Piedmont League

Last updated
Piedmont League
Classification Class D (1920)
Class C (1921–1931)
Class B (1932–1955)
Sport Baseball
First season1920
Ceased1955
No. of teams22
CountryFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States

The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.

Contents

Cities represented

The following cities hosted teams that were members of the Piedmont League (in alphabetical order):

Standings & statistics

Years 1920 to 1955

1920 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Greensboro Patriots 6951.575-Charlie Carroll
Raleigh Nats 6753.558Joe Ward
High Point Furniture Makers 5757.5009.0Dick Miller / Bill Pierce
Winston-Salem Twins 5665.46313½Bill Shumaker /
Eddie Brennan / Jim Kelly
Danville Tobacconists 5465.45414½J. Moore / Rebel Williams
Durham Bulls 5365.44915.0 Frank Manush

Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Raleigh 3

1921 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Raleigh Red Birds 6852.567-Joe Ward
High Point Furniture Makers 6555.5423.0Bill Pierce
Greensboro Patriots 6458.5255.0Charlie Carroll
Winston-Salem Twins 6258.5176.0Charles Clancy
Durham Bulls 5764.47111½ Frank Manush
Danville Tobacconists 4675.38022½Herb Murphy / Pat Devereaux

Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, High Point 1

1922 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
High Point Furniture Makers 7055.560-Hardin Herndon
Durham Bulls 6958.5432.0 Lee Gooch
Winston-Salem Twins 6659.5284.0Charles Clancy
Greensboro Patriots 6063.4889.0Charlie Carroll
Raleigh Capitals 6066.47610½ Vern Duncan
Danville Tobacconists 5074.40317½Tom Abbott

Playoff: Durham 4 games, High Point 3, one tie

1923 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Danville Tobacconists 7450.597-Herb Murphy
Greensboro Patriots 6658.5328.0Charlie Carroll
High Point Pointers 6658.5328.0Hardin Herndon
Winston-Salem Twins 5964.48014½Bill Leard / Mike Fuhry
Raleigh Capitals 5767.46017.0 Vern Duncan
Durham Bulls 4974.39824½Bill Pierre / Lee Gooch

Playoff: Danville 4 games, Greensboro 0

1924 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Durham Bulls 7446.617-Bill Pierre / Art Bourg
High Point Pointers 7152.577Hardin Herndon
Greensboro Patriots 6159.50813.0Charlie Carroll
Winston-Salem Twins 5962.48815½Bill Jackson
Danville Tobacconists 5367.44221.0Herb Murphy
Raleigh Capitals 4577.36930.0 Vern Duncan

1925 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Winston-Salem Twins 7749.611-Charlie Carroll
Durham Bulls 6858.5409.0Art Bourg
Greensboro Patriots 6163.49215.0 Lee Gooch /
Hardin Herndon / Dick Smith
High Point Pointers /
Danville Leafs
5867.46418½Lloyd Smith / Hardin Herndon
Raleigh Capitals 5769.45220.0Hardin Herndon / Charles Doak
Salisbury Colonials 5469.43921½Patsy O'Rourke /
Red Stewart / Rowdy Elliott

High Point (18-32) moved to Danville June 18.
Playoff: Durham 4 games, Winston-Salem 3

1926 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Greensboro Patriots 8660.589- Lee Gooch
Danville Leafs /
High Point Pointers
8561.5821.0Bob Higgins
Durham Bulls 7371.50712.0Art Bourg / Lew McCarty
Salisbury-Spencer Colonials 6975.47916.0Moose Marshall
Winston-Salem Twins 6481.44121½Cy Chisholm / Crawford Gray /
Red Irby / Walt Christensen /
Art Bourg
Raleigh Capitals 5786.39927½ Runt Marr / Bennie Allen /
Charlie Carroll / Cy Chisholm /
Vern Duncan

Danville (11-10) moved to High Point May 12.
Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Durham 1

1927 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Rocky Mount Buccaneers 8460.583- Lee Gooch
Salisbury-Spencer Colonials 8362.572 George Whiteman
Winston-Salem Twins 7964.552Charles McMillan
Raleigh Capitals 7770.524Al Watt
High Point Pointers 6282.43122.0Pop Kitchens /
Jay Smith / Dan Boone
Durham Bulls 4895.33635½Lew McCarty /
Barney Cleveland / Possum Whitted

