Rehoboth Beach Pirates

The Rehoboth Beach Pirates were a minor league baseball team based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in 1947 and 1948. Rehoboth Beach teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League from 1947 to 1949. The Rehoboth Beach Pirates were a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947 and 1948. After the affiliation with the Pirates ended, the 1949 Rehoboth Beach "Sea Hawks: captured the Eastern Shore League championship in the league's final season of play. The Rehoboth Beach teams hosted home minor league games at the Rehoboth Beach Ball Park.

Rehoboth Beach Pirates
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1947–1949)
LeagueEastern Shore League (1947–1949)
Major league affiliations
TeamPittsburgh Pirates (1947–1948)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1949
Wild card berths (1)1949
Team data
NameRehoboth Beach Pirates (1947–1948)
Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks (1949)
BallparkRehoboth Beach Ball Park (1947–1949)

History

Minor league baseball began in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in 1947 with the franchise as a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.[1] The Rehoboth Beach Pirates were formed became members of the eight–team Class D level Eastern Shore League.[2] The Cambridge Dodgers, Dover Phillies, Easton Yankees, Federalsburg A's, Milford Red Sox, Salisbury Cardinals and Seaford Eagles joined Rehoboth Beach in beginning league play on May 8, 1947. Rehoboth Beach replaced the Centreville Orioles franchise in the league.[3]

In their first season of play, the Rehoboth Beach Pirates of the Eastern Shore League ended the 1947 season in sixth place.[4] The Pirates finished the season with a record of 49–75, playing under managers Gordon McKinnon and Doug Peden.[5][6][2] Rehoboth Beach finished 41.5 games behind the first place Cambridge Dodgers in the regular season standings. The Pirates did not qualify for the four-team playoffs won by the Seaford Eagles.[7][8]

The 1948 Rehoboth Beach Pirates continued play as a Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliate, for a final season. The team ended the Eastern Shore League season with a record of 60–65.[9] The Pirates placed fifth in the league standings, playing under manager returning manager Doug Peden. Rehoboth Beach finished 27.0 games behind the first place Salisbury Cardinals in the final regular season standings and did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Milford Red Sox.[10][11][7]

In their final Season of play, the Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks won the Eastern Shore League championship.[12] Playing under managers Bill Sisler and Johnny Watson, the Sea Hawks ended the 1949 Eastern Shore League season with a record of 56–63, placing fourth in the final standings and qualifying for the four–team playoffs.[13] Rehoboth Beach finished 11.5 games behind the first place Easton Yankees in the regular season standings. After a round robin playoff series of the top four teams, the Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks advanced to the finals with a 4–2 record. In the Finals, Rehoboth Beach defeated the Federalsburg Feds 4 games to 3 to win the final championship of the Eastern Shore League.[14][7] The Eastern Shore League permanently folded after the 1949 season.[15][7]

In their final game, the Game 7 victory over Federalsburg, it was reported that Sea Hawks' pitcher Les Wolf, coming off a 1–6 record with a 7.00 ERA in the regular season, threw a five–hit, complete game shutout to clinch the championship for Rehoboth Beach.[16]

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware has not hosted another minor league team.[17]

The ballpark

The Rehoboth Beach minor league teams reportedly played home games exclusively at Rehoboth Beach Ball Park. The ballpark had a noted capacity of 3,700 and was reportedly a new ballpark for the team, built at a cost of $91,000.[18]

(1945) Rehoboth Avenue. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateBallpark
1947–19482Rehoboth Beach PiratesClass DEastern Shore LeaguePittsburgh PiratesRehoboth Beach Ball Park
19491Rehoboth Beach Sea HawksNone

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/notes
194749–756thGordon McKinnon / Doug PedenDid not qualify
194860–655thDoug PedenDid not qualify
194956–634thBill Sisler / Johnny WatsonLeague champions

Notable alumni

See also
  • Rehoboth Beach Pirates players
  • Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks players

References
  1. "1947 Eastern Shore League (ESL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. "1947 Eastern Shore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1946 Eastern Shore League (ESL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1947 Eastern Shore League (ESL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1947 Rehoboth Beach Pirates minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "1947 Rehoboth Beach Pirates Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, editors (Third ed.). Baseball America. 2007. ISBN 978-1932391176.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "1947 Eastern Shore League (ESL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1948 Eastern Shore League (ESL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1948 Rehoboth Beach Pirates minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "1948 Rehoboth Beach Pirates Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. "1949 Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1949 Rehoboth Beach Sea Hawks Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "1949 Eastern Shore League (ESL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1949 Eastern Shore League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. The Great Delaware Sports Book. Cruden Bay Books. 1995. ISBN 9780964442702.
  17. "Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. "Rehoboth Beach Ball Park in Rehoboth Beach, DE minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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