Norton Braves

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Norton Braves
1951–1953
Norton, Virginia
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1951–1953)
LeagueMountain States League (1951–1953)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles None
Team data
NameNorton Braves (1951–1953)
BallparkMunicipal Stadium (1951–1953)

The Norton Braves were a minor league baseball team based in Norton, Virginia from 1951 to 1953. The Norton Braves played exclusively as members of the Class D level Mountain States League. Norton played home games at Municipal Stadium.

History[]

Minor league baseball began in Norton, Virginia when the 1951 Norton Braves began play as members of the eight–team, Class D level, Mountain States League. The ballclub was owned by Norton Baseball Club Inc. The 1951 Braves finished with a 53–72 record, placing 6th in the regular season under managers Bob Bowman, George Sifft and George Motto. Finishing 39.5 games behind the 1st place Hazard Bombers in the regular season standings, the Braves scored 812 runs and allowed 1002 runs. Sergio Aguilar had a .363 average and Jack Estes led Norton with 15 wins and a 5.08 ERA. After the 1951 season, both the Jenkins Cavaliers and Pennington Gap Miners franchises folded and the Mountain States League reduced to six teams in 1952.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The Norton Braves continued play in the 1952 Mountain States League. Norton ended the 1952 season with a record of 30–88, placing 6th and last in the Mountain States League. Norton finished 56.5 games behind the 1st place Hazard Bombers in the regular season standings. Under managers George Motto, William Fitchko and Mark Muslin, the Braves scored 572 runs and surrendered 964 runs. Billy Williams led the team with a .272 average, while James Smiley and Albert Orlando led Norton with 7 wins each and Albert Orlando had a 4.12 earned run average.[7][4][8][9]

The 1953 Norton Braves placed 5th in their final season. The Braves finished the Mountain States League regular season with a record of 63–63 under manager Walt Dixon. The Braves finished 16.0 games behind the 1st place Maryville-Alcoa Twins, scored 899 runs and surrendered 944 runs, most in the league. Player/manager Walt Dixon led Norton hitters with a .415 average and led the league with 37 home runs and 197 hits. Eric Doughtie led Norton with 17 wins, while Albert Turner recorded a 4.44 ERA. Norton did not qualify for the playoffs.[10][4][11][12]

The Norton franchise folded after the 1953 season and Norton, Virginia has not hosted another minor league team.[13]

The ballpark[]

The Norton Braves teams played home games at Municipal Stadium. In 1953, the Norton Baseball Club, Inc. leased Municipal Stadium from the City of Norton for a fee of $15.00 per game, with 5.00 of the amount applied to a delinquent $410.00 balance. The ballpark was lighted and seated 1,200. The ballpark no longer exists.[14][15][6]

Timeline[]

Year(s) # Yrs. Team Level League
19451–1953 3 Norton Braves Class D Mountain States League

Year–by–year records[]

Year Record Finish Manager Home Attendance Playoffs/Notes
1951 53–72 6th Bob Bowman
George Sifft / George Motto		 12,314 Did not qualify
1952 30–88 6th George Motto
William Fitchko / Mark Muslin		 10,029 Did not qualify
1953 63–63 5th Walt Dixon 21,873 Did not qualify

[4]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Norton Braves players

References[]

  1. ^ "1951 Mountain States League (MSL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  2. ^ "1951 Mountain States League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "1951 Norton Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Mountain States League - BR Bullpen". aws.baseball-reference.com.
  5. ^ "1951 Norton Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ^ a b http://www.nortonva.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1487
  7. ^ "1952 Norton Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. ^ "1952 Norton Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "1952 Mountain States League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "1953 Norton Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. ^ "1953 Norton Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "1953 Mountain States League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ "Norton, Virginia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ "Municipal Stadium in Norton, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. ^ "Summary of Resources: Southwest Virginia, Lee-Scott-Wise Counties". Tennessee Valley Authority. July 5, 1964 – via Google Books.

External link[]

Baseball Reference Bullpen

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