Oilman and baseball entrepreneur. In 1948 he purchased the Texas Rebels of the AA Texas League, and renamed them the Eagles. They won the Texas League pennant in 1952 (the first time since 1936). He turned a lackluster franchise into a powerful force. He integrated the Texas League five years after the major leagues ended segregation.
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When he was two years old, the family moved to Gladewater, Texas.After he graduated from high school, he joined the United States Navy and served during World War I. He married Dale Jeter on January 6, 1924, and alternately operated a hardware store, a sawmill, an ice cream plant, and other ventures with only modest success; but when the East Texas oil boom occurred, he found his niche in the business world. He began buying and trading oil leases and in 1932 , he had a well drilled, struck oil, and soon became wealthy. In 1944, he discovered the Wesson field in Ouichita County Arkansas, where he struck oil and gas.In 1935, shortly after his success in the East Texas oilfield, he bought the Shreveport, Louisiana franchise in the Class C East Texas Baseball League and moved it to his hometown, Gladewater, Texas. The Gladewater Bears won the pennant in 1936 and 1937. Between 1935 and 1948, Mr. Barnett owned minor league franchises in Gainesville and Texarkana, Texas and Monroe, Louisiana. In 1948, he drew national attention when he purchased the Texas Rebels of the AA Texas League, and a few weeks later purchased the Oakcliff ballpark, where the Rebels played their home games. He promptly renamed the Rebels the Eagles and the park Burnett Field. In 1952, the Eagles won the Texas League pennant for the first time since 1936; they won in 1937 also. Between 1948 and 1953, Mr. Burnett turned a lackluster franchise into a powerful force. In 1952, he brought David Hoskins to the Eagles and thus integrated the Texas League five years after the major leagues had ended segregation. The Sporting News named Mr. Burnett the Minor League Executive of the Year in 1954.
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When he was two years old, the family moved to Gladewater, Texas.After he graduated from high school, he joined the United States Navy and served during World War I. He married Dale Jeter on January 6, 1924, and alternately operated a hardware store, a sawmill, an ice cream plant, and other ventures with only modest success; but when the East Texas oil boom occurred, he found his niche in the business world. He began buying and trading oil leases and in 1932 , he had a well drilled, struck oil, and soon became wealthy. In 1944, he discovered the Wesson field in Ouichita County Arkansas, where he struck oil and gas.In 1935, shortly after his success in the East Texas oilfield, he bought the Shreveport, Louisiana franchise in the Class C East Texas Baseball League and moved it to his hometown, Gladewater, Texas. The Gladewater Bears won the pennant in 1936 and 1937. Between 1935 and 1948, Mr. Barnett owned minor league franchises in Gainesville and Texarkana, Texas and Monroe, Louisiana. In 1948, he drew national attention when he purchased the Texas Rebels of the AA Texas League, and a few weeks later purchased the Oakcliff ballpark, where the Rebels played their home games. He promptly renamed the Rebels the Eagles and the park Burnett Field. In 1952, the Eagles won the Texas League pennant for the first time since 1936; they won in 1937 also. Between 1948 and 1953, Mr. Burnett turned a lackluster franchise into a powerful force. In 1952, he brought David Hoskins to the Eagles and thus integrated the Texas League five years after the major leagues had ended segregation. The Sporting News named Mr. Burnett the Minor League Executive of the Year in 1954.
Oilman and baseball entrepreneur. In 1948 he purchased the Texas Rebels of the AA Texas League, and renamed them the Eagles. They won the Texas League pennant in 1952 (the first time since 1936). He turned a lackluster franchise into a powerful force. He integrated the Texas League five years after the major leagues ended segregation.
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When he was two years old, the family moved to Gladewater, Texas.After he graduated from high school, he joined the United States Navy and served during World War I. He married Dale Jeter on January 6, 1924, and alternately operated a hardware store, a sawmill, an ice cream plant, and other ventures with only modest success; but when the East Texas oil boom occurred, he found his niche in the business world. He began buying and trading oil leases and in 1932 , he had a well drilled, struck oil, and soon became wealthy. In 1944, he discovered the Wesson field in Ouichita County Arkansas, where he struck oil and gas.In 1935, shortly after his success in the East Texas oilfield, he bought the Shreveport, Louisiana franchise in the Class C East Texas Baseball League and moved it to his hometown, Gladewater, Texas. The Gladewater Bears won the pennant in 1936 and 1937. Between 1935 and 1948, Mr. Barnett owned minor league franchises in Gainesville and Texarkana, Texas and Monroe, Louisiana. In 1948, he drew national attention when he purchased the Texas Rebels of the AA Texas League, and a few weeks later purchased the Oakcliff ballpark, where the Rebels played their home games. He promptly renamed the Rebels the Eagles and the park Burnett Field. In 1952, the Eagles won the Texas League pennant for the first time since 1936; they won in 1937 also. Between 1948 and 1953, Mr. Burnett turned a lackluster franchise into a powerful force. In 1952, he brought David Hoskins to the Eagles and thus integrated the Texas League five years after the major leagues had ended segregation. The Sporting News named Mr. Burnett the Minor League Executive of the Year in 1954.
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When he was two years old, the family moved to Gladewater, Texas.After he graduated from high school, he joined the United States Navy and served during World War I. He married Dale Jeter on January 6, 1924, and alternately operated a hardware store, a sawmill, an ice cream plant, and other ventures with only modest success; but when the East Texas oil boom occurred, he found his niche in the business world. He began buying and trading oil leases and in 1932 , he had a well drilled, struck oil, and soon became wealthy. In 1944, he discovered the Wesson field in Ouichita County Arkansas, where he struck oil and gas.In 1935, shortly after his success in the East Texas oilfield, he bought the Shreveport, Louisiana franchise in the Class C East Texas Baseball League and moved it to his hometown, Gladewater, Texas. The Gladewater Bears won the pennant in 1936 and 1937. Between 1935 and 1948, Mr. Barnett owned minor league franchises in Gainesville and Texarkana, Texas and Monroe, Louisiana. In 1948, he drew national attention when he purchased the Texas Rebels of the AA Texas League, and a few weeks later purchased the Oakcliff ballpark, where the Rebels played their home games. He promptly renamed the Rebels the Eagles and the park Burnett Field. In 1952, the Eagles won the Texas League pennant for the first time since 1936; they won in 1937 also. Between 1948 and 1953, Mr. Burnett turned a lackluster franchise into a powerful force. In 1952, he brought David Hoskins to the Eagles and thus integrated the Texas League five years after the major leagues had ended segregation. The Sporting News named Mr. Burnett the Minor League Executive of the Year in 1954.
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