Playoff: Salibury-Spencer 3 games, Raleigh 2

1928 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Winston-Salem Twins 8251.617- Bunn Hearn
High Point Pointers 8352.615- Dan Boone
Greensboro Patriots 7656.576Charlie Carroll
Salisbury-Spencer Colonials 6174.45222.0 George Whiteman
Raleigh Capitals 5674.43124½ Jim Viox /
Henry Dawson / Stump Edington
Durham Bulls 4091.30541.0 Possum Whitted

Playoff: Winston-Salem 4 games, High Point 3

1929 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Durham Bulls 8551.625- Possum Whitted
Greensboro Patriots 8354.606Charlie Carroll
Winston-Salem Twins 7763.55010.0 George Whiteman
High Point Pointers 6772.48219½ Dan Boone
Henderson Bunnies 5485.38832½ Bunny Hearn / Lew Murphy /
Lee Gooch / Guy Winston
Salisbury Colonials 4889.35037½Jess Altenburg

Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Durham 1

1930 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Henderson Gamecocks 7863.553-Jim Teague
Durham Bulls 7168.5116.0 Possum Whitted
Greensboro Patriots 7071.4968.0Everett Booe /
Hobe Brummitt / Clay Hopper
Winston-Salem Twins 7071.4968.0Hal Weafer / Claude Joyner /
Charlie Carroll / Johnny Brock
Raleigh Capitals 6872.486Pat Haley
High Point Pointers 6476.45713½ Dan Boone

Playoff: Durham 4 games, Henderson 3

1931 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Charlotte Hornets 10037.730- Guy Lacy
Raleigh Capitals 8650.63013½Odie Strain
Greensboro Patriots 8156.59119.0Johnny Kane
Asheville Tourists 6667.49632.0Ray Kennedy / Bobby Hipps
Durham Bulls 5672.43839½ Possum Whitted
Winston-Salem Twins 5579.41043½ Bunn Hearn / Stuffy McCrone
Henderson Gamecocks 5182.38347.0Jim Teague
High Point Pointers 3991.30057½ Dan Boone /
Hobe Brummitt / Thomas Young

Playoff: Charlotte 4 games, Raleigh 2

1932 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Charlotte Hornets 8053.602- Guy Lacy
Greensboro Patriots 7659.5635.0Fred Myers
Winston-Salem Twins /
High Point Pointers
6866.50712½Harry Wilke
Raleigh Capitals 6571.47816½Odie Strain
Wilmington Pirates 6277.44621.0 Hal Weafer / Tweet Walsh
Durham Bulls 5677.42124.0 Possum Whitted
Asheville Tourists 3533.515NA Joe Guyon
High Point Pointers 3339.458NABuddy Tanner

Asheville and High Point disbanded July 7; Winston-Salem moved to High Point August 20
Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Charlotte 3

1933 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Greensboro Patriots 9048.652-Eddie Dyer / Bob Rice
Charlotte Hornets 8061.56711½Johnny Dobbs / Guy Lacy
Richmond Colts 7368.51818½Jack Onslow
Wilmington Pirates 7068.50720.0 Blackie Carter
Durham Bulls 6576.46126½Bob Murray / Bill Skiff
Winston-Salem Twins 4299.29849½Jim Poole / Art Bourg

1934 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 8949.645-Bill Skiff
Charlotte Hornets 8751.6302.0Tommy Taylor
Wilmington Pirates 6474.46425.0 Blackie Carter / Harry McCurdy
Richmond Colts 6078.43529.0Ed Hendee / Charles Wade
Columbia Sandlappers /
Asheville Tourists
5578.41431.5 Bill Laval / Possum Whitted
Greensboro Patriots 5681.40932½ Bob Rice

Playoff: Norfolk 4 games, Charlotte 2

1935 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Asheville Tourists 7562.547- Billy Southworth
Wilmington Pirates 6965.5149 Harry McCurdy / Riley Parker
Richmond Colts 7066.5147Ed Rommel
Norfolk Tars 6770.4898.0 Bill Skiff
Portsmouth Truckers 6772.4829.0 Pip Koehler
Charlotte Hornets 6275.45313.0 Frank O'Rourke

Playoff: Richmond 4 games, Asheville 2

1936 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 9350.650- Johnny Neun
Durham Bulls 7963.55613½John Gooch
Richmond Colts 7666.53516½George Farrell / Frank Rodgers
Rocky Mount Red Sox 7469.51719.0 Specs Toporcer
Portsmouth Cubs 6677.46227.0 Pip Koehler
Asheville Tourists 40103.28053.0 Billy Southworth

