The Edenton Colonials were a minor league baseball team based in Edenton, North Carolina. In 1951 and 1952, the Colonials played as members of the Class D level Virginia League in 1951 and Coastal Plain League in 1952, winning the 1952 league championship in their final season of play. The Edenton Colonials hosted home games at the

Historic Hicks Field Historic Hicks Field is a historic baseball stadium and national historic district located in Edenton, North Carolina, ( Chowan County). The stadium is home to the John A. Holmes High School Aces as well as the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal ...

History

Minor league baseball began in Edenton, North Carolina in 1951, when the Edenton "Colonials," became members of the six–team Class D level Virginia League. Edenton joined the

Colonial Heights-Petersburg Generals Colonial or The Colonial may refer to: * Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology) Architecture * American colonial architecture * French Colonial * Spanish Colonial architecture Automobiles * Colonial (1920 au ...

, Elizabeth City Albemarles, Emporia Rebels, Franklin Kildees and

Suffolk Goobers The Suffolk Goobers were a minor league baseball team based in Suffolk, Virginia. From 1948 to 1951, the Goobers played as members of the Class D level Virginia League, winning the 1948 league pennant. The Suffolk Goobers hosted minor league home ...

teams in playing what became the final season of the league. Beginning Virginia League play on May 4, 1951, the Edenton Colonials finished the regular season in third place. The Colonials ended the season with a record of 63–55, playing under manager Gashouse Parker. The Colonials finished 16.5 games behind the first place Colonial Heights-Petersburg Generals in the final regular season standings. In the first round of the playoffs, eventual champion Elizabeth City defeated Edenton 4 games to 3. The Virginia League folded at the end of the 1951 season. In their final season of play, the 1952 Edenton Colonials, became charter members of the eight–team Class D level Coastal Plain League. Edenton joined the

Goldsboro Jets Goldsboro may refer to: Places in the United States and Canada *Goldsboro, Florida *Goldsboro, Maryland *Goldsboro, North Carolina **Goldsboro High School *Goldsboro, Ohio *Goldsboro, Pennsylvania *Goldsboro, Texas *Goldboro, Nova Scotia Other use ...

, Kinston Eagles,

New Bern Bears The New Bern Bears were a minor league baseball team based in New Bern, North Carolina. Between 1937 and 1952, with a break during World War II, the Bears teams played exclusively as members of the Coastal Plain League (Class D), Coastal Plain Leag ...

Roanoke Rapids Jays The Roanoke Rapids Jays were a Coastal Plain League baseball team based in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, USA that existed from 1947 to 1952. They were affiliated with the Washington Senators from 1951 to 1952. Notable players include Ted Abernat ...

, Rocky Mount Leafs,

Tarboro Tars Tarboro Tars was the primary name of a minor league baseball team based in Tarboro, North Carolina. The team competed in the Coastal Plain League from 1937 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1952. The team used several other nicknames during its history, ...

and Wilson Tobs teams in playing the final season of Class D level baseball for the league. On July 21, 1952, the local "Chowan Herald" newspaper reported the Colonials had lost 3 of their previous 5 games and were in third place with a 47–42 record. Edmonton had just played to a 0–0 tie with Wilson after the game was rained out. Previously, Edenton had defeated Rocky Mount 2–0 behind the pitching of "Monk" Raines. The Edenton Colonials won the 1952 Coastal Plain League championship. Playing under managers Gashouse Parker, Vernon Mustian and Tom Inge, the Colonels finished the regular season with a record of 69–55, placing third in the Coastal Plain League regular season standings. The Colonials finished 7.5 games behind the first place Kingston Eagles in the final standings. Pitcher John Raines led the Coastal Plain League with 26 wins. In the first round of the playoffs, Edenton swept Wilson in 4 games to advance. In the Finals, Edenton defeated the Goldsboro Jets 4 games to 1 to win the championship. The Coastal Plain League permanently folded following the 1938 season. Edenton, North Carolina has not hosted another minor league team. Beginning in 2015 Edenton and

hosted the Edenton Steamers of

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

, members of the Premier Collegiate League.

The ballpark

The Edenton Colonials teams played 1951 and 1952 home minor league games at Hicks Field. The ballpark was constructed in 1939 and is still in use today. Adjacent to

John A. Holmes High School John A. Holmes High School is a public high school located in Edenton, North Carolina. The school has a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based o ...

, Hicks field was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The Edenton Steamers continued play at Hicks Field. The Chowan Herald

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

* Elder White (1952)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Edenton - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams disestablished in 1951 Baseball teams established in 1952 Defunct baseball teams in North Carolina Professional baseball teams in North Carolina Coastal Plain League Chowan County, North Carolina Virginia League teams Coastal Plain League (minor league) teams