The Palmetto League was a Class D level baseball minor league that played in 1931. The four–team Palmetto league had teams based in South Carolina and Georgia. The Palmetto League permanently folded midway through the 1931 season with the Augusta Wolves in first place.

History

The Palmetto League formed for the 1931 season as a Class D level minor league. Under the direction of league president Charles H. Garrison, the Palmetto League began play as a four–team league, hosting franchises from Anderson, South Carolina (Anderson Electrics), Augusta, Georgia (Augusta Wolves), Florence, South Carolina (Florence Pee Deans) and Greenville, South Carolina (Greenville Spinners). The Palmetto League played a split–season schedule, with the winners of each portion meeting in a playoff final. After the first half of the season was completed, the Anderson Electricians moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina and played as the Spartanburg Spartans.

The Palmetto League's first season of play began on Monday, April 27, 1931. After the season began, Anderson (14–40) moved to Spartanburg on June 29, 1931, playing their first home game in Spartanburg on July 2, 1931. The Augusta Wolves won the first half of the season's split schedule.

On July 23, 1931, the Palmetto League folded with Augusta in first place of the second half standings. The Augusta Wolves led the final overall Palmetto League standings with a 53–23 record, finishing 9.0 games ahead of the second place Florence Pee Deans (44–32), followed by the Greenville Spinners (37–39) and the Anderson Electrics/Spartanburg Spartans (28–58) who finished 30.0 games behind. Notably, Bill McGhee of Augusta hit .405 for the season, to lead the league.

When the Palmetto League permanently folded on July 23, 1931, the league cited "financial difficulties" as the contributing factor.

Palmetto League teams

Team nameCity representedBallparkYear(s) active
Anderson ElectriciansAnderson, South CarolinaUnknown1931
Augusta WolvesAugusta, GeorgiaMunicipal Stadium1931
Florence Pee DeansFlorence, South CarolinaUnknown1931
Greenville SpinnersGreenville, South CarolinaSpinner's Park1931
Spartanburg SpartansSpartanburg, South CarolinaDuncan Park1931

Standings and statistics

1931 Palmetto League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Augusta Wolves5323.697Cat Milner
Florence Pee Deans4432.5799Frank Walker / Carl East
Greenville Spinners3739.48716Nelson Leach / Sherry Smith
Anderson Electrics / Spartanburg Spartans2858.32630Joe Guyon/ Ken McNeill / Frank Walker

Anderson (14–10) moved to Spartanburg on June 29, 1931. First home game July 2, 1931.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bill McGheeAugustaBA.405Jinx HarrisAugustaW17
Zachery SmithAugustaRuns85Jinx HarrisAugustaSO119
Bill McGheeAugustaHits133Jim D. RyanAugustaPct.846; 11–2
Bill McGheeAugustaRBI73
Charlie EnglishFlorenceHR11