Playoffs: Norfolk 3 games, Richmond 0; Durham 3 games, Rocky Mount 1
Finals: Norfolk 3 games Durham 0

1937 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Asheville Tourists 8950.640- Hal Anderson
Norfolk Tars 8353.610 Johnny Neun
Portsmouth Cubs 7562.54713.0 Elmer Yoter
Richmond Colts 7266.52216½Eddie Mooers
Durham Bulls 6869.49620.0Paul O'Malley
Rocky Mount Red Sox 6775.47223½ Nemo Leibold
Charlotte Hornets 6675.46824.0Lee Head /
Bill Rodgers / Alex McColl
Winston-Salem Twins 35105.25054½ Alvin Crowder / Pepper Rhea /
Phil Lundeen / Walt VanGrofski

Playoffs: Norfolk 3 games, Richmond 1; Portsmouth 3 games, Asheville 2

Finals
Norfolk 3 games, Portsmouth 0

1938 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 8452.618- Ray White
Charlotte Hornets 8453.613½ Calvin Griffith
Rocky Mount Red Sox 7064.52213.0 Herb Brett
Portsmouth Cubs 6967.50715.0Dick Luckey
Richmond Colts 6672.47819.0 Lance Richbourg
Durham Bulls 6471.47420½Bill Hughes
Asheville Tourists 6375.45722.0 Hal Anderson
Winston-Salem Twins 4692.33339.0Walt VanGrofski / Joe Prerost

Playoffs: Charlotte 3 games, Portsmouth 2; Rocky Mount 3 games, Norfolk 1
Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Rocky Mount 3

1939 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Asheville Tourists 8955.618- Hal Anderson
Durham Bulls 7565.53612.0 Oscar Roettger
Rocky Mount Red Sox 7067.51115½ Herb Brett
Richmond Colts 7071.49617½ Lance Richbourg
Portsmouth Cubs 6671.48219½James Keesey
Norfolk Tars 6671.48219½ Ray White
Charlotte Hornets 6874.47920.0 Calvin Griffith
Winston-Salem Twins 5484.39132.0Charles Clancy / Alvin Crowder

Playoffs: Asheville 3 games, Richmond 0; Rocky Mount 3 games, Durham 1
Finals: Asheville 4 games, Rocky Mount 2

1940 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Richmond Colts 7759.566- Eddie Phillips
Asheville Tourists 7560.556Tommy West
Rocky Mount Red Sox 7561.5512.0 Heinie Manush
Durham Bulls 7362.541 Oscar Roettger
Charlotte Hornets 6865.511 Calvin Griffith
Norfolk Tars 6671.48211½ Ray White
Portsmouth Cubs 5978.43118½ Ray Brubaker / Arthur McHenry
Winston-Salem Twins 4885.36127½ Eddie Moore / Ray Brubaker

Playoffs: Rocky Mount 4 games, Asheville 2; Durham 4 games, Richmond 3
Finals: Durham 4 games, Rocky Mount 2

1941 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Durham Bulls 8453.613- Bruno Betzel
Portsmouth Cubs 7565.53610½Don Curry
Greensboro Red Sox 7166.51823½ Heinie Manush
Norfolk Tars 7168.51124½ Eddie Sawyer
Richmond Colts 6771.48628.0 Eddie Phillips
Charlotte Hornets 6570.48128½ Calvin Griffith
Asheville Tourists 6476.45731.0Henry Cullop
Winston-Salem Twins 5482.39739.0 Jake Atz

Playoffs: Greensboro 4 games, Portsmouth 0; Durham 4 games, Norfolk 1
Finals: Durham 4 games, Greensboro 0

1942 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Greensboro Red Sox 7853.595- Heinie Manush
Portsmouth Cubs 8055.593- Tony Lazzeri
Richmond Colts 7460.552 Ben Chapman
Charlotte Hornets 7062.530 Harry Smythe
Durham Bulls 6570.48115.0 Bruno Betzel
Asheville Tourists 6177.44220.5Bill DeLancey
Norfolk Tars 5779.41923½Buzz Boyle
Winston-Salem Twins 5281.39127.0 Jack Tighe /Al Unser

