The Wilmington Sailors were a minor league baseball team based in Wilmington, North Carolina . From 1908 to 1910, the Sailors played exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Carolina League , winning the 1908 pennant. Wilmington hosted minor league home games at Hilton Park.
41-684: The Wilmington Sailors were preceded in minor league play by the 1901 Wilmington Giants, who played the season as members of the Virginia-North Carolina League . In 1908, the Wilmington "Sailors" resumed minor league play, as the team became members of the six–team, Class D level Eastern Carolina League . The Goldsboro Giants , Kinston , New Bern , Raleigh Red Birds and Wilson Tobacconists teams joined Wilmington in beginning league play on June 8, 1908. The Wilmington's "Sailors" nickname corresponds with local geography and industry, as
82-551: 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
123-584: 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
164-598: 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
205-408: 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
246-410: 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
287-456: 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
328-641: 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 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
369-696: 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
410-670: 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
451-578: 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
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#1733085563069492-683: 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,
533-669: 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
574-460: 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
615-538: 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
656-547: The Sailors again finished in second place under returning manager Dick Smith. Wilmington finished the 1909 season with a record of 50–40 to finish just 0.5 game behind the Wilson Tobacconists (50–39) in the final standings of the six–team league. In their final season of play, the Sailors placed third in the 1910 Eastern Carolina League overall standings. Wilmington ended the season with a record of 42-43 and did not qualify for
697-458: 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
738-403: 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
779-617: 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
820-485: 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
861-581: 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
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#1733085563069902-424: 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
943-698: The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean , hosting an historic port, shipbuilding and recreational boating. The city has long been a port and a strategic naval site, serving home to the Port of Wilmington . Beginning Eastern Caroling League play in 1908, the Wilmington Sailors qualified for the Finals. The Sailors ended the Eastern Carolina League regular season with an overall record of 35-21, placing second in
984-507: 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
1025-488: The final standings and finishing 2.0 games behind Wilson, with Wally Smith serving the Sailors' manager. The league played a split-season schedule and Wilmington won second half pennant. Meeting the Wilson Tobacconists, winners of the first half pennant in the finals, Wilmington lost. Wilson defeated the Sailors two games to one. Pitcher Harvey Bussey of Wilmington led the Eastern Carolina League with 14 wins. Continuing Eastern Caroling League play in their second season of play,
1066-438: 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
1107-418: 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
1148-401: 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
1189-460: 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
1230-613: The playoff in the split-season format. Wilmington was managed by Bert Kila and finished 5.5 games behind the first place Fayetteville Highlanders in the overall standings. Fayetteville won the playoff over the Rocky Mount Railroaders . Wilmington next hosted minor league baseball in 1928, when the Eastern Carolina league reformed, with the pennant winning Wilmington Pirates as a member. The Wilmington Sailors hosted home minor league home games at Hilton Park . The ballpark
1271-745: 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
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1312-415: 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,
1353-467: 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 ,
1394-534: 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
1435-412: 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
1476-504: 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
1517-521: 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
1558-417: 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
1599-483: Was located on Hilton Street, near Cornelius Harnett Drive. Today, an oak tree in Hilton Park, believed to be over 300 years old is decorated every year as a Christmas tree. Virginia-North Carolina League The Virginia–North Carolina League 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
1640-467: 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
1681-436: 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