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The Shelby Farmers were a minor league baseball team based in Shelby, North Carolina. From 1948 to 1952, the "Farmers" played exclusively as members of the Class D level Western Carolina League, winning the 1951 and 1952 league championships.

Preceding the Farmers, Shelby teams played at members of the Class D level North Carolina State League (1937-1938), Tar Heel League (1939-1940) and the Tri-State League (1946), with teams serving as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals (1937-1938), Washington Senators (1939) and Chicago Cubs (1946). The Farmers were immediately succeeded by the 1953 and 1954 Shelby "Clippers" of the Tar Heel League, who were a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants (1954). Overall, Shelby teams in the era qualified for six playoff appearances.

All Shelby minor league games in the era were hosted at Veterans Park in Shelby.

1937 & 1928: North Carolina State League
In 1937, the Shelby "Cardinals" became charter members of the newly formed the eight–team Class D level North Carolina State League. The Cooleemee Weavers, Landis Sens, Lexington Indians, Mooresville Moors, Newton-Conover Twins (Cleveland Indians affiliate), Salisbury Bees (Boston Bees affiliate) and Thomasville Chair Makers teams joined with Shelby in beginning league play on April 30, 1937.

The 1937 Shelby Cardinals played as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. In their first season of play the Cardinals ended the 1937 regular season record of 74–35 to place first in the North Carolina State League regular season standings, capturing the pennant under returning manager Jim Poole and president C.F Clark, as the Moors finished 12.0 games ahead of the second place Thomasville Chair Makers. In the Playoffs, the Shelby defeated the Landis Sens 3 games to 1. In the Finals, Mooresville defeated the Shelby Cardinals 4 games to 3 to capture the 1937 North Carolina State League Championship. Moors pitcher Joe Rucidio led the league with 20 wins. Mooresville native Tripp Sigman played for the 1937 Moors.

Frank Crespi played for the Selby Cardinals in 1937 in his first professional season at age 19, hitting .314 with 11 home runs. Crespi became the St. Louis Cardinals starting second basemen and was a key contributor on the 1942 World Series champion Cardinals before being drafted into military service. drafted into the United States Army in early 1943, Crespi qualified for a deferment as he was the sole supporter of his elderly mother. He refused the military deferment, saying, "I don't think I'm too good to fight for the things I've always enjoyed."

Whild playing in an Army baseball game in Kansas during his service, Crespi suffered a compound fracture of his left leg. Soon afterwards, he broke the same leg during a training accident, and then broke the same leg a third time during an impromptu wheelchair race while in the military hospital. The, while Crespi was recuperating at the hospital, a nurse accidentally applied 100 times the appropriate quantity of boric acid to his bandages, causing severe burns on Crespi's leg, with the burns leaving him with a permanent limp. it was reported that a total of 23 operations were performed on Crespi's leg and he was unable to return to his playing career following his honorable military discharge.

The Shelby Cardinals continued North Carolina State League play in 1938, before the franchise relocated during the season. On July 22, 1938, the Shelby Cardinals franchise of the eight-team, Class D level North Carolina State League relocated to Gastonia, North Carolina and became the Gastonia Cardinals. Shelby had a record of 47-23 at the time of the move and were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Shelby/Gastonia team ended the regular season in second place with a record of 66–45, playing the season under manager George Silvey in both locations. Gastonia finished 9.0 games behind the Thomasville Tommies in the final regular season standings and qualified for the playoffs, where they were swept by the eventual champion Mooresville Moors in three games. Gastonia.Shelby Cardinal player Gene Nafie led the North Carolina State League voth with 27 home runs and 120 runs scored, while the Cardinals' player/manager George Silvey topped the league with 80 stolen bases.

1939 & 1940: Tar Heel League
In 1939, the Shelby "Nationals" reformed after relocating during the previous season. The Nationals resumed play as a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators, while joining a newly formed league. The 1939 Shelby Nationals became charter members of the six-team, Class D level Tar Heel League. The Gastonia Cardinals, Hickory Rebels, Lenoir Indians, Newton-Conover Twins and Statesville Owls teams joined with Shelby in beginning league play.

