Virginia League (1939–1942)

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.

Virginia League
FormerlyVirginia League
ClassificationClass D (1939–1940)
Class C (1940–1941)
SportMinor League Baseball
First season1939
Ceased1942
Replaced byVirginia League (1948-1951)
PresidentRay Ryan (1939–1941)
C.R. Williams (1942)
No. of teams7
CountryUnited States of America
Most titles1
1939: Harrisonburg Turks
1940: Lynchburg Senators
1941: Salem-Roanoke Friends
1942: Pulaski Counts

History

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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

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Standings & statistics

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1939 Virginia League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Harrisonburg Turks 61 47 .565 - Hank Hulvey
Lynchburg Grays 55 51 .519 5.0 Al Weisman
Staunton Presidents 51 56 .477 9.5 Jimmy Bair
Salem-Roanoke Friends 47 60 .439 13.5 Bob 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 Staunton BA .415 Vincent Polumbo Salem-Roanoke W 18
Russ Mincy Salem-Roanoke Runs 92 Ernie Utz Harrisonburg SO 183
Nicholas Rhabe Lynch/Harrison Hits 156 Michael Marko Staunton ERA 2.52
Kenneth Moore Salem-Roanoke RBI 95 Ernie Utz Harrisonburg PCT .714 15-6
Louis Cipalla Harrison/Lynch HR 10 Walter Poland Staunton PCT .714 15-6

1940 Virginia League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Lynchburg Senators 70 45 .609 - Guy Lacy
Harrisonburg Turks 61 56 .521 10.0 Hank Hulvey
Salem-Roanoke Friends 55 62 .470 16.0 Eli Harris / Arnold Anderson
Staunton Presidents 46 69 .400 24.0 Vernon 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 Harrisonburg BA .322 Dick Tate Lynchburg W 17
Glen Adkins Harrisonburg Runs 119 Ed Haswell Lynchburg SO 162
Glen Adkins Harrisonburg Hits 149 Lewis Utz Harrisonburg ERA 2.87
Joe Kruppa Salem-Roanoke RBI 91 Dick Tate Lynchburg PCT .739 17-6
Crawford Howard Lynchburg HR 16

1941 Virginia League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Petersburg Rebels 66 53 .555 - Clarence Pickrel / Possum Whitted
Salem-Roanoke Friends 64 55 .538 2.0 Vernon Mackie
Lynchburg Senators 62 56 .525 3.5 Guy Lacy
Harrisonburg Turks 62 56 .525 3.5 Vernon Brandes / Vance Dinges
Newport News Pilots 58 58 .500 6.5 Chief Bender
Staunton Presidents 42 76 .356 23.5 Hank Hulvey / Gus Tebell

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-Roanoke BA .355 Toy Bowen Salem-Roanoke W 17
Royce Watson Lynchburg Runs 125 Ed Haswell Lynchburg SO 226
Nicholas Rhabe Peters/Harrison Hits 164 Don Black Petersburg ERA 2.34
Ben Drake Newport News RBI 117 Don Black Petersburg PCT .688 11-5
Noel Casbier Salem-Roanoke HR 21

1942 Virginia League

Team standings W L PCT GB Managers
Pulaski Counts 79 47 .627 - Jack Crosswhite
Lynchburg Senators 74 51 .592 4.5 Wes Ferrell
Petersburg Rebels 74 52 .587 5.0 Steve Mizerak
Newport News Builders 62 67 .483 18.5 Harry Chozen
Salem-Roanoke Friends 59 69 .461 21.0 Vernon Mackie
Staunton Presidents 32 94 .254 47.0 Taylor Sanford

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 Ferrell Lynchburg BA .361 Everett Fagan Pulaski W 20
Ray Rudisill Pulaski Runs 108 Ed Haswell Lynchburg SO 212
James Blair Petersburg Hits 167 Ted Garbee Lynchburg ERA 1.97
James Blair Petersburg RBI 103 Ted Garbee Lynchburg PCT .850 17-3
Wes Ferrell Lynchburg HR 31

[4]

References

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  1. ^ "1939 Virginia League Statistics". Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. ^ "1941 Virginia League Statistics". Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. ^ "1942 Virginia League Statistics". Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.