History
Early Baseball in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia has maintained a sporadic yet persistent presence in professional baseball over the past century, serving as home to numerous teams competing at various levels since the early 20th century.
The city's first professional team, the Charleston Statesmen, was established in 1910. The Statesmen competed in the Class D Virginia Valley League in 1910 and the Class D Mountain State League in 1911.[^1] They played their home games at Wehrle Park, located on Charleston's East End at the corner of Virginia and Ruffner Streets, the current site of the Charleston Woman's Club. [2] Before professional baseball arrived, Wehrle Park served as a venue for Charleston High School’s football and track events. [3]
Charleston was without a professional team in 1912, but baseball returned in 1913 when the team rebranded as the Charleston Senators and joined the Class D Ohio State League, where they competed for three seasons through 1915.The Senators continued to play at Wehrle Park until the city was again without professional baseball after the 1915 season.
Kanawha Park and the Return of Baseball
From 1916 to 1930, Charleston did not host a professional baseball team. In 1917, local baseball advocates Charles A. Beers and Watt Powell helped construct Kanawha Park, a wooden-framed ballpark that seated approximately 3,500 spectators.[^3] It was located at the corner of MacCorkle Avenue and 35th Street in the Kanawha City section of Charleston, the same site where Watt Powell Park would later be built.
Professional baseball returned in 1931 when the Charleston Senators resumed play as a member of the Class C Mid-Atlantic League. The team competed in the league for 12 seasons and served as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. [4] During this period, the Senators endured a major setback when a fire destroyed much of Kanawha Park's grandstand, forcing the team to play many of their games away from Charleston. [5]
Watt Powell Park Era
Charleston was once again without professional baseball from 1943 to 1948. A new era began in August 1948 when construction of Watt Powell Park commenced, partially funded by a $350,000 government bond issue. The ballpark was built on the same site as Kanawha Park, which had burned down in 1944. The park was named in honor of Watt Powell, who passed away just two months before its opening in 1949, never witnessing a game played at the field that bore his name. [6]
The Charleston Senators returned on April 28, 1949, joining the Class A Central League as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The Senators played at Watt Powell Park for the next three seasons. [7]
In 1952, Charleston was elevated to Triple-A status when the Toledo Mud Hens of the American Association relocated to the city just days before the season began. The franchise continued to operate under the Senators name. Over the next nine seasons, the Senators were affiliated with several Major League clubs: the Chicago White Sox (1952–1955), Detroit Tigers (1956–1959), and Washington Senators (1960).
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