The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the

Piedmont plateau The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the Eastern United States. It is situated between the Atlantic coastal plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New York in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont ...

region in the

eastern United States The Eastern United States, commonly referred to as the American East, Eastern America, or simply the East, is the region of the United States to the east of the Mississippi River. In some cases the term may refer to a smaller area or the East C ...

Teams

The following teams were members of the Piedmont League (''in alphabetical order''): *

Asheville, NC Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous cit ...

Asheville Tourists The Asheville Tourists are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville teams have played under the Tourists moniker in differe ...

– 1931–1932 (formerly of the

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...

, 1924–1930); 1934–1942 * Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Hornets – 1931–1935 (formerly of the

, 1919–1930); 1937–1942 (moved to the

Tri-State League The Tri-State League was the name of six different circuits in American minor league baseball. History The first league of that name played for four years (1887–1890) and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia. The second leagu ...

, 1946–1953, the

, 1954–1963, and the Southern League, 1964–1971) * Colonial Heights, VA &

Petersburg, VA Petersburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,458. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines Petersburg (along with the city of Colonial Heights) with Dinwi ...

: Colonial Heights-Petersburg Colts – 1954 *

Columbia, SC Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-largest ...

Columbia Sandlappers Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

– 1934 *

Danville, VA Danville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, located in the Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River. It was a center of tobacco production and was an area of Confederate activity ...

Danville Tobacconists Danville or Dansville may refer to: ;Canada *Danville, Quebec ;United States *Danville, Alabama *Danville, Arkansas *Danville, California *Danville, Georgia *Danville, Illinois *Danville, Indiana *Danville, Iowa * Danville, Kansas *Danville, Kentu ...

– 1920–1924;

Danville Leafs The Danville Leafs were a professional minor league baseball team that played in the city of Danville, Virginia. During 1935–1942, they were also known as the Danville-Schoolfield Leafs. History Professional baseball first made its appearance i ...

– 1925–1926 *

Durham, NC Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County and Wake County. With a population of 283,506 in the 2020 Census, Durham is the 4th-m ...

Durham Bulls The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened ...

– 1920–33; 1936–1943 * Greensboro, NC:

Greensboro Patriots Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...

– 1920–1926; 1928–1934;

Greensboro Red Sox Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte and Raleigh, the 69th-most populous city in the Un ...

– 1941–1942 *

Hagerstown, MD Hagerstown is a city in Washington County, Maryland, United States and the county seat of Washington County. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census was 43,527, and the population of the Hagerstow ...

Hagerstown Braves The Hagerstown Owls were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The team played in the Inter-State League (1941–1952) and the Piedmont League (1953–1955). Their home games were played in Municipal Sta ...

– 1953 (formerly of the

Interstate League The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. Early leagues Earlier versions of the Interstate League, with years active: *1896–1901: an unclassified ...

, 1950–1952);

Hagerstown Packets The Hagerstown Owls were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The team played in the Inter-State League (1941–1952) and the Piedmont League (1953–1955). Their home games were played in Municipal Sta ...

– 1954–55 *

Henderson, NC Henderson is a city and the county seat of Vance County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,060 at the 2020 census. History The city was named in honor of former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Leonard Henderson, ...

: Henderson Bunnies – 1929; Henderson Gamecocks – 1930–1931 *

High Point, NC High Point is a city in the Piedmont Triad region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Most of the city is in Guilford County, with parts extending into Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties. High Point is North Carolina's only city that ...

: High Point Furniture Makers – 1920–22; High Point Pointers – 1923–1932 *

Lancaster, PA Lancaster, ( ; pdc, Lengeschder) is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. With a population at the 2020 census of 58,039, it ranks 11th in population amon ...

Lancaster Red Roses The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named fo ...

– 1954–1955 *

Lynchburg, VA Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch, the city's population was 79,009 at the 2020 census. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mounta ...

Lynchburg Cardinals Lynchburg is a toponym that may refer to: *Lynchburg, California *Lynchburg, Mississippi *Lynchburg, Missouri *Lynchburg, North Dakota *Lynchburg, Ohio (in Clinton and Highland counties) *Lynchburg, Columbiana County, Ohio *Lynchburg, South Carolina ...

– 1943–1955 *

Newport News, VA Newport News () is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the 5th most populous city in Virginia and 140th most populous city in the Uni ...

Newport News Dodgers The Newport News Dodgers were a minor league baseball affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers between 1944 and 1955. They played in the Piedmont League and were based in Newport News, Virginia. The teams played at Peninsula War Memorial Stadium on Pem ...

– 1944–1955 *

Norfolk, VA Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Bea ...

Norfolk Tars The Norfolk Tars were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1906 to 1955. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, they played in the Virginia League from 1906 to 1918 and from 1921 to 1928, in the Eastern League from 1931 to 1932 and in the ...

– 1934–1955 *

Portsmouth, VA Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia and across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915. It is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Med ...

Portsmouth Truckers The Portsmouth Truckers were a Virginia League baseball team based in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States that existed on-and-off from 1895 to 1928. They also played in the Piedmont League in 1935, when they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. ...

