Marlin Marlins

The Marlin Marlins was the initial moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Marlin, Texas between 1916 and 1925. Marlin teams played as members of the Class D level Central Texas League in 1916 to 1917 and Texas Association from 1923 to 1925.

Marlin Marlins
1916–1925
(1916–1917, 1923–1925)
Marlin, Texas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass D (1916–1917, 1923–1925)
Previous leagues
Central Texas League (1916–1917)
Texas Association (1923–1925)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Marlin Marlins (1916–1917)
Marlin Bathers (1923–1925)
Previous parks
Marlin City Park (1916–1917, 1923–1925)

Four Major league baseball teams, most notably the New York Giants trained in Marlin, Texas for spring training from 1904 to 1918, overlapping with the beginning of minor league baseball in Marlin.

History

The Marlin Marlins were formed in 1916, playing as members of the Class D level Central Texas League, which formed as a six–team minor league. The six members of the 1916 Central Texas League were Marlin and the Ennis Tigers, Mexia Gassers, Temple Governors, Terrell Terrors and Waxahachie Buffaloes.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

In their first season of league play, the 1916 Marlin Marlins finished last in the league standings. Marlin was in 6th place when the Central Texas League folded on July 16, 1916. With a 25–36 record, the Marlins placed 6th in the Central Texas League standings under managers Bob Tarleton, Bob Countryman and Fielder Murra. The Marlin Marlins finished 11.0 games behind the 1st place Temple Governors.[1][7][8][2][9][5]

The Marlin Marlins played their final Central Texas League season in the 1917, as the league permanently folded during the season. The Central Texas League began the season as a four–team league. The Marlins finished in 3rd place overall after the Central Texas League began their third season of play on May 21, 1917 and disbanded on June 6, 1916. The other final league members joining Marlin in 1917 were the Ennis Tigers (8–7), Mexia Gassers (8–6) and Temple Governors/ Corsicana Athletics (6–8). With a 7–8 record when the league folded, the Marlins finished 1.5 games behind the 1st place Mexia Gassers. The 1917 Marlins played under managers H. Sinclair and Ray Wakefield.[7][10][11][12]

Minor league baseball returned in 1923, as the Marlin Bathers became charter members of the Class D level Texas Association.The "Bathers" moniker likely derived from hot, mineral water that brought tourists to Marlin, Texas in the era. The six–team league began play in 1923 with the Austin Rangers, Corsicana Oilers, Marlin Bathers, Mexia Gushers, Sherman-Denison Twins, and Waco Indians as members. The Bathers finished with a record of 63–7, placing 5th Texas Association regular season standings. Playing under manager Walt Alexander, Marlin finished 14.0 games behind the 1st place Mexia Gushers.[13][14][15][16][17][18][6][19]

Continuing play in the six–team 1924 Texas Association, the Marlin Bathers placed 2nd overall. With a 73–55 record under returning manager Walt Alexander, Marlin finished 11.5 games behind the first place Corsicana Oilers.[13][14][20][21][22][23][24]

In their final season, the Marlin Bathers relocated, during the 1925 Texas Association season. With a 7–15 record, the Marlin Bathers moved to Palestine, Texas on May 13, 1924. The team finished the season as the Palestine Pals, placing 5th overall. Marlin/Palestine finished with a 58–75 overall record, playing under managers Fred Pipkin and Tommy McMillan. Marlin, Texas has not hosted another minor league team.[13][14][25][26][27]

The ballpark/Spring training ballparks

The Marlin teams were noted to have hosted home games at Marlin City Park. The ballpark was located on Muni Park Road off Williams Street, Marlin, Texas. City Park is still in use today as a public park with a ballpark.[28][29]

