Hopewell Blue Sox

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Hopewell Blue Sox
1916–1950
(1916, 1949–1950)
Hopewell, Virginia
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass C (1916)
Class D (1949–1950)
LeagueVirginia League (1916)
Virginia League V (1949–1950)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Wild card berths (1)1950
Team data
NameHopewell Powder Puffs (1916)
Hopewell Blue Sox (1949–1950)
BallparkElm Street Ball Park (1949–1950)

The Hopewell Blue Sox was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Hopewell, Virginia between 1916 and 1950. Hopewell teams played as members of the Virginia League in 1916 and rejoined a reformed Virginia League in 1949 and 1950.

History[]

Minor league baseball began in Hopewell, Virginia in 1916. The Hopewell Powder Puffs became members of the Class C level Virginia League. Hopewell joined the Newport News Shipbuilders, Norfolk Tars, Petersburg Goobers, Portsmouth Truckers and Rocky Mount Tar Heels in beginning league play on April 24, 1916.[1][2]

In their first season of minor league play, the Hopewell Powder Puffs team disbanded before completing the season. Hopewell disbanded on July 22, 1916. The Powder puffs had a record of 30–52 record under managers Win Clark and R. Barrett when the franchise folded. A Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina based franchise was added as a replacement for Hopewell on August 14, 1916. However, the Virginia League directors did not allow the franchise and Roanoke Rapids was dropped on August 16, 1916, after winning its only game. The franchise did not return to the 1917 Virginia League.[3][4][5]

In 1949, minor league baseball play returned to Hopewell, Virginia. The Hopewell "Blue Sox" joined the reformed six–team Class D level Virginia League, replacing the Blackstone Barristers franchise in league play. The Emporia Nationals, Franklin Kildees, Lawrenceville Robins, Petersburg Generals and Suffolk Goobers teams joined Hopewell in league play.[6][7][8]

True to their moniker, the Hopewell Blue Sox wore players wore corresponding blue stirrups.[9]

Playing under manager Joe Mills, the Blue Sox finished the 1949 season with a record of 52–75, placing 5th in the Virginia League regular season standings. Hopewell finished the regular season 27.5 games behind the 1st place Franklin Kildees and did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Petersburg Generals.[10][11]

In 1950, the Hopewell Blue Sox played their final season and qualified for the playoffs. With a record of 65–65, Hopewell ended the regular season in an identical 4th place tie with the Franklin Kildees, with Hopewell playing under manager Herbert Moore. Hopewell finished 7.0 games behind the 1st place Emporia Nationals. The Blue Sox won the playoff tiebreaker after Franklin forfeited the contest, rather than play. Hopewell then lost 1st round of the playoffs, being defeated the Emporia Nationals 4 games to 1. After the season, the Hopewell franchise folded, replaced by the Edenton Colonials in the 1951 final season of the Virginia League.[12][13][5][14]

Hopewell, Virginia has not hosted another minor league team.[15]

The ballparks[]

The Hopewell Blue Sox teams were noted to have hosted minor league home games at the Elm Street Ball Park. The ballpark was located at Elm Street and Beverley Place, Hopewell, Virginia. Today, the site is a shopping center.[16]

Timeline[]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League
1916 1 Hopewell Powder Puffs Class C Virginia Mountain League
1949–1950 2 Hopewell Blue Sox Class D Virginia League

Year-by-year records[]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs/Notes
1916 30–52 NA Win Clark / R. Barrett Team folded July 22
1949 52–75 5th Joe Mills Did not qualify
1950 65–65 4th Herbert Moore Lost 1st round

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

  • Hopewell Blue Sox players
  • Hopewell Powder Puffs players

References[]

  1. ^ "1916 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1916 Virginia League (VL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. ^ "1916 Hopewell Powder Puffs minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ "1916 Hopewell Powder Puffs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  5. ^ a b "Virginia League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  6. ^ "1949 Virginia League (VL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. ^ "1949 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ Staff Reports (June 22, 2018). "Looking back: Local baseball teams made names for themselves". The Tidewater News.
  9. ^ Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011. McFarland. 26 February 2013. ISBN 9780786468447.
  10. ^ "1949 Hopewell Blue Sox minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "Petersburg Generals - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  12. ^ "1950 Hopewell Blue Sox minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. ^ "1950 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "1950 Hopewell Blue Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ "Hopewell, Virginia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Elm Street Ball Park in Hopewell, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.

External links[]

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