The Palms were preceded in minor league play by the 1928 "McAllen" team, which played the season as members of the Class D level
Texas Valley League. The McAllen "Palms" began play in 1931. The four–team,
Class D level Rio Grande Valley League began the season with the
Corpus Christi Seahawks,
Harlingen Ladds and
San Benito Saints joining McAllen in beginning league play on April 22, 1931. On June 4, 1931, Corpus Christi moved to become the
La Feria Nighthawks.. During its first season of league play, the Rio Grande Valley League folded on July 30, 1931, with the Palms in first place. Despite folding, the league held finals that featured McAllen vs. La Feria. The Palms were in first place overall when the league folded, finishing the 1931 overall regular season with a record of 55–37, playing under manager
Tex Covington. McAllen won the first-half pennant and finished 7.5 games ahead of the Seahawks/Nighthawks in the final overall standings. The Palms played La Feria in a playoff, after the Nighthawks won the second–half title in the split–schedule season. In the 1931 finals, the McAllen Palms swept La Feria in three games.{{cite journal ==The ballpark==