The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the Piedmont League from 1934 to 1955; during this latter period they were also affiliated with the New York Yankees. Their home field was Bain Field until 1940 and Myers Field from 1940 to 1955.[1] The club folded after playing its final game on July 13, 1955, an 11–3 victory over the Sunbury Redlegs before a crowd of 851.[2] The 1952 Tars were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.[3]

Year-by-year record

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Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1906 62-44 2nd Win Clark none
1907 67-48 1st Robert Pender none League Champs
1908 52-78 6th Robert Pender none
1909 72-49 2nd Robert Pender / Win Clark none
1910 58-56 3rd Win Clark none
1911 67-54 2nd Charles Babb none
1912 67-65 5th Charles Shaffer none
1913 51-83 6th Charles Shaffer / George Kircher / Ray Ryan none
1914 93-48 1st William "Buck" Pressley none League Champs
1915 66-56 3rd M.D. "Red" McMahon none
1916 38-77 5th M.D. "Nelly" McMahon / William "Buck" Pressley none
1917 7-9 4th Art Devlin League disbanded May 15
1918 13-33 4th Art Devlin League ceased operations in June
1921 74-64 5th Jack Warhop Lost League Finals
1922 58-57 3rd Win Clark none
1923 62-60 4th Win Clark none
1924 69-66 4th Win Clark none
1925 72-60 3rd Dave Robertson none
1926 79-73 3rd Dave Robertson none
1927 58-72 5th Dave Robertson none
1928 26-13 1st Zinn Beck League disbanded June 3
1931 62-73 6th Win Clark none
1932 31-45 7th Win Clark / Harry Blake League disbanded July 17
1934 89-49 1st Bill Skiff League Champs
1935 67-70 4th Bill Skiff
1936 93-50 1st Johnny Neun League Champs
1937 83-53 2nd Johnny Neun League Champs
1938 84-52 1st Ray White Lost in 1st round
1939 66-71 6th Ray White
1940 66-71 6th Ray White / Phil Page
1941 71-68 4th Eddie Sawyer Lost in 1st round
1942 57-79 7th Buzz Boyle
1943 66-63 3rd Tom "Shaky" Kain League Champs
1944 72-68 3rd Garland Braxton Lost in 1st round
1945 83-57 1st Garland Braxton Lost in 1st round
1946 71-69 4th Thomas Kain Lost in 1st round
1947 69-70 2nd Buddy Hassett Lost League Finals
1948 65-75 5th Earl Bolyard
1949 68-72 5th Earl Bolyard / Frank Novosel
1950 58-82 5th Frank Novosel
1951 81-58 1st Mayo Smith League Champs
1952 96-36 1st Mayo Smith Lost in 1st round
1953 81-51 1st Mickey Owen League Champs
1954 87-53 1st Skeeter Scalzi Lost in 1st round
1955 37-34 -- Al Evans / Alton Brown / Bill Herring Team disbanded July 14

References

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  1. ^ Digital Ballparks
  2. ^ Shampoe, Clay; Garrett, Thomas R. (2003). Baseball in Norfolk, Virginia. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738515007.
  3. ^ "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.