Baton Rouge area - our history

our baseball heritage
Baseball teams representing ExxonMobil’s earlier incarnations, Standard Oil of Louisiana and later, Esso, contributed significantly to the baseball heritage in Baton Rouge. These teams embodied community pride while boosting the city’s spirits during turbulent times.

Games were played against visiting minor league teams, colleges and other industrial teams from the area. Esso’s powerhouse squads were highly respected, and the Esso team won several state semi-pro championships. The best players from Louisiana, Texas and elsewhere were recruited to work at the refinery in order to field a top-notch team.

Throughout the Great Depression, Esso ballclubs provided a diversion for refinery and office workers taking part in the games as well as the public in attendance. Games were always very popular and helped folks forget, for a little while at least, the economic hardships faced at home.

During World War II, Esso did not sponsor a baseball club. Gas rationing curtailed team and fan travel. Plus, with the nation’s industries operating at full tilt, war laborers had little time for sports.

Patriotic refinery workers, however, continued to bring baseball to the citizens of Louisiana’s capital.

Putting together a team composed of Esso workers along with the best talent in the state, the Baton Rouge All-Stars helped boost morale wherever they played.