Elizabeth City Albemarles

The Elizabeth City Albemarles were a minor league baseball team based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. In 1950 and 1951, the Albemarles played as members of the Virginia League, winning the 1951 league championship in the final season of the league. The Elizabeth City Albemarles hosted minor league home games at Memorial Park.

Elizabeth City Albemarles
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1950–1951)
LeagueVirginia League V (1950–1951)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1951
Wild card berths (1)1950
Team data
NameElizabeth City Albemarles (1950–1951)
BallparkMemorial Park (1950–1951)

History

The "Albemarles" were preceded in minor league play by the 1911 "Elizabeth City" team. Elizabeth City played a partial 1911 season as members of the short–lived Tidewater League. Elizabeth City ended their season with an 8–8 record under manager Earl Holt, as the team folded during the only season of the league.[1][2]

Elizabeth City had hosted a semipro team, playing numerous seasons as members of the Albemarle League.[3]

In 1950, the Elizabeth City Albemarles became members of the six–team, Class D level Virginia League. The Emporia Nationals, Franklin Kildees, Hopewell Blue Sox, Petersburg Generals and Suffolk Goobers joined Elizabeth City in beginning league play on April 29, 1950.[4][5][6]

The use of the "Albemarles" nickname corresponds with the Albemarle Settlements, which were the first permanent English settlements in what became North Carolina and the Albemarle Sound in the region.[7][8] Today, Elizabeth City is home to the College of the Albemarle and the Museum of the Albemarle.[9][10]

In their first season of play, the 1950 Elizabeth City Albemarles qualified for the playoffs.[11] With a record of 68–61, Elizabeth City ended the regular season in 3rd place, with the Albemarles playing under manager Paul Crawford. Elizabeth City finished 3.5 games behind the first place Emporia Nationals. In the playoffs, the Petersburg Generals defeated Elizabeth City Albemarles 4 games to 2.[12][13][5] Pitcher Herman Dowdy of Elizabeth City led the league with 176 strikeouts.[5]

In their final season, the 1951 Elizabeth City Albemarles won the Virginia League championship in the final season for the league. Elizabeth City qualified for the playoffs with a runner–up place finish in the regular season standings.[14] The Albemarles ended the Virginia League regular season with a record of 67–50, finishing 12.0 games behind the first place Colonial Heights-Petersburg Generals.[15] In the playoffs, Elizabeth City defeated the Edenton Colonials 4 games to 3 in the first round. In the Finals, Elizabeth City won the championship by defeating the Colonial Heights-Petersburg Generals 4 games to 1 in the final games for the teams and the league.[5][16]

The Virginia League permanently folded as a minor league following the 1951 season.[5] Elizabeth City has not hosted another minor league team.[17]

The ballpark

The Elizabeth City Albemarles hosted home minor league home games at Memorial Park.[18]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallpark
1950–19512Elizabeth City AlbemarlesClass DVirginia LeagueMemorial Park

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerAttendPlayoffs/Notes
195068–613rdPaul Crawford35,000Lost in 1st round
195167–502ndPaul Crawford34,301League champions

[5]

Notable alumni

No Elizabeth City alumni advanced to the major leagues.[11][14]

References
  1. "1911 Elizabeth City minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1911 Elizabeth City Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Holaday, Chris (1998). Professional Baseball in North Carolina: An Illustrated City-by-city History, 1901-1996. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-0786425532.
  4. "1950 Virginia League (VL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  6. "1921 Suffolk Wildcats Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "Visit Elizabeth City | Tourism for Elizabeth City, NC | Media | History Lovers". Visit Elizabeth City.
  8. Powell, William S. (2010). The North Carolina Gazetteer, A Dictionary of Tar Heel Places and their history. University of North Carolina Press. p. 6. ISBN 9780807898291. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  9. "Museum of the Albemarle". Visit Elizabeth City.
  10. "COA – Elizabeth City | Campus Locations | College of The Albemarle". www.albemarle.edu.
  11. "1950 Elizabeth City Ablemarles Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1950 Elizabeth City Albemarles minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1950 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "1951 Elizabeth City Ablemarles Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "1951 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. "1951 Elizabeth City Albemarles minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "Elizabeth City, North Carolina Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "Memorial Park in Elizabeth City, NC minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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