In their first season of league play, the Shelby Nationals 1939 Tar Heel League standings. The Nationals ended the Tar Heel League regular season with a record of 72-36, placing first in the standings, finishing 10.5 games ahead of the second place Lenoir Indians. Al Unser served as the Gastonia manager. In the first round of the four-team playoffs, Gastonia defeated the Shelby Nationals three games to one to advance. In the Finals, Gastonia defeated the Statesville Owls in seven games to win the championship. Hooper Triplett of Gastonia won the league triple crown, hitting .391 with 27 home runs and 115 RCI. Teammate Miles Gardner had 17 wins to lead the Tar Heel league in that category.

The Shelby "Colonels" continued play as the 1940 Tar Heel League remained with the original six teams, before Shelby folded during the season. On July 18, both Shelby and the Newton-Conover Twins folded leaving the Tar Heel League with four teams. finished second in the regular season standing and qualified for the playoffs. The Cardinals ended the regular season with a 16–54 record, playing under manager Milt Bocek, while finishing 8.0 games behind the first place Statesville Owls. The 1941 Tar Heel League expanded to eight teams without a Shelby franchise.

In 1946, the Shelby Cubs played the season as a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

Roy Smalley Jr. played for the Shelby Cubs in 1946, hitting .219 in 30 games at age 20. Smalley would eventually become the Chicago Cubs' regular shortstop from 1948 through 1953. Smalley was replaced as the Cubs shortstop by Baseball Hall of Fame member Ernie Banks in 1954 and was traded to the Milwaukee Braves.

1948 to 1952: Shelby Farmers - Western Carolina League
Shelby, North Carolina next hosted league baseball play in 1948, when the Shelby "Farmers" became charter members of the eight–team Class D level Western Carolina League. The Forest City Owls, Hendersonville Skylarks, Lenoir Red Sox, Lincolnton Cardinals, Marion Marauders, Morganton Aggies and Newton-Conover Twins teams joined Shelby as charter members beginning league play on April 30, 1948.

In their first season of play the Shelby Farmers placed third in Western Carolina League regular season standings. Ending the regular season with a record of 54–53 and qualifying for the league four-playoffs. Playing the season under managers Les McGarity, Homer Daugherty, Wayne Stewart and Boger McGimsey, Morganton finished 13.5 games behind the first place Lincolnton Cardinals in the Western Carolina League regular season standings. In the first round of the 1948 playoffs, Lincolnton defeated Morganton 4 games to 2. The Cardinals then defeated Newton-Conover in the finals to win the league championship.

The Shelby Farmers placed fourth in the 1949 Western Carolina League regular season standings and reached the playoff Finals the eight–team league. The Aggies ended the regular season with a record of 58–49, playing under manager Sam Bell. The Wagonmakers finished 13.5 games behind the first place Newton-Conover Twins and qualified for the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Aggies defeated the Lincolnton Cardinals 4 games to 3 to advance to the final. In the Western Carolina League Finals, the Rutherford County Owls defeated the Morganton Aggies 4 games to 1 to win the championship. Morganton's Boger McGimsey led the Western Carolina League with 118 RBI, while teammate Lelon Jaynes of Morganton led the league pitchers with both 19 wins and 202 strikeouts.

In 1950, Shelby Farmers placed fifth in the Western Carolina League final regular season standings. Managed by the returning Sam Bell, Homer Daugherty and Jim Poole, Morganton ended the season with a record of 54–57 to finish 15.5 games behind the first place Newton-Conover Twins in the final regular standings. With their fifth place finish in the eight–team league, Morganton did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Lenoir Red Sox.

Dave Coble was hired as the Shelby manager prior to the 1951 season. Coble would spend three seasons managing the Farmers, winning two league championships. Coble was a former major league player, who had his baseball playing career interrupted by his service in the United States Army. In 1942, Coble had worked during the off season at the Army aviation training base under construction at Metcalfe, Mississippi. In April 1942, he entered service with the Army Air Force, being stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, before transferring to the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center in Texas. In April 1943, Staff Sergeant Coble was assigned to the Officer Candidate School in Miami Beach, Florida. He returned to San Antonio in late July as a lieutenant and physical training instructor, and continued to play baseball at the Cadet Center and became the manager of military baseball teams at Randolph Air Force Base in June 1945. Coble was honorably discharged from his military service at the end of 1945 at age 33. Coble resumed his baseball career in the minor leagues as a manager of the 1946 Gadsden Pilots. Coble had managed the Tifton Blue Sox of the Georgia State League in 1950, prior to being hired by Shelby.

