The Danville Leafs were a professional minor league baseball team that played in the city of Danville, Virginia . During 1935–1942, they were also known as the Danville-Schoolfield Leafs .
40-609: Professional baseball first made its appearance in Danville in 1905 when the town fielded a team, the Tobacconists, in the short-lived Class C Virginia–North Carolina League . Several other professional teams came and went in the town but it was not until 1925 that the name "Leafs" was first used. The name refers to the famous tobacco leaf markets of the town. The Leafs, who played in the Piedmont League , relocated during
80-566: A 10–5 record when the league folded. With Brock Crist continuing as the team player/manager, the Shipbuilders were 1.5 games ahead of the Portsmouth Truckers in the six-team league. The Virginia League returned to play briefly in 1918, beginning the season as a four-team, Class C league and suspending operations during the season. There were only ten total minor leagues that began play in 1918 due to World War I, and nine of
120-600: A Class B level league. With Roy Whitcraft returning to manage the team, the Shipbuilders ended the season with a record of 63–56. No playoffs were held, as the Wison Bugs had the leagues' best record, finishing 4.5 games ahead of second place Newport News. Newport News did not return to play in the 1923 Virginia League and were replaced by the Petersburg Trunkmakers . Nearly two decades later, minor league baseball returned to Newport News in 1941, with
160-612: A four-team Class D level league, with help from Jack Grimm, who then became the manager of the Greensboro franchise. The 1905 league teams were the Charlotte Hornets, Danville Tobacconists , Greensboro Farmers and Salisbury–Spencer Twins / Winston–Salem Twins . On July 17, 1905, Salisbury-Spencer (24–28) moved to Winston-Salem and became the Winston–Salem Twins. The Virginia–North Carolina League disbanded before
200-408: A no hitter on August 26, 1914. Barton and the Shipbuilders defeated Petersburg 11-0 in the contest. Barton struck out 4 and walked 3 in the victory at Petersburg. The 1915 Shipbuilders finished above .500 for the second consecutive Virginia League season. The team also had a 20-game winning pitcher. Newport News ended the season with an overall record of 63–62, as Carl Carnes and Brook Crist managed
240-410: A no-hitter. Davie defeated Norfolk at Norfolk by the score of 12-0 in the game. Davie walked one hitter. The Tidewater League regular season ended on August 1, 1911. The Elizabeth City and Portsmouth teams had folded earlier the season. Newport News was in fourth place when the season ended, playing under manager Hugh Shannon. Newport News ended with a final record of 10–11 finish 7.0 games behind
280-456: A six-team Class C league and the Shipbuilders ended the season in last place. With Roy Whitcraft returning as manager, Newport News placed sixth with a 42–69 record. The Shipbuilders finished 21.0 games behind the pennant winning Petersburg Goobers. Petersburg won the league championship when the playoffs were cancelled due to disagreements. The Virginia League expanded in 1920 and went up a class level. The league expanded to eight teams, adding
320-722: The Newport News Pilots . After reforming in 1939, the 1941 Virginia League expanded to six teams and played as a Class C level league, adding the Newport News Pilots and Petersburg Rebels teams to the league. The Newport News Pilots and Rebels were joined by the Harrisonburg Turks , Lynchburg Senators , Salem-Roanoke Friends and Staunton Presidents in beginning league play on May 2, 1941. In 1900 and 1901, Newport News teams played their home minor league games at Lincoln Park. The ballpark
360-697: The Rocky Mount Tar Heels and Wilson Bugs teams and became a Class B level league. Playing under four managers, the Newport News Shipbuilders placed sixth in the final standings. Compiling a record of 51–68, the Shipbuilders were managed by Joe Wall , James Brannigan, William Schwartz and Harry Lake in finishing 27.5 games behind the Richmond Colts, who lost to Portsmouth in the playoff. The 1921 Virginia League continued as an eight-team Class B level league, with
400-648: The Virginia League in 1900 and the 1901 Virginia-North Carolina League . Newport News then resumed minor league play in the 1911 season as a member of the short lived Tidewater League before the Shipbuilders returned to the Virginia League , playing in the league from 1912 to 1922. The Shipbuilders won consecutive Virginia League championships in 1916 and 1917. The Newport News Shipbuilders teams hosted minor league home games at Lincoln Park and Horowitz Park. Minor league baseball began in Newport News when
