Greeneville Burley Cubs

The Greeneville Burley Cubs were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Appalachian League from 1921 to 1925 and 1938 to 1942. The were located in Greeneville, Tennessee, and played their home games at Greeneville City Park in their second run and at an unknown ballpark in their first stretch.

Greeneville Burley Cubs
1921–1942
(1921–1925, 1938–1942)
Greeneville, Tennessee
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1921–1925, 1938–1942)
LeagueAppalachian League (1921–1925, 1938–1942)
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1938
Pennants (1)1925
First half titles (1)1921
Team data
NameGreeneville Burley Cubs (1921–1925, 1938–1942)
Ballpark
  • Greeneville City Park (1938–1942)
  • Unknown (1921–1925)

The Burly Cubs were affiliated with four Major League Baseball teams over their 10-year run in Greeneville: the Chicago Cubs (1938 and 1940), Cleveland Indians (1939), and Boston Braves (1942). Over all 10 seasons of competition, their all-time regular season win–loss record was 482–486 (.498). They won the Appalachian League pennant in 1925 and the league's playoff championship in 1938.

History

First stretch (1921–1925)

The Burley Cubs became the first professional baseball team to hail from Greeneville, Tennessee, when they joined the Appalachian League in 1921.[1] They opened their inaugural season with a 2–1 road victory over the Johnson City Soldiers on May 12.[2] Greeneville won the first half of the league's split season on the way to compiling a full season record of 58–48 (.547).[3] In the postseason championship playoffs, the Burley Cubs lost to Johnson City, five games to one.[3]

Greeneville ended the 1922 season last of six teams with a record of 50–70 (.417).[4] The 1923 team improved to 51–56 (.477).[5] From 1924 to 1925, the club was managed by former Baltimore Terrapins catcher Harvey Russell.[6] He led the team to a third-place 54–52 (.509) finish in 1924, but they missed the playoffs having not won either half of the season.[7] On July 15, 1925, the Bristol State Liners dropped out of the league due to financial difficulties, and the remaining three-team league disbanded the same day.[8] The Burley Cubs lost both games of a doubleheader to the Morristown Roosters, 3–2 and 10–4, on July 15.[8] At the time of the disbandment, Greeneville was in first place with a 28–16 (.636) record, making them the de facto pennant winners.[9] Over five years of competition, the team's all-time record was 250–222 (.530).

Second stretch (1938–1942)
Burley Cub Dale Alexander (1923–1924, 1942) was a native of Greeneville.

The Appalachian League reorganized 12 years later in 1937 without a Greeneville team.[10] The Burley Cubs were revived in 1938 as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.[1][11] They won their May 12 Opening Day road game versus the Newport Canners, 9–4.[12] They were defeated in the next day's home opener against Newport, 10–3.[13] Greeneville ended the season in third place, qualifying for the playoffs, at 60–45 (.571).[14] They won the semifinals, defeating the Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, two games to none.[14] They then won the Appalachian League championship against the Kingsport Cherokees, 3–1.[14]

In 1939, the team became an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.[15] They qualified for the playoffs again with a fourth-place 65–54 (.546) finish,[16] but were eliminated by Elizabethton in the first round, 2–1.[16] The 1940 club, which had re-affiliated with the Chicago Cubs,[17] qualified for the league's expanded playoffs with a fifth-place mark at 55–63 (.466).[18] They defeated Newport, 2–1, to advance to the semifinals, where they lost to the Johnson City Cardinals, 2–1.[18] An unaffiliated 1941 team placed fifth, missing a contracted version of the playoffs, at 43–75 (.364).[19]

The Burly Cubs affiliated with the Boston Braves for 1942 and were managed by ex-major leaguer Dale Alexander.[20] On June 15, standing last of six teams, Greeneville surrendered its franchise to the Appalachian League.[21] Their 9–27 (.250) record hampered attendance, resulting in financial problems for owner Carl Lyerly.[21][22] They dropped their final two games to Elizabethton, a June 12 home doubleheader, 5–0 and 9–4.[23] Over their second five-year run, the team accumulated a record of 232–264 (.468). Combining all 10 years of competition, their all-time record was 482–486 (.498).

Greeneville did not return to professional baseball until the Greeneville Astros began competition in the Appalachian League in 2004.[1]

Season-by-season results
Season Regular season Postseason MLB affiliate Ref.
Record Win % Finish GB Record Win % Result
1921 58–48 .547 2nd (tie) ​4 1⁄2 1–5 .167 Won first half title
Lost Appalachian League championship vs. Johnson City Soldiers, 5–1		 — [3]
1922 51–56 .477 4th ​16 1⁄2 — — — — [4]
1923 59–50 .541 2nd ​1 1⁄2 — — — — [5]
1924 54–52 .509 3rd 11 — — — — [7]
1925 28–16 .623 1st — — — Won Appalachian League pennant — [9]
1938 60–45 .571 3rd 7 5–1 .833 Won semifinals vs. Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, 2–0
Won Appalachian League championship vs. Kingsport Cherokees, 3–1		 Chicago Cubs [14]
1939 65–54 .546 4th 6 1–2 .333 Lost semifinals vs. Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, 2–1 Cleveland Indians [16]
1940 55–63 .466 5th ​29 1⁄2 3–3 .500 Won quarterfinals vs. Newport Canners, 2–1
Lost semifinals vs. Johnson City Cardinals, 2–1		 Chicago Cubs [18]
1941 43–75 .364 5th 30 — — — — [19]
1942 9–27 .250 DNF DNF — — — Boston Braves [22]
Totals 482–486 .498 — — 10–11 .476 — — —

Notable players

Nine Burley Cubs also played in at least one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their season with Greeneville were:

References
  1. "Greeneville, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  2. "Soldiers Lose to Burly Cubs". The Journal and Tribune. Knoxville. May 13, 1921. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "1921 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  4. "1922 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  5. "1923 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  6. "Harvey Russell Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  7. "1924 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  8. "App League". The Knoxville Journal. Knoxville. July 16, 1925. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "1925 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  10. "1937 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  11. "1938 Greeneville Burley Cubs Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  12. Shelton, James (May 13, 1938). "Greeneville Takes Opening Tilt from Newport 9 to 4". The Greeneville Sun. Greeneville. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Shelton, James (May 14, 1938). "Newport Defeats Greeneville to Even Series". The Greeneville Sun. Greeneville. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1938 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  15. "1939 Greeneville Burley Cubs Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  16. "1939 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  17. "1940 Greeneville Burley Cubs". Baseball-Reference. Sports-Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  18. "1940 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  19. "1941 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  20. "1942 Greeneville Burley Cubs". Baseball-Reference. Sports-Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  21. Shelton, James (June 15, 1942). "Cubs Surrender Franchise In Appalachian League". The Greeneville Sun. Greeneville. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "1942 Appalachian League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  23. "Minner Wins Pair For Sox". Johnson City Chronicle. Johnson City. June 13, 1942. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Dale Alexander Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  25. "Bob Brady Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  26. "Jim Brillheart Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  27. "Buddy Crump Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  28. "Cookie Cuccurullo Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  29. "Abie Hood Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  30. "John O'Neil Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  31. "Merle Settlemire Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  32. "Frank Watt Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
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