– 1935;

Portsmouth Cubs Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dense ...

– 1936–1952;

Portsmouth Merrimacs Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most densel ...

– 1953–1955 *

Raleigh, NC Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southea ...

: Raleigh Nats – 1920; Raleigh Red Birds – 1921;

Raleigh Capitals The Raleigh Capitals was a name used by various minor league baseball teams that were based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Most of these teams played at Devereaux Meadow. There have been minor league baseball teams in the past that played in Raleig ...

– 1922–1928; 1930–1932 *

Richmond, VA (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

Richmond Colts The Richmond Colts were a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia that existed on-and-off from 1894 to 1953. They played in the Virginia League in 1894, and in another Virginia League in 1900, and another Virginia League from 1906 ...

– 1933–1953 *

Roanoke, VA Roanoke ( ) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 100,011, making it the 8th most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. It is lo ...

: Roanoke Red Sox – 1943–1950; Roanoke Ro-Sox – 1951–1953 *

Rocky Mount, NC Rocky Mount is a city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The city's population was 54,341 as of the 2020 census, making it the 20th-most populous city in North Carolina at the time. The city is 45 mi (72 ...

: Rocky Mount Buccaneers – 1927 (moved to the

Eastern Carolina League The Eastern Carolina League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in the Eastern part of North Carolina. The league had two distinct periods of operation: 1908 to 1910 and a revival of the league in 1928 and 1929. It was classifi ...

, 1928–1929);

Rocky Mount Red Sox ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise and stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burges ...

– 1936–1940 * Salisbury, NC & Spencer, NC: Salisbury Colonials – 1925; Salisbury-Spencer Colonials – 1926–1929 * Sunbury, PA: Sunbury Redlegs – 1955 *

Wilmington, NC Wilmington is a port city in and the county seat of New Hanover County in coastal southeastern North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 at the 2020 census, it is the eighth most populous city in the state. Wilmington is th ...

Wilmington Pirates The Wilmington Pirates were a minor league baseball team located in Wilmington, North Carolina. From 1928 to 1929, they played in the Class D Eastern Carolina League. From 1932 to 1935, they played in the Class B Piedmont League. From 1946 to 1950 ...

– 1932–1935 *

Winston-Salem, NC Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in N ...

Winston-Salem Twins Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...

– 1920–1933; 1937–1942 * York, PA:

York White Roses The York White Roses was the name of a minor league baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania, US, that existed from 1894–1969. History Early years The York White Roses began as members of the short-lived Keystone Association in 1884. ...

– 1953–1955 (formerly of the

, 1943–1952)

Standings & statistics

Years 1920 to 1955

1920 Piedmont League

Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Raleigh 3

1921 Piedmont League

Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, High Point 1

1922 Piedmont League

Playoff: Durham 4 games, High Point 3, one tie

1923 Piedmont League

Playoff: Danville 4 games, Greensboro 0

1924 Piedmont League

1925 Piedmont League

High Point (18-32) moved to Danville June 18.
Playoff: Durham 4 games, Winston-Salem 3

1926 Piedmont League

Danville (11-10) moved to High Point May 12.
Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Durham 1

1927 Piedmont League

Playoff: Salibury-Spencer 3 games, Raleigh 2

1928 Piedmont League

Playoff: Winston-Salem 4 games, High Point 3

1929 Piedmont League

Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Durham 1

1930 Piedmont League

Playoff: Durham 4 games, Henderson 3

1931 Piedmont League

Playoff: Charlotte 4 games, Raleigh 2

1932 Piedmont League

Asheville and High Point disbanded July 7; Winston-Salem moved to High Point August 20
Playoff: Greensboro 4 games, Charlotte 3

1933 Piedmont League

1934 Piedmont League

Playoff: Norfolk 4 games, Charlotte 2

1935 Piedmont League

Playoff: Richmond 4 games, Asheville 2

1936 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Norfolk 3 games, Richmond 0; Durham 3 games, Rocky Mount 1
Finals: Norfolk 3 games Durham 0

1937 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Norfolk 3 games, Richmond 1; Portsmouth 3 games, Asheville 2
;Finals : Norfolk 3 games, Portsmouth 0

1938 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Charlotte 3 games, Portsmouth 2; Rocky Mount 3 games, Norfolk 1
Finals: Charlotte 4 games, Rocky Mount 3

1939 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Asheville 3 games, Richmond 0; Rocky Mount 3 games, Durham 1
Finals: Asheville 4 games, Rocky Mount 2

1940 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Rocky Mount 4 games, Asheville 2; Durham 4 games, Richmond 3
Finals: Durham 4 games, Rocky Mount 2

1941 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Greensboro 4 games, Portsmouth 0; Durham 4 games, Norfolk 1
Finals: Durham 4 games, Greensboro 0

1942 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Greensboro 4 games, Charlotte 0; Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 3
Finals: Greensboro 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1943 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Roanoke 1; Norfolk 4 games, Richmond 0
Finals: Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1944 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Norfolk 3; Lynchburg 4 games, Richmond 2, one tie
Finals: Lynchburg 4 games, Portsmouth 3

1945 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games. Norfolk 3; Richmond 4 games, Newport News 0
Finals: Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 0

1946 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 0; Roanoke 4 games, Norfolk 2
Finals: Newport News 4 games, Roanoke 2, one tie.

