Lake Charles Lakers

The Lake Charles Lakers was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball franchises based in Lake Charles, Louisiana between 1906–1957. Lake Charles played as members of the South Texas League (1906), Gulf Coast League (1907–1908), Cotton States League (1929–1930), Evangeline League (1934–1942), Gulf Coast League (1950–1953) and Evangeline League (1954–1957).

Lake Charles Lakers
1906–1957
(1906–1908, 1929–1930, 1934–1942, 1950–1957)
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class B (1950–1953)
  • Class C (1906–1908, 1929–1930, 1934–1942, 1954–1957)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 3 1907, 1908, 1938
Conference titles 1938, 1940
Team data
Previous names
  • Lake Charles Creoles (1906–1908)
  • Lake Charles Newporters (1929–1930)
  • Lake Charles Explorers (1934)
  • Lake Charles Skippers (1935–1942)
  • Lake Charles Lakers (1950–1955)
  • Lake Charles Giants (1956–1957)
Previous parks
  • Legion Field (1934–1957)
  • American Legion Park/Killen Fild (1929–1930)
  • Athletic Field (1906–1908)

Lake Charles was an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds (1935), Detroit Tigers (1937), Chicago Cubs (1941) and New York Giants (1956).

History

Lake Charles minor league baseball began with the 1906 Lake Charles Creoles. The Creoles played in the South Texas League and the Gulf Coast League (1907-1908). Later, after a two decade stretch without a professional team, the Lake Charles Newporters formed as members of the Cotton States League (1929-1930). The Lake Charles Explorers, (1929–1930) Lake Charles Skippers (1935–1942) and Lake Charles Giants (1956–1957) played as members of the Evangeline League.[1]

The Lake Charles Creoles rebounded from a 30–94 initial season and captured the 1907 Gulf League Championship. On May 8, 1907, Thomas Haley of the Creoles pitched a no–hitter in defeating the Lafayette Browns 3–0. In 1908, the Creoles were leading the 1908 standings with a 18–9 record, when the South Texas League folded.[2][3]

The Lake Charles Newporters were formed when the Meridian Mets moved to Lake Charles on June 17, 1929. On August 9, 1929, Newporters pitcher Pete Newman pitched a no–hitter against the Vicksburg Hill Billies in a 5–0 victory. The Newporters finished the 1929 season 28–43. The Lake Chares Newporters were 24–37, when the team disbanded on June 17, 1930.[4][5]

A new Legion Field was constructed in 1934. However, a fire destroyed the grandstands on May 29, 1934. Therefore, the Lake Charles Explorers of the Evangeline League were forced to finish the season in Jeanerette, Louisiana, playing as the Jeanerette Blues and spawning a new franchise in Jeanerette. The team was 14–13 in Lake Charles and finished 39-42 overall.[6]

The Lake Charles Skippers were formed in 1935, beginning play in the now-rebuilt Legion Field. The Skippers were affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds (1935), Detroit Tigers (1937) and Chicago Cubs (1941) and members of the Evangeline League. The Skippers captured the Evangeline League Championship in 1938. The Evangeline League folded on May 30. 1942.[7]

The 1950 Lake Charles Lakers were founding members of the revised Gulf Coast League (1950–1953). After the demise of the Gulf Coast League, the Lakers joined the Evangeline League (1954–1957). The unaffiliated Lakers finished no higher than 4th in any of their six seasons and never had a winning record.[1][8]

In 1956, the franchise secured an affiliation with the New York Giants, becoming the Lake Charles Giants in the Evangeline League. The Giants finished 62–62 in 1956, losing in the playoffs. The Lake Charles Giants finished 43–67 in 1957, missing the playoffs. Lake Charles folded after the 1957 season.[9]

The ballparks

The Lake Charles Creoles played at Athletic Field (1906–1908). The Athletic Field was owned by the Lake Charles Athletic Association. The ballpark was utilized as a baseball spring training site by the Philadelphia Athletics.[10][11]

The Lake Charles Newporters played at American Legion Park. American Legion Park was located on 3rd street, near Enterprise Avenue in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The original ballpark was later re-purposed and renamed Killen Field. Today, the site is still in use today as a high school football stadium and is called Cougar Stadium. There is an historical marker at the site honoring Killen Field.[12][13][14]

Opening in 1934, Lake Charles teams played at the newLegion Field. The ballpark is still in use today, located directly across the street from Cougar Stadium. The original grandstands burned down just two months after the ballpark originally opened, but they were rebuilt for the 1935 season. The ballpark also hosted games by the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues. In 2009, Legion Field was renovated and renamed Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field, after Lake Charles native and big league player and manager Alvin Dark.[15][16][17]

Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field is located at 1450 5th Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70601. In 2019, the ballpark was chosen as a four-year host site for the "New Balance Future Stars Series National Championships" baseball series. The series is a national tournament for teams of top high school players.[18][19][20]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Lake Charles, LA - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Lake Charles Creoles - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  3. "Minor League No-Hitters 1900-1909 - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  4. "Lake Charles Newporters - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  5. "Minor League No-Hitters 1930-1939 - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  6. "Lake Charles Explorers - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  7. "Lake Charles Skippers - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  8. "Lake Charles Lakers - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  9. "Lake Charles Giants - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  10. "Athletic Field in Lake Charles, LA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  11. United States Congressional serial set, Issue 7987, v.21, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1922. p, 173.
  12. "American Legion Park in Lake Charles, LA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". statscrew.com.
  13. "Cougar Stadium - Lake Charles, Louisiana - StadiumConnection.com". stadiumconnection.com.
  14. "Killen Field - Lake Charles - LA - US". Historical Marker Project.
  15. "Legion Field (Lake Charles) - BR Bullpen". baseball-reference.com.
  16. "City dedicates Alvin Dark Stadium at Legion Field". kplctv.com.
  17. "Legion Field - Lake Charles Louisiana - Former Home of the Lake Charles Lakers / Giants". digitalballparks.com.
  18. "Legion Field". visitlakecharles.org.
  19. Arceneaux, Warren. "Another one for the home team". Lake Charles American Press.
  20. "New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Finds New Home". Future Stars Series. November 8, 2019.

External References

Clark Field Photos
Baseball Reference

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