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→1949 Season
The Fliers posted an easy win in the Southeastern League, finishing 98-42, with a .700 win percentage, 16 games ahead of Meridian. In the playoffs, Pensacola whitewashed Jackson, four games to none, before besting Vicksburg, four games to one to win the championship. Later, in a matchup of Class B leagues called the Little Dixie Series, the Fliers defeated the Florida International’s Tampa franchise, four games to two.
The ’49 Fliers were managed by 36-year-old '''Bill HerrHerring'''ing. A long-time minor leaguer, Herring spent much of his career in the Coastal Plain League, both as a pitcher and manager. In 1941, he managed the Wilson Tobs to a place on the top 100 list. After stops in Portland (PCL) and Goldsboro (Coastal Plain), '''Herring''' signed on to manage Pensacola in 1949. In addition to piloting the club, '''Herring''' contributed from the mound, winning 10-of-13 decisions. After the season, he returned to familiar stomping grounds in the Coastal Plain, managing Wilson in 1950.
Pensacola featured two players who were legends in minor league baseball in the Southeastern United States, 43-year-old first baseman '''Bill McGhee''' and outfielder '''Nesbit (Neb) Wilson'''. '''McGhee''' was in his 21st year in pro ball and had been a wartime player with the [[Wikipedia:Philadelphia Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]], batting .272 in 170 games in 1944-45. He played all but 79 of his 2,292 minor league games below the Mason-Dixon Line. He had a .321 career average with 2,791 hits, but was not a power hitter, recording just 45 home runs. As playing manager at Gadsen in 1947, he had led the Southeastern League in batting (.349).