Playoffs: Greensboro 4 games, Charlotte 0; Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 3
Finals: Greensboro 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1943 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portsmouth Cubs 9040.692- Milt Stock
Richmond Colts 7257.55817½Larry Kinzer
Norfolk Tars 6663.51223½ Thomas Kain
Roanoke Red Sox 6268.47728.0 Heinie Manush
Lynchburg Cardinals 5474.42235.0 Ollie Vanek
Durham Bulls 4486.33846.0 Bruno Betzel

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Roanoke 1; Norfolk 4 games, Richmond 0
Finals: Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1944 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Lynchburg Cardinals 8060.571-George Ferrell
Portsmouth Cubs 7267.518 Bill Steinecke / Jimmie Foxx
Norfolk Tars 7268.5148.0 Garland Braxton
Richmond Colts 6772.48212½ Ben Chapman / Taylor Sanford
Roanoke Red Sox 6673.47513½ Eddie Popowski
Newport News Dodgers 6178.43918½ Jake Pitler

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Norfolk 3; Lynchburg 4 games, Richmond 2, one tie
Finals: Lynchburg 4 games, Portsmouth 3

1945 Piedmont League

Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 8357.593- Garland Braxton
Richmond Colts 7660.5595.0Frank Rodgers
Newport News Dodgers 6969.50013.0 Jake Pitler
Portsmouth Cubs 6769.49314.0 Ival Goodman
Roanoke Red Sox 6771.48615.0 Eddie Popowski
Lynchburg Cardinals 5288.37131.0George Ferrell / Zip Payne

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games. Norfolk 3; Richmond 4 games, Newport News 0
Finals: Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 0

1946 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Roanoke Red Sox 8951.636- Eddie Popowski
Portsmouth Cubs 8357.5936.0 Gene Hasson / Ace Parker
Newport News Dodgers 7664.54313.0 John Fitzpatrick
Norfolk Tars 7169.50718.0 Thomas Kain
Richmond Colts 6080.42929.0 Ray Berres
Lynchburg Cardinals 4199.29348.0 Wes Ferrell / Emmitt Mueller

Playoffs: Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 0; Roanoke 4 games, Norfolk 2
Finals: Newport News 4 games, Roanoke 2, one tie.

1947 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Roanoke Red Sox 9049.647- Pinky Higgins
Norfolk Tars 6970.49621.0Buddy Hassett
Portsmouth Cubs 6971.49321½ Gene Hasson
Richmond Colts 6871.48922.0Bob Lotshaw
Lynchburg Cardinals 6376.45327.0Jack McLain / Vernon Mackie
Newport News Dodgers 5981.42131½ John Fitzpatrick

Playoffs: Roanoke 4 games, Richmond 1; Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 0
Finals: Roanoke 4 games, Norfolk 3

1948 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Lynchburg Cardinals 8058.580-Vernon Mackie
Newport News Dodgers 7267.518 Roy Schalk
Portsmouth Cubs 7169.50710.0 Ace Parker
Roanoke Red Sox 6573.47115.0 Pinky Higgins
Norfolk Tars 6575.46416.0Earl Bolyard
Richmond Colts 6475.46016½Charles George

Playoffs: Lynchburg 4 games, Roanoke 3; Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 3
Finals: Newport News 4 games, Lynchburg 0

1949 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Lynchburg Cardinals 7762.554- Pug Griffin / Vernon Mackie
Portsmouth Cubs 7466.529 Scooter Scalzi
Richmond Colts 7168.5116.0Vince Smith
Roanoke Red Sox 7169.507 Red Marion
Norfolk Tars 6872.486Earl Bolyard / Frank Novosel
Newport News Dodgers 5882.41419½ Roy Schalk

Playoffs: Lynchburg 4 games, Roanoke 3; Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 2
Finals: Lynchburg 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1950 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Portsmouth Cubs 8354.606- Scooter Scalzi
Roanoke Red Sox 8158.5833.0 Red Marion
Lynchburg Cardinals 7661.5557.0 Whitey Kurowski
Richmond Colts 6376.45321.0Vince Smith
Norfolk Tars 5882.41426½Frank Novosel
Newport News Dodgers 5585.39329½ Al Campanis / Bud Methany

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 0; Roanoke 4 games, Lynchburg 1
Finals: Roanoke 4 games, Portsmouth 3

