History
In 1895, the league began with eight teams: the Austin Senators, Dallas Steers, Fort Worth Panthers, Galveston Sand Crabs, Houston Magnolias, San Antonio Missionaries, Sherman Orphans, and Shreveport Grays.[1]: 168 In early August, the Austin, Houston, and San Antonio teams disbanded; Shreveport also dropped out, so the league would have an even number of teams remaining.[1]: 168 The league played a split season, with Dallas winning the first half, and Fort Worth winning the second half.[1]: 168 In a postseason series, Fort Worth defeated Dallas, seven games to six.[1]: 168
In 1896, the league again began with eight teams: the returning Austin, Fort Worth, and Galveston teams were joined by the Dallas Navigators, Denison Indians, Houston Buffaloes, San Antonio Bronchos, and Sherman Students.[1]: 171 The Students disbanded in June and were replaced by the Paris Midlands.[1]: 171 In early August, four teams (Dallas, Denison, Fort Worth, and Paris) disbanded.[1]: 171 The league played a three-part split season, with Fort Worth, Houston, and Galveston each winning segments.[1]: 171 Fort Worth dropped out of the playoffs, leaving Houston to defeat Galveston for the championship, five games to two.[1]: 171 Notable players in the league included Kid Elberfeld and Harry Steinfeldt.
The 1897 league consisted of eight teams: the returning Austin, Galveston, Houston, Paris, and San Antonio teams were joined by the Dallas Defenders, Fort Worth Colts, and Sherman-Denison Tigers.[1]: 173 During July, the Sherman-Denison team moved to Waco, while Austin, San Antonio, and Houston dropped out of the league in August.[1]: 173 The winners of the two split seasons, San Antonio and Galveston, were declared league co-champions.[1]: 173 Notable players in the league included Warren Wallace Beckwith.
The 1898 league had six teams: the Austin, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio teams were joined by the Dallas Colts and Fort Worth Panthers.[1]: 178 At the end of April, Fort Worth disbanded and Dallas was dropped from the league, while in May, Austin and San Antonio disbanded.[1]: 178 Austin and Galveston each won a half of the split-season, but no playoffs were held and no champion was declared.[1]: 178
In 1899, the final season of the league, four teams competed, all of which returned from the prior year: Austin, Galveston, Houston, and San Antonio.[1]: 180 Galveston won both halves of the split season, and was declared league champion.[1]: 180