1953 Gastonia Rockets Roster
Tri-State League (TSL) - Class: B
Team Record: 66-81
Finished 5th in the TSL
Manager: Hal Van Pelt (66-81)
Location: Gastonia, North Carolina
Ballpark: Sims Legion Park
Attendance: 69,052, Avg. 939
1953 Gastonia Rockets StatisticsTeam Record: 66-81
Finished 5th in the TSL
Manager: Hal Van Pelt (66-81)
Location: Gastonia, North Carolina
Ballpark: Sims Legion Park
Attendance: 69,052, Avg. 939
The Gastonia Rockets of the Tri-State League ended the 1953 season with a record of 66 wins and 81 losses, finishing fifth in the TSL.
The Rockets plated 706 runs and gave up 799 runs. Jack Falls led hitters with significant playing time by hitting .326. Charlie Griffith topped Gastonia with 15 wins, while John Isaac recorded a 2.93 ERA, tops among qualifying pitchers.
Mike Garbark and Rudy Hernández both played in Major League Baseball during their careers.
Hal Van Pelt served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeRoy Anderson | ||||||
| Bill Bidwell | L | R | November 10, 1929 | 6'0" | 165 | |
| William Cannon | R | R | 5'11" | 180 | ||
| Lynwood Chestnut | R | R | 6'1" | 180 | ||
| Leonard Cline | R | March 7, 1931 | 5'10" | 165 | ||
| John DiFresco | R | 5'10" | 165 | |||
| Richard Elkind | R | R | 5'11" | 183 | ||
| Harold Ensley | R | R | 5'11" | 160 | ||
| Jack Falls | L | R | June 14, 1931 | 5'11" | 186 | Gastonia, NC US |
| Paul Fouts | R | R | April 14, 1925 | 5'9" | 170 | Onamia, MN US |
| Erminio Gaido | R | 6'1" | 190 | |||
| Mike Garbark | R | R | February 2, 1916 | 6'0" | 200 | Houston, TX US |
| Charlie Griffith | R | R | July 24, 1923 | 6'3" | 190 | |
| Robert Hallman | L | 6'0" | 170 | |||
| Brooks Harrington | ||||||
| Jim Harrison | R | January 13, 1932 | 5'10" | 185 | ||
| Paul Harrison | L | L | May 8, 1933 | 6'2" | 180 | Maryville, TN US |
| Rudy Hernández | R | R | December 10, 1931 | 6'3" | 185 | Santiago, Santiago DO |
| John Isaac | L | L | 6'0" | 157 | ||
| Thomas Langston | L | R | 6'1" | 165 | ||
| Fred Leonard | L | 6'0" | 185 | |||
| Bob Ludwig | R | July 22, 1926 | 5'10" | 170 | Brooklyn, NY US | |
| Jimmie Mincey | R | R | October 9, 1934 | 6'1" | 167 | |
| Charles Parker | R | 5'11" | 185 | |||
| Jerry Pless | R | R | 6'1" | 175 | ||
| Alfred Radsavage | L | 6'2" | 180 | |||
| Al Rivenbark | L | October 12, 1927 | 6'2" | 184 | ||
| Bob Shaulis | R | October 29, 1930 | 6'0" | 200 | ||
| Harold Shuster | R | 5'7" | 185 | |||
| Francis Skinner | R | R | 6'0" | 175 | ||
| Hal Van Pelt | L | 5'11" | 195 | |||
| William Williams | R | R | February 25, 1930 | 5'10" | 150 |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
