Norfolk Braves

The Norfolk Braves were a minor league baseball team based in Norfolk, Virginia in 1896. The Norfolk Braves played as members of the Virginia League. The Braves were immediately preceded in Virginia League play by the 1894 Norfolk "Clam Diggers" and the 1895 Norfolk "Clams" in the era when team nicknames were informal and changed frequently.

Norfolk Braves
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (1894
Class B (1895–1896)
LeagueVirginia League (1894–1896)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Conference titles (1)1896
Team data
NameNorfolk Clam Diggers (1894)
Norfolk Clams (1895)
Norfolk Braves (1896)
BallparkBain Field* (1894–1896)

The Braves were succeeded in Norfolk by the 1987 Norfolk Jewels, who played as members of the Atlantic League. The Norfolk Tides continue minor league play today in Norfolk.

History

The 1896 Norfolk Braves played as a member of the Virginia League, succeeding the Clam Diggers and Clams in Virginia League play.[1]

In 1894, the Virginia League began play as an Independent league. The Norfolk Clam Diggers joined the Lynchburg Hill Climbers, Petersburg Farmers, Richmond Bluebirds, Roanoke Magicians, Staunton Hayseeds/Newport News-Hampton Deckhands teams in 1894 league play.[2]

The 1894 Norfolk "Clam Diggers" placed 2nd in the Virginia League final standings. With a record of 66–45, the Clam Diggers played the season under managers James Gill and Camden Sommers.[3] The 1894 Norfolk team was also referred to as the "Oystermen."[4] Norfolk finished 3.5 games behind the first place Petersburg Farmers in the final standings.[5]

Norfolk continued 1895 Virginia League play, as the "Clams" placed third in the six–team league, with a record of 55–61. The managers were Camden Sommers, A.A. O'Neal, William F. Hoggins, and Pop Tate.[6] The 1895 team was also referred to as the "Crows."[7] Norfolk ended the season 19.0 games behind the first place Richmond Bluebirds in the overall standings, as the Virginia League upgraded to a Class B level league.[8][5]

The Norfolk Braves placed second in the 1896 Class B level Atlantic League.[9] The Braves ended the season with a record of 70–60, playing the season under managers Claude McFarland and W. B Bradley.[1] In the final standings, the Braves finished 3.0 games behind the first place Richmond Blue Birds in the six–team league.[5] The 1896 Atlantic League played three partial seasons, with separate standings and the Braves won one of the partial season standings. The Virginia League did not return to play in 1897 and Norfolk switched leagues.[10][5]

The next season, the Braves were succeeded in Norfolk by the 1897 Norfolk Jewels, who played as members of the eight–team, Class A level, Atlantic League.[11][12]

The ballpark

The name of the home minor league ballpark of the Norfolk teams from 1894 to 1896 is not directly referenced.[13] Norfolk's Bain Field was originally called "League Park" and was in use in the era. When League Park was originally constructed is unknown, however newspaper coverage for baseball games at League Park started as early as 1894.[14][15][16]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeague
18941Norfolk Clam DiggersIndependentVirginia League
18951Norfolk ClamsClass B
18961Norfolk Braves

Year–by–year records
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
189466–452ndJames Gill / Camden SommersNo playoffs held
189555–613rdCamden Sommers / A.A. O'Neal /
William F. Hoggins / Pop Tate		No playoffs held
189670–602ndClaude McFarland / W.B BradleyNo playoffs held

[5]

Notable alumni

See also

Norfolk Braves players
Norfolk Clam Eaters players
Norfolk Clams players

References
  1. "1896 Norfolk Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1894 Virginia League". Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. "1894 Norfolk Clam Eaters Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "1894 Norfolk Clam Eaters/Oystermen minor league baseball Roster 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. "1895 Norfolk Clams/Crows Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. "1895 Norfolk Clams/Crows minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1895 Virginia State League (VSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1896 Atlantic League (AL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1896 Virginia State League (VSL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1897 Atlantic League (AL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1897 Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Unknown in Norfolk, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "Baseball", The Norfolk Landmark, Norfolk, Virginia, volume XXXVIII, number 137, June 9, 1894, page 1.
  15. "The Second Waterloo: For the Hill City Boys at Hill Park.", Norfolk Virginian, Weekly Virginian and Carolinian, Norfolk, Virginia, volume LVII, number 137, April 26, 1894, page 3.
  16. "League Park, Norfolk, VA". www.projectballpark.org.
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