Evangeline Baseball League (2011)
Louisiana: The State We're In
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Newsmagazine
Place Covered: Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2011-01-14
Duration: 00:07:24
Subjects: Sports | History | Evangeline Baseball League | Minor league baseball | Gambling | NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY
Contributors:
- Whinham, Charlie Host
- Sanford, Shauna Host
- Whinham, Charlie Producer
- Woods, Virnado Photographer
- Leslie, J. Paul Interviewee
Description
This segment from the January 14, 2011, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Charlie Whinham’s look back at the history of the Evangeline League, a minor league baseball league in rural Louisiana from 1934-1942 and 1946-1957. The teams included the Alexandria Aces, Abbeville Athletics, Crowley Millers, Hammond Berries, and Houma Indians. Whinham talks to Dr. J. Paul Leslie, a history professor at Nicholls State University, about the history of the Evangeline League, the death of Crowley Millers player Andy Strong after he was struck by lightning in the outfield during a game, the rampant gambling in the league, and the 1946 Houma Indians betting scandal. Dr. Leslie also shows Whinham artifacts from the Evangeline League that are being preserved at the Ellender Memorial Library at Nicholls State University. This story is a part of the “Louisiana Baseball Stories” series. Hosts: Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford