Mineola in Wood County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Mineola Black Spiders

By Tillman Cooke

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

1. Mineola Black Spiders Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Mineola Black Spiders were minor league baseball players who played in league where only the ball was "white". Consisting of 27 players clad in solid gray uniforms, figuratively speaking, could thump the cover of a baseball. All home games were played at Epperson Park (south Mineola). It was a "patch" fenced area equipped with a grandstand manned with excitable, screaming fans. Although the Spiders were no publicized baseball players as Satchel Paige or Josh Gibson of the Negro League, their arsenal was explosive. Joshua Epperson (catcher), Joe Epperson (shortstop), Isaiah Carpenter (catcher), Henry Thomas (outfield), Clarence "brush back" Wheeler (1st base, pitcher), "Little Snoop" Parker (infield), Eldridge Arthur (outfield), and J.B. Griffin (pitcher) were a few of these "swatters". Frankly speaking, all of the spiders could inflict pain upon a baseball. "Little Snoop" Parker was a tremendous hitter, so were Joe and Joshua Epperson. The Spiders were not used to playing for large crowds in excess of 200 people. A couple of local Mineola businessmen owned the Spiders and sought to entice them into becoming an integral part of an established

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minor league franchise in Iowa, but they refused to accept the challenge. It is estimated Mineola's Black Spiders played approximately fifteen to twenty games in a season. Their debut began somewhere in the middle 1930s.

Contributors: Billy Mc Calla, Sr., Haywood Epperson and Kevin Sherrington

Erected by Mineola Historic Preservation Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports.

Location. 32° 39.411′ N, 95° 29.418′ W. Marker is in Mineola, Texas, in Wood County. Marker is at the intersection of South Pacific Street (U.S. 69) and South Johnson Street, on the left when traveling north 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Mineola Black Spiders (here, next to this marker); John Creighton Buchanan (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); George C. Reeves (about 600 feet away); Dr. Adolphus Leander Patten (about 600 feet away); Robert N. Stafford (approx. 0.2 miles away); Richard Malcolm Smith (approx. 0.2 miles away); Addie E. McFarland

This marker to left of Texas Historical Commission marker about Mineola Spiders. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

2. This marker to left of Texas Historical Commission marker about Mineola Spiders.

(approx. ¼ mile away); Mineola Ice, Light and Water Company (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mineola.

Another nearby Mineola Black Spiders marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

3. Another nearby Mineola Black Spiders marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 291 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 12, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.