The 1951 Shelby Farmers won the Western Carolina League pennant and reached the league finals. Morganton finished with a regular season record of 71–39 to place first in the regular season standings, playing under manager George Bradshaw. Morganton finished 4.5 games ahead of the second place Shelby Farmers. In the Western Carolina League playoffs, Morganton defeated the Lincolnton Cardinals 4 games to 3 to advance. In the Finals, the Shelby Farmers defeated Morganton Aggies 4 games to 3 in the seven-game series. Aggie player Bordie Waddle led the Western Carolina League with 24 home runs. Pitcher Pete Treece of Morganton led the league with both 25 wins and 263 strikeouts.

In their final season of play, the Shelby Farmers won the 1952 Western Carolina League championship. The league began the season reduced to six teams. On August 3, 1951, Morganton folded. The Farmers had a record of 41–51 playing under managers George Bradshaw and Pete Treece when the franchise permanently folded. The Western Carolina League completed the 1952 season with five teams.

In 1952, the Western Carolina League and North Carolina League merged and formed the Tar Heel League, without a Shelby Franchise

1953 to 1954 Tar Heel League
After the 1952 season, the Western Carolina League combined with the North Carolina State League to form the Tar Heel League, playing in 1953 and 1954 before folding and then resuming play in 1960.

The Shelby franchise continued play in the 1953 ten–team Class D level Tar Heel League, becoming the Shelby "Clippers." The Clippers finished the 1953 season in second place, ending the season with a record of 70–40, playing under managers Len Cross and Boger McGimsey. Shelby finished 3.0 games behind the first place Marion Marauders in the final regular season standings. In the first round of the league playoffs, the Lexington Indians defeated Shelby 4 games to 2.

The 1954 Tar Heel League began the season reduced to four teams, Shelby included. The league folded on June 21, 1954. The Shelby Clippers were in second place with a 24–24 record when the league folded. Forest City was managed by Woody Rich and Richard McKeithan, finishing 8.0 games behind the first place Hickory Rebels in the final standings.

Shelby next hosted minor league baseball in 1960 when the Shelby "Colonels" resumed play as members of the Class D level Western Carolina League.

The ballpark
The Shelby Farmers teams hosted their home minor league games at Veterans Stadium. Today, the ballpark is still in use, known as "Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium," hosting high school and youth teams. Since 2011, Keeter Stadium annually has hosted the youth American Legion World Series. Collegiate baseball has also been played at the ballpark. Keeter Stadium is located at 230 East Dixon Boulevard in Shelby, North Carolina.

Notable alumni

 * Walt Dixon (1948)
 * Roger McKee (1948)
 * Ramón Monzant (1948)
 * Ron Necciai (1948)
 * Danny Reynolds (baseball) (1948)
 * Dave Odom (baseball) (1939)
 * Bill Ayers (baseball) (1937)
 * Frank Crespi (1937)
 * Glenn Gardner (1937)
 * Freddy Schmidt (1937)
 * Walter Sessi (1937)
 * Hal Bamberger (1946)
 * Hal Jeffcoat (1946)
 * Carmen Mauro (1946)
 * Bill Moisan (1946)
 * Rube Novotney (1946)
 * Len Okrie (1946)
 * Charlie Osgood (1946)
 * Jim Pearce (baseball) (1946)
 * Roy Smalley Jr. (1946)
 * George Brunet (1953)
 * Rogelio Martínez (baseball) (1953)
 * Danny Reynolds (baseball) (1953)
 * Joe Shipley (1953)
 * George Culver (1964)
 * Mike Ferraro (1964)
 * Danny Gardella (1964)
 * Dave McDonald (baseball) (1964)
 * Dale Roberts (baseball) (1964)
 * Steve Whitaker (baseball) (1964)
 * George Wilson (outfielder) (1964)


 * Shelby Farmers players
 * Shelby Cardinals players
 * Shelby Nationals players
 * Shelby Clippers players
 * Shelby Cubs players
 * Shelby Colonels players