440-720: The Virginia Peninsula and along the James River , the city has long been home to the shipbuilding industry. Today, it hosts the Huntington Ingalls Industries Shipbuilding company and Newport News Shipbuilding , the largest military ship building company in the United States. Newport News is home to The Mariners' Museum and Park . The museum is located at 100 Museum Drive in Newport News, Virginia. On July 11, 1900,
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#1732793995908480-676: The 1894 Newport News-Hampton Deckhands played a partial season as members of the Virginia League . The Newport News "Shipbuilders" followed as the next minor league team based in Newport News, beginning play in 1900. The 1900 Newport News "Shipbuilders" began play as members of the six–team, Class D level Virginia League . Newport News joined the Hampton Crabs , Norfolk Phenoms , Petersburg Farmers , Portsmouth Boers and Richmond Bluebirds in beginning league play on April 30, 1900. The Newport News "Shipbuilders" nickname corresponds to local industry, history and geography. Located in
520-547: The 1911 "Newport News" team, resuming minor league play as members of the Class D level Tidewater League , which began league play on May 11, 1911. The six–team league was composed of charter teams, all without known monikers, representing Elizabeth City, North Carolina and the Virginia cities of Hampton , Newport News , Old Point Comfort , Portsmouth and Suffolk . On May 4, 1911, Newport News pitcher Ralph Davie threw
560-540: The 1926 season, again leaving Danville without professional baseball. A new Leafs team was formed in 1934 as a member of the Class D Bi-State League . The team remained a part of that league, which included teams from towns along both sides of the North Carolina-Virginia border, for five seasons. The Leafs won pennants in 1934 and 1935. In 1945, another incarnation of the Danville Leafs took
600-678: The Carolina League Most Valuable Player award. He went on to spend a few seasons with the Giants. Willie McCovey played first base for the 1956 Danville Leafs. He hit .310 with 29 home runs and 89 rus batted in. One of his teammates that season, outfielder Leon Wagner (.330, 51 home runs, 166 runs batted in), also had an outstanding big league career. The team was the first in the Carolina League to become racially integrated when Percy Miller Jr. joined
640-407: The Shipbuilders ended the season in sixth place, which was last after the Danville and Richmond teams folded during the season. Newport News finished 32.0 games behind first place Roanoke. The 1913 Shipbuilders placed fifth in the six-team Virginia League. Newport had a final record of 53–83, playing the season under managers Paul Davis and Harry Mathews. The Shipbuilders finished 36.5 games behind
680-403: The Shipbuilders finishing the regular season in seventh place. Harry Lake returned as manager, as Newport News ended the regular season with a record of 52–81. The eventual champion Portsmouth Truckers finished 25.5 games ahead of Newport News. In their final season of play as the "Shipbuilders," Newport News finished in second place as the 1922 Virginia League reduced to six teams and remained
720-625: The Shipbuilders in league play. On May 1, 1901, a tornado hit Newport News, Virginia. Home attendance was diminished as a result. On June 21, 1901, the team relocated from Newport News to Charlotte, North Carolina with a 32-21 record. Completing the season as the Charlotte Hornets , the team ended the season in third place with a 50-55 overall record, 9.0 games behind first place Raleigh. Ed Ashenback served as manager in both locations. The Virginia-North Carolina league did not return to play in 1902. The Shipbuilders were succeeded by
760-493: The Tidewater League champion Suffolk team. The Tidewater League permanently folded after the 1911 season. Beginning with the 1911 season, Newport News began hosting minor league home games at Horowitz Field. The ballpark remained home to the Shipbuilders teams through the 1922 season. In 1912, the Newport News Shipbuilders reformed, and the franchise rejoined the Virginia League . The Class C level league began
800-595: The Virginia League folded after Petersburg and Richmond had already folded in mid-June. The Shipbuilders placed fourth in the Atlantic League standings in the shortened season. When the league folded, Newport News ended the season with a record of 23–39, playing the season under managers Hunter Harvey , Mike Trost and Kid Weaver. The Shipbuilders finished the season 22.0 games behind the first place Norfolk Phenoms, who were led by Christy Mathewson , in
