1959 Shreveport Sports Roster
Team Record: 75-79
Finished 5th in the SA
Manager: Les Peden (75-79)
Affiliation: Kansas City Athletics
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Ballpark: SPAR Stadium
Attendance: 47,636, Avg. 619
The Shreveport Sports of the Southern Association ended the 1959 season with a record of 75 wins and 79 losses, finishing fifth in the SA.
The Sports topped the league with 756 runs, ignited by 135 home runs. Shreveport yielded 745 runs. Jay Ward paced the team with 22 home runs, while Leo Posada, Lou Klimchock and Ken Hunt each walloped 15 or more as well. Lou Klimchock drove in 85 runs. Jay Hankins led all regular hitters by connecting at a .316 clip. Bob Davis paced the squad with 16 wins, and Bud Black earned a 3.29 ERA, tops among pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Jim Small, Jim McManus, Dutch Romberger, Bill Tremel, Jay Ward, Harry Taylor, Les Peden, Lou Klimchock, Bob Spicer, Wally Burnette, Al Grunwald, Ray Blemker, Bob Davis, Bud Black, Jay Hankins, Bill Kirk, Ken Hunt, Grady Wilson and Leo Posada were all players from the 1959 Shreveport Sports who played in the Major Leagues during their careers.
Les Peden served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Akers | R | R | June 10, 1935 | 6'0" | 180 | |
| Bud Black | R | R | July 9, 1932 | 6'3" | 197 | St. Louis, MO US |
| Ray Blemker | R | L | August 9, 1937 | 5'11" | 190 | Huntingburg, IN US |
| Jack Bristol | R | L | April 1, 1936 | 6'1" | 185 | Sharon, CT US |
| Wally Burnette | R | R | June 20, 1929 | 6'0" | 178 | Blairs, VA US |
| Tony Cannizzo | R | R | January 16, 1935 | 5'9" | 200 | San Francisco, CA US |
| John Coddington | R | R | July 9, 1935 | 6'0" | 175 | |
| Bob Davis | R | R | September 11, 1933 | 6'0" | 170 | New York, NY US |
| Jerry Davis | L | L | July 21, 1932 | 6'1" | 175 | Kansas City, KS US |
| Anthony DeGennaro | R | R | October 11, 1938 | 6'0" | 190 | |
| Richard Donnelly | R | R | September 21, 1932 | 6'2" | 180 | |
| Arlen Downs | R | R | 6'0" | 190 | ||
| Dick Getter | R | R | October 28, 1928 | 6'2" | 195 | |
| Al Grunwald | L | L | February 13, 1930 | 6'4" | 210 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Jay Hankins | L | R | November 7, 1935 | 5'7" | 170 | St. Louis County, MO US |
| Stanley Horvatin | R | R | 5'10" | 185 | ||
| Ken Hunt | R | R | July 13, 1934 | 6'1" | 205 | Grand Forks, ND US |
| Bill Kirk | L | L | July 19, 1934 | 6'0" | 165 | Coatesville, PA US |
| Lou Klimchock | L | R | October 15, 1939 | 5'11" | 180 | Hostetter, PA US |
| Jim McManus | L | L | July 20, 1936 | 6'4" | 215 | Brookline, MA US |
| Donald Nance | R | R | 6'2" | 195 | ||
| Dave Newkirk | R | R | July 13, 1931 | 6'3" | 195 | Blackwell, OK US |
| Jack Parks | L | R | June 12, 1928 | 6'2" | 205 | Sayreton, AL US |
| Les Peden | R | R | September 17, 1923 | 6'1" | 212 | Azle, TX US |
| Leo Posada | R | R | April 1, 1934 | 5'11" | 175 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| Dutch Romberger | R | R | May 26, 1927 | 6'0" | 185 | Klingerstown, PA US |
| Alan Scott | R | R | June 17, 1936 | 6'2" | 200 | |
| Rac Slider | L | R | December 23, 1933 | 5'8" | 160 | Simms, TX US |
| Jim Small | L | L | March 8, 1937 | 6'1" | 180 | Portland, OR US |
| Bob Spicer | L | R | April 11, 1925 | 5'10" | 173 | Richmond, VA US |
| Ben Swaringen | S | R | August 27, 1936 | 6'1" | 185 | |
| Harry Taylor | R | R | December 2, 1935 | 6'0" | 185 | San Angelo, TX US |
| Bill Tremel | R | R | July 4, 1929 | 5'11" | 180 | Lilly, PA US |
| Jay Ward | R | R | September 9, 1938 | 6'1" | 185 | Brookfield, MO US |
| Grady Wilson | R | R | November 23, 1922 | 6'0" | 170 | Columbus, GA 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.
