Mount Airy Graniteers

The Mount Airy Graniteers were a minor league baseball Class D team that represented the city of Mount Airy, North Carolina. The team played under two different names in two leagues over their 13 non-consecutive seasons spanning 1934–1950.[1] The club joined the Bi-State League for the 1934 season. In 1935, the Graniteers changed its name to the Mount Airy Reds and continued to operate in the league through 1937.[2]

Mount Airy Graniteers
(1934-1941, 1946-1950)
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class D
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1948
  • 1950
Team data
Previous names
  • Mount Airy Graniteers (1938-1950)
  • Mount Airy Reds (1935-1937)
  • Mount Airy Graniteers (1934)

During that span, Mount Airy had affiliation agreements with the Cincinnati Reds (1935–1936) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1937).[3] Then, the team changed its name again to Mount Airy Graniteers and played uninterrupted until the 1941 season. After that, the city was without a professional club for the next four years.[4]

In 1946, the Graniteers resurrected in a new circuit, the Blue Ridge League (1946–1950), playing there uninterrupted until the 1950 season.[5]

One of their most popular players was outfielder Gene Handley, who won a batting crown title with a .403 batting average in 1936.[6] Other major contribution came from pitcher Bob Bowman, who posted a 30-11 record and a 2.91 ERA from 1946–48,[7] including a 17-4 mark with a 3.29 ERA and 197.0 innings pitched in 1947.[8]

In its storied 13-year history, surviving the ups and downs during wartime and postwar times, the team won championship titles in 1948 and 1950, while reaching the postseason in 1940, 1947 and 1949. Since 1950, no other team based in Mount Airy has participated in professional baseball.

Season-by-season

(from Graniteers' Baseball Reference Bullpen) (from Reds' Baseball Reference Bullpen)

Year League Record W-L % Finish GB Manager Playoffs
1934BIST33-43.4344th of six19Cecil Harris
G. Thomas
1935BIST67-47.5884th of eight3½Mickey Shader
1936BIST53-63.4576th of eight20½Mickey Shader
Elbert Conway
Frank Packard
1937BIST52-615th of eight16Walter Novak
1938BIST49-69.4156th of eighth28Dick Goldberg
1939BIST42-70.3758th of eight27Guy Lacy
Walter Stephenson
1940BIST63-56.5293rd of eight11Walter NovackLost in first round
(vs. Bassett Furnituremakers, 4 Games to 1)
1941BIST42-70.3755th of six23Jimmy Maus
1946BLRI59-45.5672nd of four11Eddie MorganNo postseason
1947BLRI72-52.5812nd of four3½Chubby DeanLost in first round
(vs. Lenoir Red Sox 3 games to 1)
1948BLRI65-58.5284th of six10Noel CasbierLeague Champions
(vs. Galax Leafs 4 games to 3)
Won in first round
(vs. North Wilkesboro Flashers 3 games to 1)
1949BLRI68-58.5401st of six–Frank Essick
Phil Lundeen
Pete Treece
Okey Flowers		Lost in first round
(vs. Wytheville Statesmen 4 games to 2)
1950BLRI71-48.5962nd of six13½Zip Payne
Joe Roseberry		League Champions
(vs. Elkin Blanketeers, 4 games to 0)
Won in first round
(vs. Radford Rockets 3 games to 1)

[4]

MLB alumni

[4]

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See also
  • Mount Airy Graniteers players
  • Mount Airy Reds players

Sources
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles (1993). Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-96-371898-3.
  2. Baseball Reference: Bi-State League (D) Encyclopedia and History
  3. BR Bullpen – Mount Airy Reds entry
  4. Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball
  5. Baseball Reference: Blue Ridge League (D) Encyclopedia and History
  6. 1936 Bi-State League batting leaders
  7. BR minor league baseball – Bob Bowman career
  8. 1947 Blue Ridge League pitching leaders
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