Marlin, Texas also hosted spring training for major league baseball teams. The Chicago White Sox (1904), St. Louis Cardinals (1905), Cincinnati Reds (1906–1907) and New York Giants (1908–1918) all utilized the ballparks in Marlin, Texas for spring training. Teams were attracted to the mineral water baths in Marlin. It is unknown if the minor league teams utilized any of the facilities used by the major league teams, but given the small population of the town at the time (4,000), it is likely.[30][31][32][33][34][35]

The White Sox, Cardinals and Reds are noted to have trained at a site near the fairgrounds in Marlin. This ballpark was called "Fairgrounds Field" or "East Side Field." It is possible this was the site of "Marlin City Park, " as Marlin City Park still hosts the Falls County Youth fairs at the site.[36][29][37]

The Giants use of Emerson Park in Marlin is noted as being the first "permanent" spring training facility built by a major league team. The Giants' facility had a side field called Rimes Park and other practice areas. While the Giants use of Emerson Park directly overlaps the play of the Marlin Marlins, it is unknown if the minor league team played at the facility or if the Marlin Bathers used it after the Giants left. The ballpark was deeded to the New York Giants from the city and remained the property of the New York Giants and San Francisco Giants until the 1970's. Emerson Park was named after a local postmaster who was instrumental in developing the facility. The Giants would walk the one mile from the team hotel, The Arlington Hotel, to the ballpark twice a day everyday, walking along the railroad tracks. Every year, Marlin hosted a fish fry for the team before the Giants left to begin the regular season.[38][39][35][36]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
1916–19172Marlin MarlinsClass DCentral Texas League
1923–19253Marlin BathersTexas Association

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
191625–366thBob Tarleton / Bob Countryman / Fielder MurrayLeague folded July 16
19177–93rdH. Sinclair / Roy WakefieldLeague folded June 6
192363–735thWalt AlexanderNone
192473–552ndWalt AlexanderNone
192558–755thFred Pipkin / Tommy McMillanMarlin (7–15) moved to Palestine May 13

Notable alumni

See Also

Marlin Bathers players

References
  1. "Central Texas League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "1916 Central Texas League (CTL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. Reichard, Kevin (November 4, 2008). "Central Texas League".
  4. "1916 Central Texas League (CTL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1916 Central Texas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "The Minor Leagues in Texas | Texas Almanac". texasalmanac.com.
  7. "Marlin Marlins - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "1916 Marlin Marlins Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1916 Marlin Marlins Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. "1917 Central Texas League (CTL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1917 Marlin Marlins Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1917 Central Texas League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Texas Association - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  14. "Marlin Bathers - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  15. "1923 Marlin Bathers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1923 Texas Association (TA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "1923 Marlin Bathers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "1923 Texas Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  19. TDT, Clay Coppedge. "Hot, mineral-laden water once made Marlin a spot for tourists". Temple Daily Telegram.
  20. "1924 Marlin Bathers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. "1924 Texas Association (TA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "1924 Texas Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "1924 Marlin Bathers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  24. "Clipped From The Waco News-Tribune". April 20, 1924. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  25. "1925 Marlin Bathers/Palestine Pals Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. "1925 Marlin Bathers/Palestine Pals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. "1925 Texas Association". Baseball-Reference.com.
  28. "Marlin City Park in Marlin, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  29. "City Park". Marlin, TX.
  30. "25 Jan 1904, 2 - The Topeka State Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  31. "6 Mar 1905, Page 8 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  32. "Cincinnati Reds Spring Training".
  33. "San Francisco Giants Spring Training".
  34. "Chicago White Sox Spring Training".
  35. "Sherrington: Giants manager John McGraw loved what Marlin offered as spring-training site, even if his players didn't". Dallas News. March 9, 2014.
  36. "Spring Training at Marlin, Texas - ppt download". slideplayer.com.
  37. "Falls County Youth Fair". falls.agrilife.org.
  38. "Spring Training, 1912 Style in Marlin, Texas!". February 29, 2020.
  39. Johnson, Charles (February 14, 2013). "Marlin, Texas (pop. 4,000)".
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