Jim Hresko (.352, 38 2B, 17 HR) and Allen Lawrence (8 HR, .353) were the top hitters
in 1949, while Richard Brown (27 2B, 10 3B, 10 HR, .292) provided some speed
while a pair of 20 game winners (and 11 game losers)... George Estock (20-11,
3.38) and Elwood Moore (20-11, 3.10) led Austin to 3rd place and the playoffs
where they again lost to Texarkana in the 1st round. By 1950, Austin's Pioneers
were dead last with a 52-94 record though still leading the league in attendance
with a 116,000 through the gates. Things would turn around right away
however in 1951, thanks to pitcher Lee Roy Jones who posted a Disch Field best
22-10, 2.81 record lifting the team back to 4th place. A league leading 147k came
to see Austin return to the playoffs and lose for the 3rd time in the 1st round.
Finally in 1952, after finishing in 4th behind a terrific 149,000 fans, the
Pioneers had made it past the first round, beating the Temple Eagles 4 games
to 1. John Andre would pitch in 46 games totaling 300 innings as he posted a 25-14,
3.66 record and Al LaMacchia (21-10, 3.66) equaled that ERA. Dean Franks (20-14,
4.50) would give this team a trio of 20 game winners. At the plate Tom Jordan
(36 2B, 24 HR, .346) matched Woody Bell's 24 HR Disch Field record. Of course
the Pioneers would be swept in their first ever Big State League Championship
by the Tyler East Texans, but it was certainly a great season. |