Virginia League (1939–1942)

Last updated
Virginia League
Formerly Virginia League
Classification Class D (1939–1940)
Class C (1940–1941)
Sport Minor League Baseball
Inaugural season1939
Ceased1942
Replaced by Virginia League (1948-1951)
PresidentRay Ryan (1939–1941)
C.R. Williams (1942)
No. of teams7
Country United States of America
Most titles1
1939: Harrisonburg Turks
1940: Lynchburg Senators
1941: Salem-Roanoke Friends
1942: Pulaski Counts

The Virginia League was the name of an American professional minor league baseball league that operated between 1939 and 1942. This was the fourth of five incarnations of the Virginia League. The league was a Class D level league in 1939 and 1940. It became a Class C level league for the 1941 and 1942 seasons. The Virginia League resumed play in 1948, after the conclusion of World War II.

Contents

History

After the Virginia League ceased operations following the 1928 season, the league returned to play in 1939 as a four-team Class D level league. The Harrisonburg Turks, Lynchburg Grays, the Salem-Roanoke Friends, and the Staunton Presidents began league play in 1939. [1]

In 1941, two new teams were added: the Newport News Pilots and the Petersburg Rebels. [2]

In 1942, the Turks were replaced in the league by the Pulaski Counts. [3]

The Virginia League returned to play in 1948, following the conclusion of World War II.

Virginia League 1939–1942 cities represented

Standings & statistics

1939 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Harrisonburg Turks 6147.565- Hank Hulvey
Lynchburg Grays 5551.5195.0Al Weisman
Staunton Presidents 5156.4779.5Jimmy Bair
Salem-Roanoke Friends 4760.43913.5Bob Schleicher

Playoff: Lynchburg 1 game, Staunton 0.
Finals: Harrisonburg 3 games, Lynchburg 0.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Warren HuffmanStauntonBA.415Vincent PolumboSalem-RoanokeW18
Russ MincySalem-RoanokeRuns92Ernie UtzHarrisonburgSO183
Nicholas RhabeLynch/HarrisonHits156Michael MarkoStauntonERA2.52
Kenneth MooreSalem-RoanokeRBI95Ernie UtzHarrisonburgPCT.714 15-6
Louis CipallaHarrison/LynchHR10Walter PolandStauntonPCT.714 15-6

1940 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Lynchburg Senators 7045.609- Guy Lacy
Harrisonburg Turks 6156.52110.0 Hank Hulvey
Salem-Roanoke Friends 5562.47016.0Eli Harris / Arnold Anderson
Staunton Presidents 4669.40024.0Vernon Brandes / John Brennan

Playoff: Harrisonburg 2 games, Salem-Roanoke 1.
Finals: Lynchburg 3 games, Harrisonburg 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Henry LomanHarrisonburgBA.322Dick TateLynchburgW17
Glen AdkinsHarrisonburgRuns119Ed HaswellLynchburgSO162
Glen AdkinsHarrisonburgHits149Lewis UtzHarrisonburgERA2.87
Joe KruppaSalem-RoanokeRBI91Dick TateLynchburgPCT.739 17-6
Crawford HowardLynchburgHR16

1941 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Petersburg Rebels 6653.555- Clarence Pickrel / Possum Whitted
Salem-Roanoke Friends 6455.5382.0Vernon Mackie
Lynchburg Senators 6256.5253.5 Guy Lacy
Harrisonburg Turks 6256.5253.5Vernon Brandes / Vance Dinges
Newport News Pilots 5858.5006.5 Chief Bender
Staunton Presidents 4276.35623.5 Hank Hulvey / Gus Tebell

Playoffs: Lynchburg 3 games, Petersburg 0; Salem-Roanoke 3 games, Harrisburg 2.
Finals: Salem-Roanoke 3 games, Lynchburg 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Vernon MackieSalem-RoanokeBA.355Toy BowenSalem-RoanokeW17
Royce WatsonLynchburgRuns125Ed HaswellLynchburgSO226
Nicholas RhabePeters/HarrisonHits164 Don Black PetersburgERA2.34
Ben DrakeNewport NewsRBI117 Don Black PetersburgPCT.688 11-5
Noel CasbierSalem-RoanokeHR21

1942 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Pulaski Counts 7947.627-Jack Crosswhite
Lynchburg Senators 7451.5924.5 Wes Ferrell
Petersburg Rebels 7452.5875.0Steve Mizerak
Newport News Builders 6267.48318.5 Harry Chozen
Salem-Roanoke Friends 5969.46121.0Vernon Mackie
Staunton Presidents 3294.25447.0 Taylor Sanford

Playoffs: Lynchburg 4 games, Newport News 2; Pulaski 4 games, Petersburg 2.
Finals: Pulaski 4 games, Lynchburg 2.

Player statistics
PlayerTeamStatTotPlayerTeamStatTot
Wes Ferrell LynchburgBA.361 Everett Fagan PulaskiW20
Ray RudisillPulaskiRuns108Ed HaswellLynchburgSO212
James BlairPetersburgHits167Ted GarbeeLynchburgERA1.97
James BlairPetersburgRBI103Ted GarbeeLynchburgPCT.850 17-3
Wes Ferrell LynchburgHR31

[4]

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References

  1. "1939 Virginia League Statistics" . Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. "1941 Virginia League Statistics" . Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. "1942 Virginia League Statistics" . Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.