1928 Beaumont Exporters 50-106 record

1928 Texas League

Playing/manager Claude Robertson

Spring Training Camp of the Detroit Tigers according to old record books of baseball scout Dick Kinsella.

Scouting reports and old newspaper quotes and articles are interesting reads! By staff at baseball historian

1928 Beaumont Exporters … a few of the Minor League Baseball Players

Note: Future Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell went 12-9 with a 2.97 ERA in 1928 for Beaumont. And, baseball scout Dick Kinsella attended the 1928 Democratic National Convention as a delegate from Illinois. Story goes like this – one afternoon Dick Kinsella snuck out and went to a game between Beaumont and the Houston Buffs. Carl Hubbell pitched a 1-0 extra inning victory over Houston. Kinsella called New York Giants manager John McGraw and declared, “This afternoon I saw another Art Neff”. Right away McGraw bought Carl Hubbell for $30,000, a record price for a Texas League player. Carl Hubbell went on to win 253 games and only lost 154 with a 2.98 ERA. He was well-known for his screwball pitch, a delivery that moves away from the right handed batters.

We note: during the late 1920s more runs were being scored than almost any time in baseball history. Henceforth, pitchers earned run averages are very high. The baseball was too tightly wound and so a few years later the ball had to be rewound.

Buz Phillips, age 24, Starting Pitcher. Beaumont catcher/manager Claude Roberson  said this quote, “His desires to pitch are not like anything I seen before. I think he wants to pitch every day.” In 1928 Buzz Phillips posted an 11-20 w/l record with a 6.30 ERA in 41 starts, 217 innings. Albert Phillips pitched in the minors from 1926 thru 1931, left during the Great Depression and pitched one more year, in 1938 at age 38. Albert Buz Phillips pitched in majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1930, in 14 games, including one start he had a 8.04 ERA in 43.2 innings.

Robert Petrie, Outfielder. In 1928 Bob Petrie led the Beaumont Exporters in the following categories – 35 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home runs and 238 total bases. He batted .290 and compiled a .451 on base percentage. One scout said – “It didn’t take him long to become the leading batsman of the Exporters.” Robert Petrie quit playing pro baseball in 1930 at the start of the Depression.

Homer Ezzell, age 32, Third Baseman. A noted defensive star at the hot corner, he had a .269 batting average with 16 Ds, 3 Ts, 5 homers this year, 1928, with Beaumont. Homer Ezzell started his pro career in 1921 with Houston (minors at this time). Played in minors in 1922, then debuted into the majors leagues with the old St. Louis Browns and hit .244 in 279 at bats. Ezzell was traded on 4.4.1924 to the Boston Red Sox and hit .275 in 1924 and a career high .285 in 1925 in a role as a utility infielder. Note for family and friends – Homer played in Fenway Park, which now in 2010 is the oldest major league Stadium. Born in Victoria Texas on Feb. 28, 1897.

Turkey Gross, age 32, Infielder. Born in Mesquite Texas on Feb 23, 1897. A former major leaguer, he was trying to return to the biggies. Turkey Gross hit .296 and ripped 9 doubles and 2 triples in 115 at bats, spanning 29 games (stats are for 2 teams in 1928). Ewell Gross played two years, 1915-16, with Paris of the WA League D minors and then proudly served 3 years in the U.S. Military during World War 1. Turkey Gross played in minors from 1920-1924 hitting on average.  around .285. Ewell played in majors for 9 games as a shortstop with the Red Sox in 1925, batted .093 with 3 hits in 32 at bats    

1928 Beaumont Exporters

Catchers … catcher/manager Claude Robertson 83 games … Gilly Campbell 35 games … Sam Camalo 29 games … Wesley Parma 10 games

Second Basemen – Gene Bailey … Heine Odom … Hank Schreiber

Third Basemen – Homer Ezzell… Turkey Gross… Hob Hiller … Syl Simon

Outfielders Robert Petrie … Rudy Swanson … Bill Bagwell … Dutch Holland … Joe Clayton … J. Klein … Joe Bressler … Tony Antista … Kedzi Kirkman  

Shortstop … Doc Marshall 147 games

First Baseman … Dutch Schliebner 111 games … Willie Burt 19 games 

William Doc Marshall, age 22, Shortstop RH. Defensively made 298 putouts and 438 assists with 45 errors in 147 games for Beaumont in 1928. Baseball Scout Dick Kinsella was quoted as saying, “Doc Marshall is a confident guy and a fearless defensive shortstop. He’s a gamer. These kinds of guys have a great future.” Doc Marshall broke into the major leagues with the New York Giants in 1929 at age 23 and hit .400 in 15 at bats. In 1930 he batted .309 in 223 at bats in 76 games. A slap hitter, Doc Marshall played a total of 4 seasons with the NY Giants, 1929-1932.

Hob Hiller, age 35, Infielder. An all-around athlete and a long time professional baseball player, he played some in the majors with the Boston Red Sox back in 1920-21. In those two years combined Harvey Hob Hiller batted .167 in 30 at bats, 18 games, before returning to the minors. In 1928 with the Beaumont Exporters he batted .218 in 55 at bats.   

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