Vernon Dusters

The Vernon Dusters were a minor league baseball team based in Vernon, Texas. The Dusters played in the Longhorn League from 1947 to 1952 and were founding members of the league. The Dusters were the only professional team to play in Vernon.

Vernon Dusters
1947–1952
(1947–1952)
Vernon, Texas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass C (1951–1952)
Class D (1947–1950)
Previous leagues
Longhorn League (1947–1952)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
Previous names
Vernon Dusters (1947–1952)
Previous parks
Wilbarger Memorial Stadium (1947–1952)

History

Minor league baseball started in Vernon when the Vernon Dusters became founding members of the Longhorn League in 1947. They played alongside the Ballinger Cats, Big Spring Broncs, Midland Indians, Odessa Oilers and Sweetwater Sports in the new 1947 six-team Longhorn League.[1][2][3]

In their first season, the Dusters finished last, with a 42–87 record. They drew 30,758 fans for the 1947 season.[4][5]

In 1948, the San Angelo Colts and Del Rio Cowboys joined the Longhorn League. The Dusters finished 4th in the eight-team league with a 76–64 record, drawing 50,250 fans. In the playoffs, Vernon defeated the Big Spring Broncs 4–2. In the Finals, the Vernon Dusters lost to the Midland Indians in seven games.[6][5]

The Dusters finished 72–66 in 1949, third in the Longhorn League. Vernon lost to the Midland Indians 4–1 in their playoff series. Vernon drew 50,386 for the season.[7][5]

In 1949, Monty Stratton pitched briefly for the Dusters. Stratton had been a major league pitcher and had his career affected after a 1939 hunting accident necessitated his right leg be amputated below the knee. Stratton pitched a complete game shutout for the Vernon Dusters on a wooden right leg. Stratton was the inspiration for the feature film The Stratton Story starring James Stewart. The film opened in theaters in June, 1949.[8][9][10]

The 1950 Vernon Dusters finished 83–70, 4th in the league. They lost to the Odessa Oilers 4–1 in the playoffs. Vernon drew 46,099 fans for the season.[11][5]

In 1951, Vernon finished 67–71, missing the playoffs with a 6th-place finish. The team drew 36,686 fans in 1951.[12][5]

In their 1952 final season, the Vernon Dusters finished 45–95, last in the Longhorn League. Vernon drew 30,015 fans for the season. The franchise folded after the 1952 season.[13][5]

The ballpark

The Vernon Dusters played at Wilbarger Memorial Stadium. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,000 (1947) and 3,500 (1950). Wilbarger Memorial Stadium was located at 1826 Pease Street, Main Street & Wilbarger Street in Vernon, Texas.[14]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Vernon Dusters - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  2. "Longhorn League (C) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Vernon by Preston Cary. Arcadia Publishing (2013)p. 102. ISBN 978-0-7385-9546-7.
  4. "1947 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Longhorn League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. "1948 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "1949 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. Baseball's Comeback Players: Forty Major Leaguers Who Fell and Rose Again, by Rick Swaine. McFarland and Company Publishing (2014)p. 22-23. ISBN 978-0-7864-7654-1
  9. "Monty Stratton Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "Monty Stratton: Baseball's version of profile in courage". November 27, 2018.
  11. "1950 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1951 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1952 Vernon Dusters Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Wilbarger Memorial Stadium in Vernon, TX history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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