Virginia League


The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928, folding in June.
The most famous alumni to come out of the league were World War II hero, General Frank A. Armstrong, and Hall of Fame members Rick Ferrell, Sam Rice, Chief Bender, Pie Traynor, and Hack Wilson. Chief Bender, Art Devlin, Gabby Street and Zinn Beck served as managers in the league.

Virginia League Champions †

† ''Playoffs were not held at the end of most seasons. In those cases, the Champions listed were the teams who ended the regular season in first place.''

Complete team list (1906-1928)

↑ Also spelled "Bronchos."
‡ ''This team had no known nickname.''

Standings & statistics

1906 to 1919 Class C

1906 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Lynchburg Shoemakers7236.667-John J. Grim
Norfolk Tars6244.5859Win Clark
Richmond Colts5754.51416½Charles Shaffer
Danville Red Sox5058.46322John Benny / Frank Doyle
Portsmouth Truckers4463.41127½Ernest Landgraf / Barley Kain
Roanoke Tigers4272.36833C.R. Williams / George Kelley
Con Strouthers / Red McMahon
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Win ClarkNorfolkBA.303Walter MoserLynchburgW24
Fred DingleNorfolkRuns71Charles SchumanPortsmouthSO234
A.N. BowenLynchburgRuns71Walter MoserLynchburgPCT.750 24-8
Win ClarkNorfolkHits117-----
Willie FetzerDanvilleHits117-----
Willie FetzerDanvilleHR5-----

1907 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Norfolk Tars6748.583-Robert Pender
Danville Red Sox6758.5365James McKevitt
Lynchburg Shoemakers6562.5128John J. Grim
Richmond Colts6262.5009½Charles Shaffer / John Wells
Ralph Reeve
Roanoke Tigers6262.5009½Win Clark / Walter Brodie
Portsmouth Truckers4677.37425Charles Moss / Win Clark
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jacob HennDanvilleBA.284Bill OteyNorfolkW22
Guy TitmanRichmondRuns67Bill OteyNorfolkSO197
Jacob HennDanvilleHits131Hal BertrandNorfolkPCT.818 9-2
Jacob HennDanvilleRBI69-----
Jacob HennDanvilleHR8-----

1908 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Richmond Colts8741.680-Perry Lipe
Danville Red Sox7452.58712Robert Stafford
Roanoke Tigers6367.48525Charles Shaffer / Elmore Hines
Portsmouth Truckers5771.44530Steve Griffin / Andy Lawrence
Lynchburg Shoemakers5276.40635Al Orth / John J. Grim
Robert Westlake
Norfolk Tars5278.40036Robert Pender
No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Jacob HennDanvilleBA.290Martin WalshDanvilleW30
Perry LipeRichmondRuns65Dutch RevellRichmondSO199
Bill HesslerRoanokeHits133Jack QuinnRichmondPCT1.000 14-0
Jacob HennDanvilleRBI72-----
Jacob HennDanvilleHR8-----

1909 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Roanoke Tigers7349.598-Frank Shaughnessy
Norfolk Tars7249.595½Robert Pender / Win Clark
Richmond Colts6361.50811Perry Lipe
Danville Red Sox6062.49613Robert Stafford
Portsmouth Truckers4972.40623½Maurice White / Thomas Guiheen
Lynchburg Shoemakers5074.40324Al Orth / Dickinson
Andy Lawrence

No playoffs held.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Charles SeitzNorfolkBA.328Dutch RevellRichmondW29
Charles SeitzNorfolkRuns73Walt DoaneRoanokeSO208
Charles SeitzNorfolkHits154John FoxNorfolkPCT.769 20-6
Charles SeitzNorfolkRBI78Dutch RevellRichmondSHO15
Frank ShaughnessyRoanokeHR5-----

1910 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Danville Red Sox6945.605-Steve Griffin
Roanoke Tigers6852.5674Frank Shaughnessy
Norfolk Tars5856.51311Win Clark
Lynchburg Shoemakers5760.48713½Dick Smith
Richmond Colts4967.42221John Lawler
Portsmouth Truckers
Petersburg Goobers		4768.40922½Robert Stafford / John Grim
Portsmouth moved to Petersburg July 5.

