1961 Statesville Owls Roster
Team Record: 63-39
Finished 2nd in the WCL
Manager: George Wilson (63-39)
Affiliation: Los Angeles Angels
Location: Statesville, North Carolina
Ballpark: City Park (Stadium)
Attendance: 34,954, Avg. 685
Playoffs - Lexington Indians 2 games, Statesville Owls 0
The Statesville Owls of the Western Carolina League ended the 1961 season with a record of 63 wins and 39 losses, finishing second in the WCL.
The Owls topped the league with just 526 runs allowed. Statesville scored 643 runs. Dick Simpson led the squad with 15 home runs Vito Porta drove in 76 runs. Jack Hiatt paced batters with significant playing time by hitting .325. Gail Thomas paced the squad with 12 wins, while Wayne Young recorded a 2.56 ERA, best among hurlers with significant time on the mound.
Players from the 1961 Statesville Owls who spent time in Major League Baseball during their careers included Jack Hiatt, George Wilson, Dick Wantz and Dick Simpson.
George Wilson served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davey Best | R | R | October 16, 1940 | 5'10" | 160 | |
| Gaetan Boudreau | L | R | October 3, 1940 | 5'11" | 165 | Asbestos, QC CA |
| Bobby Bralley | R | R | September 12, 1938 | 6'0" | 180 | Austinville, VA US |
| George Bryson | R | R | March 14, 1941 | 6'0" | 165 | |
| Edward Colbert | L | L | 6'2" | 183 | ||
| George Conrad | R | R | April 23, 1940 | 5'11" | 190 | Harvey, IL US |
| Glade Cookus | R | R | March 7, 1942 | 5'10" | 172 | |
| John Couch | R | R | June 12, 1940 | 5'10" | 170 | |
| Peter Curtis | R | L | 5'11" | 180 | ||
| Joseph DaCruz | S | L | 6'0" | 160 | ||
| Walter Darton | R | R | August 29, 1940 | 5'11" | 165 | |
| Alan Flitcraft | R | R | February 11, 1942 | 6'0" | 195 | Chicago, IL US |
| Jerry Fox | L | R | 5'11" | 174 | ||
| Paul Gilbert | L | L | 6'2" | 203 | ||
| Jack Hiatt | R | R | July 27, 1942 | 6'2" | 190 | Bakersfield, CA US |
| John Isaac | L | L | 6'0" | 157 | ||
| Robert Johnson | L | L | 6'1" | 185 | ||
| Jeffery King | R | L | 6'2" | 195 | ||
| Robert Lucas | R | R | October 27, 1942 | 5'10" | 167 | Jacksonville, FL US |
| Booth Lusteg | R | R | May 8, 1939 | New Haven, CT US | ||
| William Maupin | R | R | June 3, 1937 | 6'2" | 195 | |
| Paul Mosley | L | R | October 7, 1943 | 6'2" | 210 | |
| Carl Mutert | R | R | January 1, 1941 | 6'0" | 185 | |
| Ronald O'Shields | R | R | 6'1" | 190 | ||
| Glen Opfer | R | R | 6'0" | 170 | ||
| Vito Porta | R | R | 5'11" | 175 | ||
| Dick Simpson | R | R | July 28, 1943 | 6'4" | 176 | Washington, DC US |
| Gail Thomas | R | R | August 1, 1934 | 6'0" | 185 | |
| Roy Wagner | L | L | 5'9" | 160 | ||
| Dick Wantz | R | R | April 11, 1940 | 6'5" | 175 | South Gate, CA US |
| George Wilson | L | R | August 31, 1924 | 6'1" | 185 | Cherryville, NC US |
| Dana Worster | R | R | 5'11" | 160 | ||
| Wayne Young | R | R | October 29, 1937 | 6'2" | 190 | Iredell County, NC US |
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.
