1][5][6] The league schedule began on May 8, 1902, and Greenville opened at home on that date against Baton Rouge.

[10][11] In their first season of play the 1902 Greenville Cotton Pickers finished last in the four-team league in a close race between the four teams.

The manager was Bell Hebron as Greenville finished 3.0 games behind the first place Natchez Indians in the final standings.

[13] John Lawrence Hebron Jr., nicknamed "Bell" was a Greenville native who was a local attorney.

[27] The Grays had a 53–64 record under manager Billy Smith and finished 21.5 games behind the first place Baton Rouge Red Sticks in the final standings.

[28][29][12] Greenville player/manager Billy Smith won the Cotton States League batting title, hitting .308.

[30][31] In 1903, Rothermel had played in the league Cotton States for the Baton Rouge Red Sticks.

The Cotton Pickers ended the season 20.0 games behind the first place Pine Bluff Lumbermen.

[35] Blackwell pitched for the Cotton Pickers in 1904 at age 34 and compiled an 18–12 record in 30 games for Greenville.

[36] Blackburn ended his 15-season professional career in the Cotton States League 1908 with the Vicksburg Hill Climbers.

[12] Greenville was led by manager George Reed and placed first in league standings in the shortened season.

The Cotton Pickers had a record of 50–25 as Greenville finished 5.5 games ahead of the second place Meridian White Ribbons in the standings.

[38][39][12] Greenville player Mike Welday won the Cotton States League batting title, hitting .349 in the shortened season.

[43][30] He served as the player-manager of the Denver Bears in 1916 and 1917 and later attempted to purchase the Pittsburgh Pirates, which proved unsuccessful.

[48] He also pursued purchasing the Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals and was unsuccessful in each instance.

(1911) Howie Camnitz , Pittsburgh Pirates .Camnitz pitched for Greenville in 1902, In 1909 he won 25 games as the Pirates won the 1909 World Series .
George H. "Admiral" Schlei , New York Giants . Schlei played for Greenville in 1902 before advancing to the major leagues.
(1906) Bobby Rothermel . Rothermel was the player/manager of the 1904 Greenville Cotton Pickers.
(1910) Rebel Oakes , St. Louis Cardinals . Oakes played for Greenville in 1905, He later became the namesake player-manager for the Pittsburgh Rebels franchise of the shirt-lived Federal League .