Knoxville Gets Mobile Baseball Club Franchise

This is an article that mirrors one that I blogged about three years ago.  This one is a bit longer and explains the origin of the team name.

Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) - July 21, 1931

image from GenealogyBank.com

We defy competition.

Brownlow's Knoxville Whig - November 13, 1867

Smokies in Military Service - Don Mills

I was asked over the weekend if I knew of any Smokies players that had given their life in military service. I had to answer that I didn't know, but I'd look around. In doing some research I've found a few that did serve. One of them was a former Smokies' batboy, Don Mills, who was in the Air Force.

Stars and Stripes - March 10, 1957

image from ancestry.com

Holstons win, but Knoxville club elects honorary members

I was reminded by the Knoxville Holstons Vintage Base Ball club that 147 years ago today it was reported that the original Holstons were victorious in a match game with the Knoxville club.  Apparently the Knoxville club elected honorary members.

Brownlow's Knoxville Whig - May 15, 1867

Brownlow's Knoxville Whig - May 15, 1867

images from Chronicling America

Appy or Sally in 1925?

The Knoxville Pioneers were getting tired of being in the class D Appalachian League from 1921 to 1924.  Previously, as the Reds, they were in the Appy League from 1911 to 1914.

Baseball hopes and realities are varied, as shown in these news stories from 1924 and 1925.

Charlotte Observer - August 19, 1924

Charlotte Observer - December 13, 1924

Charlotte Observer - February 4, 1925

Knoxville Smokies Old Timers Day, ca. 1960

Over the last few months I've been building a friendship with Brad Reeves of the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS). Here's a bit of film he put together.


Knoxville Smokies Old Timers Day, ca. 1960 from TAMIS on Vimeo.

Earl Baxter Williams - side by side

Last week I posted some photos of Earl Baxter Williams.  To make it a bit easier on the eyes I've cropped, framed, and numbered eight images that I think are of Earl Baxter Williams.  Pictures 1-5 are from various editions of the Maryville College yearbook, Chilhowean.

Picture 5 is 'new'.  It is from the 1924 Chilhowean, but a different player than previously posted.

Pictures 6 and 7 are 'new' and from a private collection.

Picture 8 is 'new' and from Earl's Find-A-Grave memorial page, with the submitter saying that he got it from OOTP.

Any informed thoughts would be welcome in the comment section.