The Alabama Florida League Web Site

The seventh AFL season was one where baseball and the league were able to return to the interest and optimism of the pre-war years. A new president was in place: Jack Hovater, who had been in the league in 1936, serving as the AFL's first umpire-in-chief. Hovater also umpired in the league in1937, 1938, and 1940. It can be said that Hovater brought stability and some degree of prosperity to the AFL, because during his tenure as League President, the league expanded back to 8 teams, and no franchise folded or moved. The two new franchises brought into the league for 1946 were the Geneva Red Birds and a new team in the original ASL city of Ozark. Tallassee, one of the more successful franchises, left the ASL to join the upstart Georgia-Alabama League. Even with the Indians moving on, the league had many of its former favorites back from 1941 and a crop of promising youngsters to go with them. Hovater promised a competative season with all teams evenly matched and that's exactly what the league delivered. Teams traded positions in the league table often. It wasn't unusual to find a team in first place at the beginning of a month and find them in fifth by the end of the month. Ozark lead the league on June 1st and Geneva was in fifth. Before July was half over, Ozark was fighting to stay ahead of last-place Brewton. By the end of the campaign, Ozark was positioned in the cellar. Troy lead the league at the all star break but finished fifth by season's end. On July 20th, only 2.5 games separated the top five teams. In the end, Dothan won the league table, but it was newcomer Geneva who took the championship playoffs.

On April 21st, Brewton edged Ozark in a four-hour, eighteen minute marathon, 30-29. Four hours today would barely complete a world series game, but back then it was an extremely long time for a single game. Brewton was in danger of losing this slugfest, but scored their last three runs in the 9th to win it. Ten pitchers (6 for Brewton, 4 for Ozark) labored through this contest, giving up 46 walks, 6 wild pitches, and 35 base hits (including 7 doubles and 2 triples). There were 9 stolen bases during the game. The winning pitcher, by default, was manager Ben Catchings. Ben earned his win with a sterling 1 inning, 5 earned run performance.

During a game in May, Troy centerfielder, Emil Bozick, had a 6 for 6 night against Greenville. Bozick rapped 2 homers, 3 triples, and a single for 18 total bases.

Wilbur Hester of the Troy Trojans and Greenville Lions, was married at home plate of Greenville Stadium.

On July 18th, Ozark got 29 hits off of Greenville pitching, winning 21 to 9.

In late July, the Brewton Millers pitching staff put together a streak of 23 scoreless innings before giving up a run on July 23rd. The next game, a rookie reliever named Francis Moore was given the start. He took full advantage of the opportunity and threw a no-hitter.

ELSEWHERE IN 1946

Nesbit Wilson (1955 Crestview, 1956 Donalsonville, 1957 Fort Walton Beach, 1957-58 Pensacola) selected to the Southeastern League All-star team.

Lewis Flick of Little Rock in the Southern Association gets 9 hits in a 19-inning game versus Memphis on July 21st.