|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynchburg City Stadium |
|
Built in 1940, Lynchburg City Stadium was home to the Lynchburg Cardinals (1943-1955). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynchburg City Stadium |
|
Lynchburg City Stadium was part of a baseball/football complex built as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynchburg City Stadium |
|
Today the stadium is home to the Lynchburg Hillcats (Class A; Carolina League) and is undergoing a renovation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynchburg City Stadium |
|
Lynchburg City Stadium today. (Thanks to Paul Crumlish for the photo.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynchburg City Stadium |
|
Lynchburg City Stadium today as renovations take place in 2003. (Thanks to Paul Crumlish for the photo.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
War Memorial Stadium, Hampton |
|
War Memorial Stadium was built in 1947 after Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who owned the Newport News Dodgers, threatened to move the team because the team's facilities on Virginia Avenue (now Warwick Boulevard) were inadequate. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
War Memorial Stadium, Hampton |
|
In response, Hampton and Newport News combined forces to built War Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1948. The Newport News Dodgers -- sometimes known as the Baby Dodgers -- played there until the Piedmont League's demise in 1955. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
War Memorial Stadium, Hampton |
|
After the Piedmont League closed shop, several Carolina League teams, including the Peninsula Grays and the Peninsula Pilots, played at War Memorial. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
War Memorial Stadium, Hampton |
|
Today War Memorial is home to the Peninsula Pilots of the college wood-bat Coastal Plain League. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bain Park, Norfolk |
|
The history of the Norfolk Tars can be traced back to 1896. The team was a member of the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955. In their first year the team played at Bain Park. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High Rock Park, Norfolk |
|
The next home of the Tars was High Rock Park. This photo shows a fire at the park in 1944. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Myers Field, Norfolk |
|
High Rock Park was renamed Myers Field after Eddie Myers, a local resident. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Myers Field, Norfolk |
|
As a Yankees farm team, many future stars passed through Myers Field, including Phil Rizzuto. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank D. Lawrence Stadium, Portsmouth |
|
Frank D. Lawrence Stadium was home to the Portsmouth Cubs from 1936 to 1952 and the Portsmouth Merrimacs from 1953 until the Piedmont League collapsed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank D. Lawrence Stadium, Portsmouth NEW! |
|
After the demise of the Piedmont League it was home to the Sally League and then to a Carolina League team. (Thanks to Steve Carroll for the photo.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sewanee Stadium NEW! |
|
Sewanee Stadium was home to the Portsmouth Truckers, who played in the Piedmont League in 1935. It was located on Washington Street, between Lincoln and Henry streets. The stadium was still in existence in 1941, when it was home to an Ink Spots concert. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tate Field, Richmond |
|
Tate Field, originally known as the Mayo Island Sports Park, was the home of the Richmond Colts when the team joined the Piedmont League; previously the team had been in the Eastern League. It stayed the home of the Colts until 1941, when team owner Eddie Mooers constructed Mooers Field. As MLB clubs barnstormed from spring training they would frequently stop in Richmond; it was at Tate Field that Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig hit homers -- Ruth's reportedly flew out of the stadium and bounced onto a coal car, where it continued its journey and went down in folklore as the longest home run ever hit. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mooers Field, Richmond |
|
Mooers Field, at Norfolk and Roseneath streets, was the home of the Richmond Colts from 1942 through 1953. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mooers Field, Richmond |
|
The stadium was named for team owner Eddie Mooers, who bought the Colts in 1932. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