1947 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Roanoke 4 games, Richmond 1; Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 0
Finals: Roanoke 4 games, Norfolk 3

1948 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Lynchburg 4 games, Roanoke 3; Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 3
Finals: Newport News 4 games, Lynchburg 0

1949 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Lynchburg 4 games, Roanoke 3; Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 2
Finals: Lynchburg 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1950 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Richmond 0; Roanoke 4 games, Lynchburg 1
Finals: Roanoke 4 games, Portsmouth 3

1951 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 1; Richmond 4 games, Newport News 2
Finals: Norfolk 4 games, Richmond 2

1952 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Richmond 4 games, Norfolk 1; : Portsmouth 4 games, Lynchburg 2
Finals: Richmond 4 games, Portsmouth 2

1953 Piedmont League

Roanoke withdrew July 24.
Playoffs: Norfolk 4 games, Portsmouth 1.;: Newport News 4 games, Hagerstown <
Finals: Norfolk 4 games, Newport News 1.

1954 Piedmont League

Playoffs: Portsmouth 4 games, Norfolk 2; Newport News 4 games, York 0.
Finals: Newport News 4 games, Portsmouth 3

1955 Piedmont League

Norfolk withdrew July 14
Playoffs: Portsmouth 3 games, Newport News 1; Lancaster 3 games, York 1
Finals Lancaster 3 games, Portsmouth 2.

Champions

The following teams were champions of the Piedmont League:

Hall of Fame alumni

Yogi Berra Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (May 12, 1925 – September 22, 2015) was an American professional baseball catcher who later took on the roles of Manager (baseball), manager and Coach (baseball), coach. He played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball ...

(1943, Norfolk) *

Whitey Ford Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (October 21, 1928 – October 8, 2020), nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees ...

(1948, Norfolk) *

Jimmie Foxx James Emory Foxx (October 22, 1907 – July 21, 1967), nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, ...

(1944, Portsmouth, MGR) *

Hank Greenberg Henry Benjamin Greenberg (born Hyman Greenberg; January 1, 1911 – September 4, 1986), nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank", "Hankus Pankus", or "The Hebrew Hammer", was an American professional baseball player and team executive. He played in Major Leagu ...

(1930, Raleigh) *

Whitey Herzog Dorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog (; born November 9, 1931) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and manager, most notable for his Major League Baseball (MLB) managerial career. He made his MLB debut as a player in 1956 wit ...

(1951, Norfolk) *

Tony Lazzeri Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leag ...

(1942, (Portsmouth, MGR) *

Buck Leonard Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard (September 8, 1907 – November 27, 1997) was an American first baseman in Negro league baseball and in the Mexican League. After growing up in North Carolina, he played for the Homestead Grays between 1934 and 1950, ...

(1953, Portsmouth) *

Heinie Manush Henry Emmett Manush (July 20, 1901 – May 12, 1971), nicknamed "Heinie", was an American baseball outfielder. He played professional baseball for 20 years from 1920 to 1939, including 17 years in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers (1 ...

(1940, Rocky Mount; 1941-1942, Greensboro; 1943, Roanoke) *

Johnny Mize John Robert Mize (January 7, 1913 – June 2, 1993), nicknamed "Big Jawn" and "The Big Cat", was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons between 1936 an ...

(1930-1931, 1933, Greensboro) *

Phil Rizzuto Philip Francis Rizzuto (September 25, 1917 – August 13, 2007), nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career with the New York Yankees (1941–1956), and was elected to th ...

(1938, Norfolk) *

Brooks Robinson Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. (born May 18, 1937) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977. Nicknamed "the Human Vacuum Cleaner" or "Mr. Hoover", he is generally c ...

(1955, York) *

Red Schoendienst Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst (; February 2, 1923 – June 6, 2018) was an American professional baseball second baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB), and is largely known for his coaching, managing, and playing years wit ...

(1943, Lynchburg) *

Duke Snider Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider (September 19, 1926 – February 27, 2011), nicknamed "the Silver Fox" and "the Duke of Flatbush", was an American professional baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, he spent most of his Major League Baseball (M ...

(1944-1945, Newport News) *

Billy Southworth William Harold Southworth (March 9, 1893 – November 15, 1969) was an American outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). As a player in and and from to for five big-league teams, Southworth took part in almost 1,200 games, fell j ...

(1935-1936, Asheville, MGR) *

Early Wynn Early Wynn Jr. (January 6, 1920 – April 4, 1999), nicknamed "Gus", was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox, dur ...

(1938-1940, Charlotte)

References

* McCann, M. (n.d.). ''Minor League Baseball History''. Retrieved April 27, 2007, from https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/big_bunko/piedmont2055.htm&date=2009-10-25+13:33:55 {{Authority control Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in North Carolina Baseball leagues in Virginia Baseball leagues in South Carolina Baseball leagues in Pennsylvania Baseball leagues in Maryland Sports leagues established in 1920 Sports leagues established in 1955