Hattiesburg Pinetoppers

Hattiesburg joined the Baton Rouge Cajuns, Greenville Cotton Pickers, Jackson Senators, Meridian White Ribbons, Natchez Indians, Pine Bluff Lumbermen and Vicksburg Hill Climbers teams in beginning Cotton State League play on April 20, 1905.

[7][9] The Hattiesburg managers in their first Cotton State League season were the returning Conrad Best and Perry Werden.

[15][16] Hattiesburg manager Perry Werden was both a pitcher and hitter for seven seasons in the early major leagues.

The Hattiesburg "Timberjacks" became members of the six-team, Class D level Cotton States League, which was reforming after not playing the 1909 season.

[20] Hattiesburg joined the Greenwood Scouts, Jackson Tigers, Meridian White Ribbons, Vicksburg Hill Billies and Yazoo City Zoos teams in beginning league play on May 2, 1910.

Pratt later advanced to the major leagues, where he played 13 seasons with career totals of 987 RBI, a .292 batting average and 45.7 WAR.

[7] Playing in 102 games at age 32, Smith totaled 137 hits in 342 at bats, adding 36 doubles and 9 home runs on the season.

[7] Pitcher Jim Bagby of Hattiesburg led the Cotton States League with 22 victories.

[7] A member of the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame, Jim Bagby pitched for Hattiesburg in both the 1910 and 1911 seasons.

[30] Bagby made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1912 after his successful 1911 season with Hattiesburg.

Carlos Smith managed the team, which finished 9.5 games behind the first place Vicksburg Hill Billies.

[34][7] Hattiesburg/Columbus player/manager Carlos Smith won his second consecutive Cotton States League batting title in 1912, hitting .348.

Blanchfield led the Cotton States League with both 116 runs scored and 140 total hits.

[38] The Clarksdale Cubs, Greenville Swamp Angels, Greenwood Indians, Laurel Lumberjacks, Jackson Senators, Meridian Mets and Vicksburg Hill Billies teams joined with Hattiesburg in beginning league play on April 18, 1923.

[7] The Hattiesburg Hubman joined the Brookhaven Truckers, Jackson Senators, Laurel Lumberjacks, Monroe Drillers and Vicksburg Hill Billies teams in resuming league play on May 8, 1924.

[44][45] Having played with the Paducah Indians in 1923,[46] William "Herschel" Bobo, was hired to serve as the player/manager for Hattiesburg in 1924 at age 27.

[47][48] In 1924, Hobo began a five-year tenure as the player/manager for Hattiesburg by leading the team to the first of two Cotton States League championships.

A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Bobo began simultaneously coaching three college sports teams in 1924, in addition to his minor league baseball player/manager responsibilities.

[54][7][55] Player/manager Herschel Bobo led the Cotton States League with 91 runs scored and also batted hit .317 in 98 games for Hattiesburg.

Hattiesburg pitcher Buddy Williamson led the Cotton States with 21 wins, compiling a 21–5 record on the season.

[56][57] Hattiesburg Pinetoppers ended the season with a record of 59–61 to place fifth in the league standings, playing under returning manager Herschel Bobo.

[62] In the era, Hattiesburg was a major center of the lumber industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[63][64] Led by returning manager Herschel Bobo, the Pinetoppers ended the 1926 season with a record of 77–46 to place first in the overall league standings, finishing 10.5 games ahead of the second Meridian White Ribbons.

[13] Hattiesburg teammates Hoot Gibson and Sammy Mack each scored 98 runs, most in the Cotton States League.

On Friday, August 13, he thew a no-hitter against the Monroe Drillers, Spruell had no walks in the game, but player/manager Herschel Bobo had two errors playing shortstop.

[67] As defending champions, the 1927 Hattiesburg Pinetoppers continued play in the eight-team, Class D level Cotton States League finishing in third place.

[68][69] With a record of 66–52 in the final overall standings, the Pinetoppers played the season under returning manager Herschel Bobo.

The Pinetoppers ended the season 9.0 games behind the first place Jackson Red Sox in the final overall standings.

[13] [82] In 1929, Herschel Bobo left Hattiesburg and stayed in the Cotton States League, beginning a tenure as the player/manager of the Jackson Senators.

[86][7] The Hattiesburg Pinetoppers did not return to the 1930 Cotton States League, as the franchise permanently folded following the 1929 season.

(1922) Del Pratt , New York Yankees . Pratt batted .367 with Hattiesburg in 1910.
(1921) Jim Bagby Sr. , Cleveland Indians Bagby won 22 games for Hattiesburg in 1911. He won 31 games for 1920 World Series Champion Cleveland.
(1920) Logging scene, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The logging and corresponding railroad industry in Hattiesburg in the era corresponds with the "Hubman" and "Pinetoppers" and related team nicknames.
(2011) Entrance to Hattiesburg Zoo . The Zoo is located within Kamper Park. The park parcel contained the former minor league ballfield for the Hattiesburg teams.