840-424: The Virginia League second half pennant and the league championship. Under returning manager Brook Crist and Fred Payne , the Shipbuilders ended the regular season in first place with a 79–39 record, which was the best overall record in the league. Newport News finished 3.0 games ahead of the second place Portsmouth Foxes in the six-team league. In the playoff, Newport News defeated Portsmouth 4 games to 1 to capture
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#1732793995908880-513: The conclusion of the season, stopping play on August 19, 1905 with Danville in first place (48–27), followed by Charlotte (40–42), Greensboro (36–47) and Winston-Salem (34–42). 1901 Virginia–North Carolina League 1905 Virginia–North Carolina League Newport News Shipbuilders The Newport News Shipbuilders were a minor league baseball team based in Newport News, Virginia . The Shipbuilders first played as members of
920-466: The field as members of the newly formed Carolina League . They were a member of the New York Giants ( San Francisco Giants ) farm system. The team existed through the 1958 season. In 1945, Danville pitcher Art Fowler led the league with 23 wins . He went on to have a long major league career as both a player and coach . In 1953, Leafs' pitcher Ramon Monzant (23-6, 232 strikeouts) won
960-489: The final standings. In 1901, the shipbuilders were affected by a natural disaster as the team played in a newly named league. In 1901, the Virginia League evolved into the Class C level Virginia–North Carolina League . The Virginia League cities of New Port News Portsmouth and Richmond franchises continued play in the 1901 Virginia–North Carolina League, joining three new franchises. The new Virginia–North Carolina League
1000-418: The first place Petersburg Goobers . With a third-place finish in the 1914 Virginia League, the Shipbuilders finished above .500 for the first time. Newport News ended the season with a 70–69 record. With the returning Harry Mathews, Matt Broderick and Harry Spratt serving as managers, the Shipbuilders finished 22.5 games behind the first place Norfolk Tars . Newport News pitcher Carroll Barton threw
1040-401: The league championship. Rasty Walters of Newport News hit 15 home runs to lead the Virginia League in 1916. The Shipbuilders won a second consecutive Virginia League championship in 1917, in a brief season. After beginning play on April 26, 1917, the Virginia League folded for the season on May 16, 1917, with World War I affecting many minor leagues. In their brief season Newport News had
1080-686: The league championships. In 1901, the Virginia League evolved into the Class C level Virginia–North Carolina League. The Virginia League cities of New Port News Portsmouth and Richmond franchises continued play in the 1901 Virginia–North Carolina League, joining three new franchises. The new Virginia–North Carolina League began forming in January 1901. The Virginia cities of Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond, Raleigh and Danville, Virginia, were front runners for consideration. Other North Carolina cities of Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro and Wilmington were all also recruited to form teams. Prior to
1120-467: The leagues suspended their seasons. Newport News played with Norfolk, Petersburg and Richmond in the Virginia League. On July 20, 1918, the Virginia League stopped play. At the time, the Shipbuilders were in second place, just 0.5 game behind the Richmond Colts . The Shipbuilders ended the season with a 28–21 record, managed by Roy Whitcraft. In the 1919 season, the Virginia League returned to
1160-772: The same day the Portsmouth Browns (22–31) moved to Tarboro to become the Tarboro Tartars . After the Norfolk Skippers and Richmond Grays franchises disbanded in July, the Virginia–North Carolina League continued play as a four–team league. The league then folded on August 17, 1901. After the league folded, an eleven–game 1901 "championship series" between the first–half champion Wilmington Giants and second–half champion Raleigh Senators
1200-415: The season were plagued by rain and other bad weather, including a tornado that hit Newport News, Virginia on May 1, 1901. Attendance was diminished in as a result. On May 2, 1901, the league took over the Portsmouth Browns franchise, which was suffering from poor attendance. The Newport News–Hampton Shipbuilders (32–26) moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and became the Charlotte Hornets on June 21, 1901,