1951 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 8158.583- Mayo Smith
Richmond Colts 7763.550 Billy Herman / Roy Allen
Newport News Dodgers 7566.5327.0 Clay Bryant
Portsmouth Cubs 7467.5258.0 Reggie Otero
Lynchburg Cardinals 6475.46017.0 Scooter Scalzi
Roanoke Ro-Sox 4991.35032½Walter Millies

Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 1; Richmond 4 games, Newport News 2
Finals: Norfolk 4 games, Richmond 2

1952 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 9636.727- Mayo Smith
Portsmouth Cubs 7164.52626½ Reggie Otero
Richmond Colts 6966.51128½Tom O'Connell
Lynchburg Cardinals 6466.49231.0James Brown / Harold Olt
Roanoke Ro-Sox 5974.44437½ Owen Scheetz
Newport News Dodgers 4194.30456½ Ray Hathaway

Playoffs: Richmond 4 games, Norfolk 1; Portsmouth 4 games, Lynchburg 2
Finals: Richmond 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1953 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 8151.614- Mickey Owen
Hagerstown Braves 7853.595 Dutch Dorman /
Jimmy Zinn / Billy Jurges
Newport News Dodgers 8056.5883.0 Stan Wasiak
Portsmouth Merrimacks 7263.53310½Bob Ankrum
York White Roses 5970.45720½Mark Christman /
Bill Enos / George Hausmann
Lynchburg Cardinals 5577.41726.0Richard Landis / John Sullivan
Richmond Colts 4586.34435½Charles Letcha
Roanoke Ro-Sox 3953.424NA Elmer Yoter

Roanoke withdrew July 24.
Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 1; Newport News 4 games, Hagerstown
Finals: Norfolk 4 games, Newport News 1.

1954 Piedmont League

Team StandingsWLPCTGBManagers
Norfolk Tars 8753.621-Frank Scalzi
Newport News Dodgers 7663.54710½ George Scherger
York White Roses 7267.51814½ George Staller
Portsmouth Merrimacks 7169.50716.0 Alex Monchak / Pepper Martin
Hagerstown Packets 6674.47121.0Paul Campbell / Zeke Bonura
Lynchburg Cardinals 6377.45024.0Roland LeBlanc
Lancaster Red Roses 6278.44325.0Kemp Wicker /
Lena Blackburne / Buddy Walker
Colonial Heights-Petersburg Colts 6278.44325.0 Johnny Vander Meer

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Norfolk 2; Newport News 4 games, York 0.
Finals: Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 3

1955 Piedmont League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
Newport News Dodgers 7752.597- George Scherger
Lancaster Red Roses 7254.571 Hank Biasatti
York White Roses 6465.49613.0 George Staller
Portsmouth Merrimacks 6466.49213½ Ken Guettler
Lynchburg Cardinals 6467.48914.0 George Kissell
Hagerstown Packets 5865.47216.0 Johnny Welaj
Sunbury Redlegs 4780.37029.0 Virgil Stallcup / Dutch Dorman
Norfolk Tars 3734.521NAAl Evans /
Alton Brown / Bill Herring

Norfolk withdrew July 14
Playoffs: Portsmouth 3 games, Newport News 1; Lancaster 3 games, York 1
Finals Lancaster 3 games, Portsmouth 2.[ citation needed ] [1]

Champions

The following teams were champions of the Piedmont League:

YearTeam
1920Greensboro Patriots
1921Greensboro Patriots
1922Durham Bulls
1923Danville Tobacconists
1924Durham Bulls
1925Durham Bulls
1926Greensboro Patriots
1927Salisbury-Spencer Colonials
1928Winston-Salem Twins
1929Greensboro Patriots
1930Durham Bulls
1931Charlotte Hornets
1932Greensboro Patriots
1933Greensboro Patriots
1934Norfolk Tars
1935Richmond Colts
1936Norfolk Tars
1937Norfolk Tars
1938Charlotte Hornets
1939Asheville Tourists
1940Durham Bulls
1941Durham Bulls
1942Greensboro Red Sox
1943Norfolk Tars
1944Lynchburg Cardinals
1945Portsmouth Cubs
1946Newport News Dodgers
1947Roanoke Red Sox
1948Newport News Dodgers
1949Lynchburg Cardinals
1950Roanoke Red Sox
1951Norfolk Tars
1952Richmond Colts
1953Norfolk Tars
1954Newport News Dodgers
1955Lancaster Red Roses

Hall of Fame alumni

References

  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN   978-1932391176.