A history of baseball in Richmond

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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Richmond Times-Dispatch
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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A history of baseball in Richmond
1884
Professional baseball begins
when the Richmond Virginias join
the Eastern League. A charter
member, they are 30-28 and in
seventh place when, on Aug. 5,
they bolt for the American Association, a major league. They go
12-30 and finish 10th. It was Richmond’s only appearance in a major league.
1900
1994
The Bluebirds rejoin the Virginia
State League, which promptly
disbands on June 12.
The Braves win the International
League championship with
Grady Little as manager. This
was the last Richmond team to
win 80 games (80-61).
Team changes name to the
Grays and plays in the VirginiaNorth Carolina League. Richmond withdraws from the league
on July 6 and the league folds on
Aug. 17.
The Virginias rejoin the Eastern
League and post a record of
67-26. The league disbands on
Sept. 21.
1962, TIMES-DISPATCH
No official team, though the Rich- Former Virginians owner
Romeo Champagne
mond Giants played all comers
on Mayo Island in 1890 and 1892.
1896.
1897
The Bluebirds become the
Johnny Rebs/Giants and join the
Atlantic League. The name reverts to Bluebirds in 1898, and
they win the Atlantic League title.
2009
In October, the Richmond franchise announces that its nickname is the Flying Squirrels.
The Braves begin a string of six
straight losing seasons.
The Richmond Lawmakers join
the Virginia State League. The
team changes its name to the
Colts in 1907 and is a mainstay
until 1914.
1977, TIMES-DISPATCH
The Richmond Braves captured five Governor’s Cups as International League champions (1977, ’86, ’89, ’94 and
2007). The 1977 team (above) featured future two-time National League MVP Dale Murphy (not pictured). The 2007
team (below) won the franchise’s final title with a two-game sweep of the Durham Bulls.
In January, the Atlanta Braves
announce that their Triple-A
franchise would relocate to
Gwinnett County, Ga., following
the 2008 season. The move is
primarily made because of the
Braves’ dissatisfaction with The
Diamond.
ternational League.
2008
1915
1978
The Colts become the Virginians
then the Climbers and switch to
the International League.
The Braves win the International
League championship by beating
Pawtucket.
The Richmond Braves play their
final game in early September,
defeating Norfolk 9-3 before a
sellout crowd at The Diamond.
1918
1985
The Climbers go back to being
called the Colts and join the Virginia League, where they stay
until 1928. The 1918 season
ended on July 20 due to World
War I.
2008
On April 17, the Braves move
into The Diamond, a new
12,134-seat stadium on the Boulevard.
In Richmond’s final season as an
Atlanta affiliate, The Diamond’s
average home attendance was
4,455. It was 8,065 in 1997.
1929-30
The Braves beat Rochester to
win the Governor’s Cup.
Loveland Distributing
would like to welcome the
Flying Squirrels to Richmond.
2008, TIMES-DISPATCH
Ray Serrano threw his hat to the crowd after the
Braves ended their 43-season run in Richmond with a
9-3 win over the Norfolk Tides on Sept. 1, 2008.
2009
2009
No team. The first time since
1965 for Richmond.
In September, Minor League
Baseball announced that the
Double-A franchise that had
Sources
Baseball and Richmond: A history of the professional game 1884-2000; The International League:
A baseball history 1884-1991
1986
The Richmond Virginians had star power in the dugout
in the form of Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling (left),
shown with pitcher Wimpy Nardella. Appling compiled a
118-189 record in two seasons.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
1954
1962
1965
The Colts are renamed the Richmond Virginians (Vees). The
Vees, a Yankees farm club, join
the International League. Hall of
Fame shortstop Luke Appling is
the first manager.
Romeo Champagne buys the
Vees for $100,000 in December
1962. After the 1964 season,
Champagne sold the franchise for
$80,000 to a group from Toledo,
Ohio, where the franchise moved.
No team
1966
The Richmond Braves, an Atlanta Braves farm team, are
born. They pick up play in the In-
1993
The “Great Eight” take the field
for the Braves. One of the most
celebrated minor-league teams
in terms of prospects, the
Braves feature future majorleague players Chipper Jones,
Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez, Jose
Oliva, Mike Kelly, Melvin Nieves,
Individuals who live, work, worship, go to school or
volunteer in Richmond are eligible for membership.
1700 Robin Hood Road
(at the corner of Robin Hood and Hermitage Rds. near the Diamond)
RICHMOND’S HOMETOWN ATTORNEYS
No team
1954, TIMES-DISPATCH
On April 8, the Richmond Flying
Squirrels begin their chapter in
baseball history with a road game
at Bowie, Md. On April 15, they will
play their first home game against
the Reading Phillies.
2008
1912
The Colts resume play in the
Eastern League. In 1933, they join
the Class B Piedmont League. Finally, professional baseball stabilizes in Richmond as the Colts
stay in the Piedmont League until
1954.
2010
The Braves win the International
League championship with Dave
Brundage as manager. Richmond loses to Sacramento 7-1 in
the Bricktown Showdown, which
matched champions from the IL
and Pacific Coast League.
1906
1931
More than 6,000 submissions
were entered in a name-theteam contest, and franchise
management picked the winner.
2007
No team
The startup Richmond Rebels
join the fray and compete in the
United States League, an “outlaw” major league. The league
folds on June 24.
been based in Norwich, Conn.
(the Connecticut Defenders),
would relocate to Richmond for
the 2010 season. The franchise is
affiliated with the San Francisco
Giants, and Richmond will be a
member of the Eastern League.
1996
1902-05
1886-1893
Professional baseball returns to
Richmond and plays in the Virginia State League as the Crows.
The team name changes to the
Bluebirds in 1895. The Bluebirds
win the Nowlan Cup in 1895 and
Tony Tarasco and Ramon Caraballo.
1901
1885
1894
The league disbands on Aug. 6,
1899.
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throughout the Metro-Richmond area
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