The 1936 Kannapolis Towelers
Front row, kneeling, left to right: Batboy, George Barley (P), Grey Clarke (3B), “Razz” Miller (OF), Reynolds (INF), Beams (INF), Ginger Watts (C-MGR); Back row, standing: Vince Barton (OF), Fletcher Heath (2B), Marvin Watts (SS), Frank Hopkins (1B), Wilson (P), Horne (P), Gillespie (P), “Lefty” Archer (P), Rhem (P). Not Shown: Virgil “Coddle Creek” Taylor (P), "Chick" Suggs (OF).
The 1937 Kannapolis Towelers. Kneeling, left to right: Dunbar, Fletcher, Heath, “Coddle Creek” Taylor, Hayes (P), Bill Parker (P), Parks, Herman “Ginger” Watts (C), Harris. Back row, standing: Ellis Taylor, Tracey Hart (P), Marvin Watts (SS), Jim White (P), “Razz” Miller (OF), Eric Tipton, "Chick" Suggs (OF), Vince Barton (OF), Morris Wilson (P).
Outlaw behavior was common among owners, team management, and players before and during the time of the ICBL. Fights were not uncommon among the players or the fans if an umpire made an unpopular call. Managers, on the behalf of the owners, made financial offers to out-of-work players that were impossible to refuse, contract or not.
The roots of the Independent Carolina Baseball League (ICBL), nicknamed the Outlaw League began in the Carolina Textile League. Various textile owners supported local baseball teams. The local clubs served as training grounds for unemployed, professional baseball players, and college baseball stars who all hoped to be noticed by scouts for the major ball clubs. Assured of a mill job in the off-season, the Textile League attracted players from all over the country.
List of Teams in 1936
List of Teams 1937
The 1938 Concord Weavers Board of Directors.
Front row, left to right: L. A. Fisher, head of Concord Light and Water Department; J. Eris Cassell, high school principal and insurance executive; Alex Howard (1937-38 team president), Cannon Mills executive; Archie Cannon, businessman, Cannon family member; Ed K. Willis (team vice president), owner of Willis Hosiery Mill.
During the Great Depression, baseball thrived in small textile mills throughout North Carolina. Each mill had its own team. In 1935, a number of mill owners saw an opportunity to promote the town's favorite pastime as well as the possibility of making money in hard times. The owners formed the Independent Carolina Baseball League, hereafter known as ICBL, in 1935.
Francis Garrou, Sr. (1877-1937) came with the Waldensians, who immigrated from Italy to Valdese, North Carolina in the 1890s. Garrou’s nephew was Albert Francis Garrou (1893-1978).
Owners of the Valdese Manufacturing Company, the two men helped organized the Valdese Textiles, who played in the Independent Carolina League.
The 1936 Valdese Textiles, Carolina League Playoff Champions
Front row, sitting, left to right: Selby Keller (CF), Tolar Ransome (3B), Julius Parise (batboy), Chuck Nalbock (2B), Cline Lee (2B). Second row, kneeling: Louis “Babe” Viau (SS), Bob Hall (P), Coyt “Red” Murray (C), Woodrow “Woody” Rich (P). Back row, standing: “Buzz” Phillips (P),Ory Brannon (OF), “Pick” Biggerstaff (OF, MGR), Claude Crapps (1B), Mack Arnette (3B), Ernest “Red” Evans (P), Jim Lyle (P).
“Mitch” Church was a Valdese businessman and a member of the Valdese Textile Baseball team's Board of Directors. Church also owned a recreation parlor in Valdese that offered bowling, pool, and a sandwich shop.