The Fieldale Towlers was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in

Fieldale, Virginia Fieldale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 879 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. History The area was first settled in 1770 by plant ...

from 1934 to 1936. Fieldale teams played as members of the Class D level

Bi-State League The Bi-State League was an American baseball minor league formed in 1934 with teams in Virginia and North Carolina. The league held together for nine seasons, being represented by ten cities from North Carolina and eight from Virginia. Only the ...

from 1934 to 1936. The Fieldale Towlers were an affiliate of the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

(1936).

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coach ...

member

Joe Guyon Joseph Napoleon "Big Chief" Guyon (Anishinaabe: ''O-Gee-Chidah'', translated as "Big Brave"; November 26, 1892 – November 27, 1971) was an American Indian from the Ojibwa tribe (Chippewa) who was an American football and baseball player and co ...

was player/manager of the 1936 Fieldale Towlers.

History

The Fieldale Virginians began minor league play as charter members of the 1934 Class D level Bi-State League. The Virginians finished their first season with a record of 36–41, placing 3rd in the six–team Bi-State League regular season under Manager Luther Hodge. The 1934 standings were: Danville-Schoolfield Leafs 53–25,

Martinsville Manufacturers The Martinsville Manufacturers were a Bi-State League baseball team based in Martinsville, Virginia, United States that played from 1934 to 1941. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1936 to 1939 Philadelphia Phillies The P ...

46–29, Fieldale Virginians 36–41, Mount Airy Graniteers 33–43,

Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets The Class D Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets was a Minor League Baseball team who played in three different leagues between the and seasons. The team was a combination of three separate towns from North Carolina (now Eden, Rockingham County, No ...

32–45 and Mayodan Senators 29–46. Fieldale played their home games at Riverside Park. The franchise was renamed as the Fieldale Towlers for the 1935 season. The moniker reflected the local industry of towel–producing textile mills. Continuing play in the Bi-State League, the Towlers ended the 1935 season with a record of 50–64, placing sixth in the eight–team Bi-State League regular season.

Dixie Parker Douglas Woolley Parker (April 24, 1895 – May 15, 1972) was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1923 season. Listed at 5' 11", Weight: 160 lb., Parker batted and threw right handed. He was ...

served as the Fieldale manager in 1935. In their final season, the Fieldale Towlers became an affiliate of the

. Fieldale finished the 1936 regular season with a record of 52–62, placing 7th in the Bi-State League standings.

, Red Smith and Jimmie Rimmer all served time as manager in 1936. Joe Guyon had a storied football career and was inducted into the

in 1971. The Fieldale franchise folded from the Bi-State League following the 1936 season and were replaced by the South Boston Twins for the 1937 Bi-State League season. Fieldale, Virginak has not hosted another minor league franchise.

The ballpark

From 1934 to 1936 Fieldale teams played home games at Riverside Park. Riverside Park had a ballpark capacity of 1,500, with field dimensions (Left, Center, Right) of: 325–380–325 (1936). Today, the site is known as Fieldale Park and has a baseball field that is still in use. The address is 188 Field Avenue, Fieldale, Virginia, 24089.

Timeline

Year-by-year records

Notable alumni

(1936, MGR)

* Jack Hallett (1936) *

Ralph Hodgin Elmer Ralph Hodgin (February 10, 1915 – October 4, 2011) was an outfielder/third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between and . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. Listed at 5' 10 ...

(1936) *

Joe Just Joseph Erwin Just (born Joseph Erwin Juszczak) (January 8, 1916 – November 22, 2003) was a Major League Baseball catcher who broke into the Major Leagues on May 13, 1944, with the Cincinnati Reds of the National League. Just appeared in 25 gam ...

(1936) *

Ken Keltner Kenneth Frederick Keltner (October 31, 1916 – December 12, 1991) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1937 to 1950, most prominently as a member of the Cleveland Indians where h ...

(1936) 7x MLB All-Star;

Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball. Awards Most Valuable Player *George Burns (1926) * Lou Boudreau (1948) *Al Rosen (1953) Cy Young *Gaylord Perry (1972) *CC Sabathia (2007 ...

Boots Poffenberger Cletus Elwood "Boots" Poffenberger (July 1, 1915 – September 1, 1999) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (1937–1939) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1939). Promising rookie year in 1937 Born in Williamsport, Maryland ...

(1935) *

(1935, MGR) * Red Smith (1936, MGR) *

Roy Vaughn Clarence LeRoy Vaughn (September 4, 1911 – March 1, 1937) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is compo ...

(1935)

References

{{reflist, 2 Defunct minor league baseball teams Professional baseball teams in Virginia Defunct baseball teams in Virginia Baseball teams established in 1934 Baseball teams disestablished in 1936 Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates Bi-State League teams Henry County, Virginia