Carthage Pirates

{{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball |name = Carthage Pirates |allyears = 1938–1941, 1946–1951 | firstseason = 1938 | lastseason = 1951 |city = Carthage, Missouri |misc = |logo = |uniformlogo = |class level = {{plainlist| *Class D (1946–1951) *Class C (1941) *Class D (1938–1940) }} |conference = |division = |league = {{plainlist| * Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League (1946–1951) * Western Association (1941) * Arkansas-Missouri League (1938–1940) }} |majorleague = {{plainlist| * Chicago Cubs (1949–1951) * St. Louis Cardinals (1946–1948) * St. Louis Browns (1941) * Pittsburgh Pirates (1938–1940) }} |nickname = {{plainlist| * Carthage Cubs (1949–1951) * Carthage Cardinals (1946–1948) * Carthage Browns (1941) * Carthage Pirates (1938–1940) }} |ballpark = Carl Lewton Stadium (1938–1951) |pastparks = |leaguechamps = {{hlist|1938|1939|1951}} | leaguenum = 3 |divisionchamps = |owner = |manager = |gm = }} The '''Carthage Pirates''' was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Carthage, Missouri from 1938 to 1941 and 1946 to 1951. Carthage won three league titles playing as members of the Arkansas-Missouri League from 1938 to 1940, the 1941 Western Association and the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League from 1946 to 1951. Carthage hosted home minor league games at Carl Lewton Stadium.

==History== Carthage was initially a Class D level affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates that played in the Arkansas–Missouri League from 1938 to 1940. The Arkansas–Missouri League existed for only two full seasons, with the Pirates winning the league title each of those years. The league formally disbanded on July 1, 1940. When this occurred, the Pirates held a 10 1/2 game lead on first place in the league standings. The team then folded with the league.<ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1=Lloyd Johnson |editor2=Miles Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref>

The franchise then became the Class C level Carthage Browns in 1941 after the St. Joseph Ponies relocated to Carthage on June 3, 1941. They were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns, playing as members of the Western Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1941 St. Joseph Ponies/Carthage Browns Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>

From 1946 to 1948, the Carthage "Cardinals" were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals playing as members of the Class D level Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League. The franchise remained in the league thougu 1951, becoming the Carthage "Cubs," an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won the league title in 1951.<ref name="encyc"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Carthage, Missouri Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

==The ballpark== Carthage teams played home minor league games at '''Carl Lewton Stadium'''. The stadium's namesake was a local umpire and educator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charliesballparks.com/st/MO-Carthage-Lewton.htm|title=Carl Lewton Stadium, Carthage, Mo.|website=www.charliesballparks.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gm1-mowebvarnish.newscyclecloud.com/article/20091030/NEWS/310309985|title=Carthage sports icon Carl Lewton dies, former baseball umpire, educator|first=Cody|last=Dyer|website=gm1-mowebvarnish.newscyclecloud.com}}</ref> In 2023, the stadium was closed down due to safety issues, but was reopened after refurbishments in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ribbon cutting marks reopening of Carl Lewton Stadium in Carthage |url=https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/local/carthage-news/ribbon-cutting-marks-reopening-of-carl-lewton-stadium-in-carthage/ |website=fourstateshomepage.com |access-date=24 October 2025}}</ref>

==Notable alumni== *Cloyd Boyer (1946) *Dennis Burns (1941) *Frank Mancuso (1941) *Bob Speake (1949)

==Season–by–season== {|class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Record ! Win–loss % ! Manager ! Regular season finish ! Playoffs/notes |-bgcolor="#FFD800" |1938 || 69–49 || .585 || Adolph Arlitt || 2nd place || Won Championship vs. Neosho Yankees, 4-1 |-bgcolor="#FFD800" |1939 || 67–54 || .554 || Adolph Arlitt || 2nd place || Won Championship vs. Fayetteville Angels, 4-1 |- |1940 || 37–18 || .673 || Adolph Arlitt || 1st place || League disbanded on July 1, 1940 |- |1941 || 40–96 || .294 || Gus Albright /Dennis Burns || 8th || St. Joseph Ponies moved to Carthage June 3 |- |1946 ||54–66 || .450 || Adolph Arlitt ||5th|| None |- |1947 || 66–59 || .573|| Woody Fair/Alvin Kluttz ||5th place|| None |- |1948 || 51–67 || .432|| Alvin Kluttz ||6th Place||None |- |1949 || 62–64 || .492 || Don Anderson || 6th Place||None |- |1950 || 75–50 || .600|| Don Anderson ||3rd Place|| Lost in 1st round |-bgcolor="#FFD800" |1951|| 60–65 || .480 || Don Anderson (29–36)/Al Reitz (31–29) ||4th Place|| '''League champs''' |}<ref name="encyc"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Baseball teams established in 1938 Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1951 Category:Defunct baseball teams in Missouri Category:Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates Category:Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Category:St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates Category:St. Louis Browns minor league affiliates Category:1938 establishments in Missouri Category:1941 disestablishments in Missouri Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams Pirates Category:Defunct Arkansas-Missouri League teams Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1951