Peninsula Pilots (minor league team)

The Peninsula Pilots was a primary name of the Minor League Baseball franchise located in Hampton, Virginia from 1963-1992. The Pilots played in the Class A Carolina League.

Peninsula Pilots
1963–1992
(1963-1992)
Hampton, Virginia
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1963-1971)
  • Class AAA (1972-1973)
  • Class A (1974-1992)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 4 1971, 1977, 1980, 1992
Conference titles 1965
Team data
Previous names
  • Peninsula Senators (1963)
  • Penisula Grays (1964-1968)
  • Peninsula Astros (1969)
  • Peninsula Phillies (1970–71)
  • Peninsula Whips (1972-1973)
  • Peninsula Pennants (1974)
  • Peninsula Pilots (1976-1985)
  • Peninsula White Sox (1986-1987)
  • Virginia Generals (1988)
  • Peninsula Pilots (1989-1992)
Previous parks

Today, Peninsula is home to the summer collegiate baseball team who have adopted the same Peninsula Pilots moniker and are members of the Coastal Plain League.

History

The Peninsula Pilots franchise began play in the Carolina League in 1963 as a Washington Senators farm team.

The franchise had many monikers, playing as the Peninsula Senators (1963), Peninsula Grays (1964-1968), Peninsula Astros (1969), Peninsula Phillies (1970–71), Peninsula Whips (1972-1973), Peninsula Pennants (1974), Peninsula Pilots (1976-1985), Peninsula White Sox (1986-1987), Virginia Generals (1988) and Peninsula Pilots (1976-1985, 1989-1992). The teams were members of the Class A Carolina League (1963-1971), Class AAA International League (1972-1973) and Class A Carolina League (1974-1992).[1]

Peninsula teams were an affiliate of the Washington Senators (1963), Cincinnati Reds (1964-1966), Kansas City Athletics (1967), Oakland Athletics (1968), Houston Astros (1969), Philadelphia Phillies (1970-1971), Montreal Expos (1972-1973), Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1985), Chicago White Sox (1986-1987) and Seattle Mariners (1990-1992).[1]

Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Johnny Bench (1966), Gary Carter (1973) and Satchel Paige (1966) played for Peninsula.

The 1980 team was named the 74th best Minor League team of the 20th century in a list by two noted minor league historians, Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright. The team was known as the Peninsula Senators (1963), Grays (1964-1968), Astros (1969), Phillies (1970–71), Whips (1972-1973), Pennants (1974) and White Sox in 1986–1987 while affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, and as the Virginia Generals in 1988 when they operated as an unaffiliated co-op club. They regained their original name in 1989 and major league affiliation returned in 1990 with the Seattle Mariners (1990–1992). The team's existence ended after the 1992 season when they relocated to Wilmington, Delaware and became the Wilmington Blue Rocks.[2]

The ballpark

Peninsula teams played at War Memorial Stadium (1963-1992). Built in 1948, the ballpark is still in use today and is located at 1889 West Pembroke Avenue, Hampton, Virginia, 23661. Today, War Memorial Stadium is home to the summer collegiate baseball team with the same Peninsula Pilots moniker who play in the Coastal Plain League.[3][4]

War Memorial Stadium was first built by Branch Rickey for the Newport News Dodgers, who played at War Memorial from 1948-1958 as members of the Piedmont League. The ballpark has also been known as Peninsula Stadium.[5]

Notable Peninsula Alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable Peninsula alumni

Year-by-Year Record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
197671-652ndCal Emerynone
197771-672ndJim SnyderLeague Champs
197890-491stJim SnyderLost League Finals
197968-683rdRon Clarknone
1980100-401stBill DancyLeague Champs
198171-651stBill DancyLost League Finals
198290-471stBill DancyLost in 1st round
198358-807thTony Taylor
198473-673rdRon ClarkLost in 1st round
198567-683rdRon Clark
198660-745thBob Bailey / Duke Sims
198766-745th (tie)Marv Foley
198841-998thJoe Breeden
198944-898thJim Thrift
199057-837thJim Nettles
199146-938thSteve Smith
199274-642ndMarc HillLeague Champs
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See also

References
  1. "Newport News, Virginia sports teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. Bill Weiss; Marshall Wright (2001). "Top 100 Teams". Minor League Baseball.
  3. Viquez, Marc. "War Memorial Stadium – Peninsula Pilots | Stadium Journey".
  4. "War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, VA history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1898


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