1240-475: The season with the Danville Red Sox , Lynchburg Shoemakers , Norfolk Tars , Petersburg Goobers , Portsmouth Pirates , Richmond Colts and Roanoke Tigers teams joined Newport News in beginning league play on April 18, 1912. In their first season after rejoining the Virginia League, the Newport News Shipbuilders ended the 1912 season with a record of 46-84. Managed by John Grim and Buck Hooker ,
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1280-547: The season, plans for both a ten–team league and an eight–team league were publicly announced. On February 18, 1901, at a meeting at the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, W.H. Cunningham was elected president and E.H. Doran selected as secretary. The league was formed with six teams, four from Virginia and two from North Carolina, with the schedule running from April 15 to September 21. General admission at all sites
1320-412: The team during the season. The Virginia League began a split-season schedule with the winners meeting in a playoff. Placing fourth in the six-team Class D league, Newport News ended the season 11.5 games behind the eventual champion Rocky Mount Carolinians . Shipbuilders' pitcher Roy Gardinier led the Virginia League with both 20 wins and 216 strikeouts. In 1916, the Newport News Shipbuilders won both
1360-591: The team in 1951. Professional baseball returned to Danville in 1993 when the Pulaski Braves of the rookie level Appalachian League relocated to Danville as the Danville Braves . A farm team of the Atlanta Braves , the team has been the starting point for many players who have gone on to the major leagues. Virginia%E2%80%93North Carolina League The Virginia–North Carolina League
1400-497: Was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1901 and 1905 seasons, folding before the end of the season in both years. The Virginia–North Carolina League played as a six–team Class C level league in 1901 and as a four–team Class D league in the 1905 season. As the name indicates, the league consisted of teams based in Virginia and North Carolina . The Raleigh Senators (1901) and Danville Tobacconists (1905) captured
1440-504: Was formed on February 18, 1901. In a league meeting at the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, W.H. Cunningham was elected president and E.H. Doran selected as secretary. The league was formed with six teams, four from Virginia and two from North Carolina, resulting in the name change for the league. The six-team Virginia–North Carolina League began play on April 16, 1901. The Norfolk Skippers, Portsmouth Browns , Raleigh Senators , Richmond Bluebirds and Wilmington Giants teams joined
1480-528: Was located at 6th Street & Jefferson Avenue in Newport News. The ballpark was along the waterfront of the Hampton Roads . The site is still in use today as a public park, known as King-Lincoln Park . King-Lincoln Park is located at 600 Jefferson Avenue in Newport News, Virginia. Beginning in 1911, Newport News hosted minor league home games at Horowitz Field. The park was also known as League Park and City Park from 1916 to 1921. The player clubhouse
1520-417: Was located behind centerfield. The ballpark was demolished by 1926. In the era, the ballpark was bordered by Wichham Street & Orcutt Street between 28th street & 30th Street on Virginia Avenue, which is called Warwick Boulevard today. Today, the former Doris Miller Community Center building is located on the former ballpark site. The community center is scheduled to be demolished un 2023 and replaced with
1560-476: Was scheduled. After four games, the remainder of the series was cancelled due to numerous rain–outs. Raleigh won all four games played and claimed the league championship. With Charlotte and Greensboro as members, the league essentially evolved into the North Carolina League in 1902, before that league also disbanded on July 15, 1902. The Virginia–North Carolina League formed again in 1905 as
1600-436: Was set at 25 cents, with grandstands seats at 35 cents. The league employed a single umpire per game, at a salary of $ 7.00 per game, an amount deemed enough to attract the best umpires. The Virginia–North Carolina League began play on April 16, 1901 with the six league members Newport News Shipbuilders , Norfolk Skippers , Portsmouth Browns , Raleigh Senators , Richmond Bluebirds and Wilmington Giants . Games early in
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