Virginia League (1939–1942) Explained

Virginia League
Sport:Minor League Baseball
Replaced:Virginia League (1948-1951)
President:Ray Ryan (1939–1941)
C.R. Williams (1942)
Inaugural:1939
Teams:7
Country:United States of America
Continent:or
Continents:-->
Folded:1942
Most Champs:1
1939: Harrisonburg Turks
1940: Lynchburg Senators
1941: Salem-Roanoke Friends
1942: Pulaski Counts
Classification:Class D (1939–1940)
Class C (1940–1941)

The Virginia League was the name of an American professional minor league baseball league that operated between 1939 and 1942. This was the fourth of five incarnations of the Virginia League. The league was a Class D level league in 1939 and 1940. It became a Class C level league for the 1941 and 1942 seasons. The Virginia League resumed play in 1948, after the conclusion of World War II.

History

After the Virginia League ceased operations following the 1928 season, the league returned to play in 1939 as a four-team Class D level league. The Harrisonburg Turks, Lynchburg Grays, the Salem-Roanoke Friends, and the Staunton Presidents began league play in 1939.[1]

In 1941, two new teams were added: the Newport News Pilots and the Petersburg Rebels.[2]

In 1942, the Turks were replaced in the league by the Pulaski Counts.[3]

The Virginia League returned to play in 1948, following the conclusion of World War II.

Virginia League 1939–1942 cities represented

Harrisonburg Turks 1939–1941

Lynchburg Grays 1939; Lynchburg Senators 1940–1942

Newport News Pilots 1941; Newport News Builders 1942

Petersburg Rebels 1941–1942

Pulaski Counts 1942

Staunton Presidents 1939–1942

Standings & statistics

1939 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
6147.565-
Lynchburg Grays5551.5195.0Al Weisman
Staunton Presidents5156.4779.5Jimmy Bair
Salem-Roanoke Friends4760.43913.5Bob Schleicher
Playoff: Lynchburg 1 game, Staunton 0.
Finals: Harrisonburg 3 games, Lynchburg 0.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Warren Huffman StauntonBA.415Vincent Polumbo Salem-RoanokeW18
Russ Mincy Salem-RoanokeRuns92Ernie Utz HarrisonburgSO183
Nicholas Rhabe Lynch/HarrisonHits156Michael Marko StauntonERA2.52
Kenneth Moore Salem-RoanokeRBI95Ernie Utz HarrisonburgPCT.714 15-6
Louis Cipalla Harrison/LynchHR10Walter Poland StauntonPCT.714 15-6
1940 Virginia League
Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
7045.609-
Harrisonburg Turks6156.52110.0
Salem-Roanoke Friends5562.47016.0Eli Harris / Arnold Anderson
Staunton Presidents4669.40024.0Vernon Brandes / John Brennan
Playoff: Harrisonburg 2 games, Salem-Roanoke 1.
Finals: Lynchburg 3 games, Harrisonburg 2.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Henry Loman HarrisonburgBA.322Dick Tate LynchburgW17
Glen AdkinsHarrisonburgRuns119Ed Haswell LynchburgSO162
Glen Adkins HarrisonburgHits149Lewis Utz HarrisonburgERA2.87
Joe Kruppa Salem-RoanokeRBI91Dick Tate LynchburgPCT.739 17-6
Crawford Howard LynchburgHR16

1941 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
6653.555-
Salem-Roanoke Friends6455.5382.0Vernon Mackie
Lynchburg Senators6256.5253.5
Harrisonburg Turks6256.5253.5
Newport News Pilots5858.5006.5
Staunton Presidents4276.35623.5
Playoffs: Lynchburg 3 games, Petersburg 0; Salem-Roanoke 3 games, Harrisburg 2.
Finals: Salem-Roanoke 3 games, Lynchburg 2.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Vernon Mackie Salem-RoanokeBA.355Toy Bowen Salem-RoanokeW17
Royce Watson LynchburgRuns125Ed Haswell LynchburgSO226
Nicholas Rhabe Peters/HarrisonHits164Don BlackPetersburgERA2.34
Ben Drake Newport NewsRBI117Don BlackPetersburgPCT.688 11-5
Noel Casbier Salem-RoanokeHR21

1942 Virginia League

Team standingsWLPCTGBManagers
7947.627-Jack Crosswhite
Lynchburg Senators7451.5924.5
Petersburg Rebels7452.5875.0Steve Mizerak
Newport News Builders6267.48318.5
Salem-Roanoke Friends5969.46121.0Vernon Mackie
Staunton Presidents3294.25447.0
Playoffs: Lynchburg 4 games, Newport News 2; Pulaski 4 games, Petersburg 2.
Finals: Pulaski 4 games, Lynchburg 2.
Player statistics !Player!! Team!!Stat!! Tot!!!!Player!!Team!!Stat!!Tot
Wes FerrellLynchburgBA.361Everett FaganPulaskiW20
Ray RudisillPulaskiRuns108Ed Haswell LynchburgSO212
James Blair PetersburgHits167Ted Garbee LynchburgERA1.97
James Blair PetersburgRBI103Ted Garbee LynchburgPCT.850 17-3
Wes FerrellLynchburgHR31
[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1939 Virginia League Statistics . 3 August 2011.
  2. Web site: 1941 Virginia League Statistics. 3 August 2011.
  3. Web site: 1942 Virginia League Statistics. 3 August 2011.
  4. Book: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball . Lloyd . Johnson . Miles . Wolff . Third . . 2007 . 978-1932391176.