No playoffs held.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Joe HollandRoanokeBA.291Harvey BusseyDanvilleW23
Watt PowellRoanokeRuns69Dutch RevellRichmondSO198
Joe Holland RoanokeHits133Walt DoaneRoanokePCT.923 12-1
Joe HollandRoanokeRBI73-----
Watt PowellRoanokeHR3-----
Joe HollandRoanokeHR3-----
Red MunsonNorfolkHR3-----

1911 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Petersburg Hustlers6851.572-Henry Busch
Norfolk Tars6754.5542Charlie Babb
Roanoke Tigers6356.5295Frank Shaughnessy
Richmond Colts5563.46612½J.W. Sullivan / Bradley
George Coman
Lynchburg Shoemakers5665.46313Otis Stocksdale
Danville Bugs5070.41718½Joseph Laughlin / G. Schrader
No playoffs held.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Bruno BlockNorfolkBA.330Earl HamiltonPetersburgW21
Frank ShaughnessyRoanokeRuns93Andy BruckmillerPetersburgW21
Frank ShaughnessyRoanokeHits160Joe FinneranNorfolkW21
Mickey KeliherPetersburgRBI84James PoolNorfolkW21
Ralph MattisRichmondHR9James PoolNorfolkSO207
Joe VancePetersburgPCT1.000 11-0

1912 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Roanoke Tigers8155.596-Buck Pressley
Petersburg Goobers7954.594½Henry Busch
Richmond Colts7755.5792Steve Griffin
Portsmouth Pirates6563.50812Lou Castro
Norfolk Tars6765.50812Charles Shaffer
Newport News Shipbuilders4684.35432John J. Grim / Buck Hooker
Danville Red Sox /
Bluefield		1629.356NADavid Gaston
Lynchburg Shoemakers1134.244NAOtis Stocksdale / James Kelly
Hugh MacKinnon
Danville moved to Bluefield June 10 and moved back to Danville June 13.; Danville and Lynchburg disbanded June 15.

No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Steve GriffinRichmondBA.356Erskine MayerPortsmouthW26
Steve GriffinRichmondRuns97Erskine MayerPortsmouthSO273
Steve GriffinRichmondHits167Erskine MayerPortsmouthPCT.743 26-9
Steve GriffinRichmondRBI97-----
Frank BurkeRichmondHR12-----

1913 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Petersburg Goobers8946.659-Henry Busch
Roanoke Tigers8257.5909Buck Pressley
Richmond Colts7460.55214½Steve Griffin
Portsmouth Pirates5777.42531½Lee Garvin
Newport News Shipbuilders5383.39036½Paul Davis / Harry Matthews
Norfolk Tars5183.38137½Charles Shaffer / George Kirscher
Ray Ryan

No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Ralph MattisRoanokeBA.300Doc AyersRichmondW29
Tinsley GinnRoanokeRuns94Doc AyersRichmondSO390
Ralph MattisRoanokeHits157Doc AyersRichmondPCT.784 29-8
Ralph MattisRoanokeRBI78-----
Tom TennantPortsmouthHR7-----
Jim BarnettPetersburgHR7-----
Ducky EbertsRichmondHR7-----

1914 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Norfolk Tars9348.660-Buck Pressley
Richmond Colts7856.58211½Ray Ryan
Newport News Shipbuilders7069.50422Matt Broderick / Harry Matthews
Harry Spratt
Roanoke Tigers6572.47426Otto Mills / Harry Welcher
Petersburg Goobers6374.46028Henry Busch
Portsmouth Truckers4696.32447½Jesse Tannehill / Joe Holland
Pryor McElveen

No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Buck ThrasherNorfolkBA.325Cliff MarkleNorfolkW31
Art SmithNorfolkRuns96Cliff MarkleNorfolkSO265
Cecil GrayRichmondHits169Cliff MarkleNorfolkERA2.53
Cecil GrayRichmondRBI94Sam RicePetersburgPCT.818 9-2
Pryor McElveenPortsmouthHR8-----

