Written by Joanna Adams Sergent
In Jenkins Kentucky, there were four small baseball teams. These teams were the miners who played against each other. They were the McRoberts, Jenkins, Burdine, and Fleming. Consolidation Coal Company encouraged the miners to play baseball. Its purpose was to give them something to do. It also increased morale and gave them pride in their communities. This helped build friendships and comradery within the mines. Baseball gave the miners a happier workplace.
The Jenkins team also played in the Class D Mountain States League. Their mascot was the Jenkins Cavalier. The Cavalier was the Consolidation Coal Company moniker. It remains the mascot for the Jenkins Independent School system to this day. The Jenkins Cavaliers played in the Mountain States League from 1948 through 1951. The teams disbanded in 1951.
The Minor League
The minor league had sixteen teams who played against each other from 1948 through 1954. Jenkins would only play in the minors for four years from 1948 through 1951.
During the final season of 1954, the Mountain States League became a Class 6 League. Harlan and Morristown are the only two cities that participated in their entire run. The League disbanded on July 20, 1954, due to several remaining teams leaving the league
The Names of the Teams
- Big Stone Gap Rebels
- Harlan Smokies
- Jenkins Cavaliers
- Kingsport Cherokees
- Knoxville Smokies
- Lexington Colts
- Maryville-Alcoa Twins
- Morristown Reds
- Middlesboro Athletics
- Morristown Red Sox
- Newport Canners
- Norton Braves
- Oak Ridge Bombers
- Oak Ridge Pioneers
- Hazard Bombers
- Pennington Gap Miners.
Jenkins Baseball Record
The 1948 Season ended with a record of 35-78 placing sixth and last in the league standings. The managers that year were Ray Russell, Jack Bell, and Brenton Mays. The Morristown, Tennessee Reds placed first with 33.5 games ahead of Jenkins.
The 1949 Season ended with a record of 63-61. Placing fourth in the league and having qualified for the playoffs. Joe Vitter was the manager that year. The Harlan, Kentucky Smokies placed first with twenty games ahead of Jenkins. During the playoffs, with the final tally of the first-round games 3 to 2. The Jenkins Cavaliers lost to the Morristown Red Sox.
The 1950 Season ended with the record of 58-66 placing fifth in the league standings. Managers for the year were Bob Bowman, Wayne Stewart, and Bill Scopetone. Harlan, Kentucky Smokies won first place with a 22.5 game lead over Jenkins.
The 1951 and final season with a record of 24–101 placing them eighth that year. James Grigg and Tom McBride were the managers. The Hazard, Kentucky Bombers placed first that year with 68.5 games ahead of Jenkins. After this season the Jenkins, Kentucky team folded. The town has not hosted another minor league team since.
The Who’s Who of the Jenkins Cavaliers
There are three professional baseball players who played or managed Jenkins.
Robert James Bowman was a professional baseball right-handed pitcher. During the seasons of 1939-1942, he also played for the major leagues. Those teams were the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Cubs. Bowman is most infamous for being the pitcher that hit fellow teammate Joe Medwick in the head. An accident that almost cost Medwick his life.
Tom McBride was a professional baseball outfielder. He also played for the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators from 1943-1948. He then played in the minor leagues from 1936-1951.
Dominick Thomas Zanni was a professional baseball pitcher. Although Zanni signed with the New York Giants before the 1951 season. Zanni played in the minor leagues and rose through their ranks. Zanni went on to play for the major leagues from 1958-1966. Those teams were the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, and the Cincinnati Reds.
The Ball Park
Jenkins completed the construction of the field in 1947. Jenkins Athletic Field’s location is across from the Jenkins High School building. This was on Main Street of Jenkins, Kentucky. The field had a 2,000-seat capacity and was also used by the Jenkins High School athletic teams. Both the League and the High School used the field for their home games and practices.
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For More Information on the Jenkins Minor League Team
Jenkins Cavaliers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenkins_Cavaliers
Jenkins Athletic Field
https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1261#:~:text=Following%20are%20the%20minor%20league%20baseball%20teams%20known,35%20%20%2078%20%20%2023%2C276%20
Mountain States League
https://baseball.fandom.com/wiki/Mountain_States_League
Mountain States League (1948–1954)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_States_League_(1948%E2%80%931954)
Mountain States League
https://aws.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Mountain_States_League
1948 Mountain States League Standings
https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-MTSS/y-1948
Dom Zanni
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Zanni
Tom McBride (baseball)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McBride_(baseball)
Bob Bowman (a pitcher)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Bowman_(pitcher)
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When we forget our past and who we are as a people, then we become who “they” say we are. ~~ David Sergent
I have attended the University of Kentucky. I have an Associates Degree from Hazard Community College and Technical School. I have also attended the University of Pikeville. I have taken several classes in Journalism as well as in the Appalachian History, Literature, and Sociology during my time at those schools.
I was born in Florida and grew up in Burdine, Kentucky. I have been married to David W. Sergent since May 4, 2013. I have two children and four grandchildren from a previous marriage. I currently live in Tennessee but my hope is to one day come back home to live in the beautiful mountains once more.
