Newport Canners

The Newport Canners were a minor league baseball team from Newport, Tennessee and their nickname reflected the successful industry in the area, as did many ball teams from this period. The team played in the old Appalachian League as well as the Mountain States League. Both leagues were a Class D league comprised of teams from the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia and was generally a successful circuit for the time. The success didn't entirely translate to the Tennessee teams, though as the Newport and Maryville-Alcoa outfits generally suffered financial trouble from low attendance.

The Canners played in the App League from 1937-42 and the Mountain States League in 1948-50. Their most famous alum is probably Red Lucas, who managed the team in 1942 and pitched nearly 300 major league games in the 20s and 30s. 

The team played during a time when professional baseball was rapidly expanding across small towns, and saw many cities and states establish their own leagues and teams.