1915 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Rocky Mount Carolinians7448.607-Ray Ryan
Portsmouth Truckers6858.5408Win Clark
Norfolk Tars6656.5418Red McMahon
Newport News Shipbuilders6362.50412½Carl Carnes / Brooke Crist
Suffolk Tigers5962.48814½Harry Welcher / George Kelley
Petersburg Goobers4084.32335Harry Busch

Playoff: Rocky Mount 4 games, Portsmouth 1.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Buck ThrasherNorfolkBA.348Roy GardinierNewport NewsW20
Charles BittleRocky MountRuns117Roy GardinierNewport NewsSO216
Buck ThrasherNorfolkHits150Al LeakeRocky MountERA2.42
Buck ThrasherNorfolkRBI100Al LeakeRocky MountPCT.737 14-5
Carl GrayRocky MountHR15-----

1916 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Newport News Shipbuilders7939.669-Brooke Crist / Fred Payne
Portsmouth Truckers7642.6443James Fox
Rocky Mount Tar Heels6160.50419½Ray Ryan
Petersburg Goobers5468.44327George Kelly / William Helfrich
Norfolk Tars3877.33039½Red McMahon / Buck Pressley
Hopewell Powder Puffs3052.366NAWin Clark / R. Barrett

Hopewell disbanded July 22; Roanoke Rapids was added August 14; Roanoke Rapids was dropped August 16, after winning its only game.

Playoff: Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 1.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Manuel CuetoPortsmouthBA.321William WoodPortsmouthW22
Al MoorePortsmouthRuns71Clarence TeagueRocky MountSO205
Manuel Cueto PortsmouthHits126John VossNewport NewsERA1.89
Rasty WaltersNewport NewsRBI100John VossNewport NewsPCT.792 19-5
Rasty WaltersNewport NewsHR15-----

1917 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Newport News Shipbuilders105.667-Fred Payne
Portsmouth Truckers97.5631½James Fox
Lynchburg Shoemakers77.5002½Joe Stanley
Norfolk Tars79.4383½Art Devlin
Petersburg Goobers68.4293½Hamilton Reynolds
Rocky Mount Tar Heels69.4004Ray Ryan

League disbanded May 15.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Harry HartsellNorfolkBA.378Frank JarmanRocky MountW4
Brooke CristPortsmouthRuns29Louis MagalisNorfolkW4
Harry HartsellNorfolkHits48Carl RayNewport NewsW4
Brooke CristNewport NewsRBI14Carl RayNewport NewsSO57
Brooke CristNewport NewsHR3Carl RayNewport NewsPCT1.000 4-0
Bob WoodPortsmouthERA1.27

1918 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Richmond Colts2921.580-George Stinson
Newport News Shipbuilders2821.571½Roy Whitcraft
Petersburg Goobers2722.5511½Burleigh Emery
Norfolk Tars1333.23914Art Devlin

League folded in late June.
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Curt DaughtonNewport NewsBA.328Edwin TomlinNewport NewsW10
Curt DaughtonNewport NewsRuns38George JacksonRichmondSO83
Curt DaughtonNewport NewsHits62Chet LlewellynNewport NewsERA2.48
Curt DaughtonNewport NewsRBI46Joe TrivettNewport NewsPCT.800 4-1
Curt DaughtonNewport NewsHR3-----

1919 Virginia League


Team standingsWLPCTGBManager
Petersburg Goobers6247.569-Amby McConnell
Richmond Colts6050.5452½Frank Dobson / Chief Bender
Portsmouth Truckers5751.5284½Eddie Hooper
Norfolk Tars5853.5235William Schwartz
Suffolk Nuts4958.45812Rube Oldring
Newport News Shipbuilders4269.37821Roy Whitcraft

No playoffs held
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Amby McConnellPetersburgBA.338Chief BenderRichmondW29
Hal LeathersNorfolkRuns71Chief BenderRichmondSO295
Jim PooleRichmondHits127Orion MitchellNorfolkERA1.09
Jack BallingerNorfolkHR5Chief BenderRichmondPCT.935 29-2
Jack BallingerNorfolkRBI90-----