Mineola in Wood County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Mineola Black Spiders
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019
1. Mineola Black Spiders Marker
Inscription.
Mineola Black Spiders. . In the 1800s and into the first half of the twentieth century, African-American baseball teams played separately from white teams. The community of Mineola, though small in population, had both white and black baseball teams. The Mineola Black Spiders was composed of African-American men and youth from the town. The ballplayers wore solid gray uniforms and played at Epperson park in south Mineola, in addition to traveling to games in Dallas, Commerce, Shreveport (Louisiana), and other places. Home games sometimes attracted around 200 spectators.
Vernon Klingaman, who moved to Texas in the late 1920s, settling in Mineola, soon became involved with the team. He expanded the roster, opening it to non-residents, and changed the name to the Texas Black Spiders. In 1932, the players departed Mineola for the Midwest, becoming a barnstorming team, staging exhibition games in various locations. That year, the team underwent a name change, becoming the mason city black bats. They headquartered in Iowa, though most members would return to the spiders squad, while others moved back to Texas.
The Black Spiders gained a reputation as being one of the fastest teams from the south. They were also very successful; in 1936, the Spiders record was 34-1. However, by 1937, there was a substantial turnover in team personnel. The Black Spiders fielded a team in 1938, but disbanded afterward. Today, the team is mostly forgotten in Mineola. However, the Black Spiders remain a significant part of the communitys history as a black baseball team that became a success locally and in the midwestern United States.
In the 1800s and into the first half of the twentieth century, African-American baseball teams played separately from white teams. The community of Mineola, though small in population, had both white and black baseball teams. The Mineola Black Spiders was composed of African-American men and youth from the town. The ballplayers wore solid gray uniforms and played at Epperson park in south Mineola, in addition to traveling to games in Dallas, Commerce, Shreveport (Louisiana), and other places. Home games sometimes attracted around 200 spectators.
Vernon Klingaman, who moved to Texas in the late 1920s, settling in Mineola, soon became involved with the team. He expanded the roster, opening it to non-residents, and changed the name to the Texas Black Spiders. In 1932, the players departed Mineola for the Midwest, becoming a barnstorming team, staging exhibition games in various locations. That year, the team underwent a name change, becoming the mason city black bats. They headquartered in Iowa, though most members would return to the spiders squad, while others moved back to Texas.
The Black Spiders gained a reputation as being one of the fastest teams from the south. They were also very successful; in 1936, the Spiders record was 34-1. However, by 1937, there was a substantial turnover in team personnel. The Black Spiders fielded a team in 1938, but disbanded afterward. Today, the team is mostly forgotten in Mineola. However, the Black Spiders remain a significant part of the communitys history as a black baseball team that became a success locally and in the midwestern United States.
Erected 2010 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16321.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.
Location. 32° 39.412′ N,
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95° 29.418′ W. Marker is in Mineola, Texas, in Wood County. It is at the intersection of South Pacific Street (U.S. 69) and South Johnson Street, on the right when traveling south on South Pacific Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: South Pacific Street, Mineola TX 75773, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Piney Woods. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Also see . . . Mineola - Home of The Black Spiders. The East Texan website entry (Submitted on July 26, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019
3. Mineola Black Spiders Marker with another local marker about the Spiders.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019
4. Another nearby Mineola Black Spiders Marker.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019
5. View from marker south on U.S. Highway 69.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 574 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on September 5, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on July 26, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 5, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
