The Suffolk Goobers were a minor league baseball team based in

Suffolk, Virginia Suffolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and as such has no county. As of the 2020 census, the population was 94,324. It is the 9th most populous city in Virginia and the largest city in Virginia by boundary land area as ...

. From 1948 to 1951, the Goobers played as members of the Class D level

Virginia League The Virginia League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in Virginia and North Carolina from 1906 to 1928. It was classified as a "C" league from 1906 to 1919 and as a "B" league from 1920 to 1928. The most famous alumni to c ...

, winning the 1948 league pennant. The Suffolk Goobers hosted minor league home games at Peanut Park.

History

The "Goobers" were preceded in minor league play by the 1921 Suffolk Wildcats of the Class B level

. In 1948, the Suffolk Goobers became members of the reformed

, which formed as a six–team, Class D level league. The Blackstone Barristers,

Emporia Nationals The Emporia Nationals were a minor league baseball team based in Emporia, Virginia. From 1948 to 1951, Emporia played as members of the Class D (baseball), Class D level Virginia League (1948–51), Virginia League, winning the 1950 league Champion ...

, Franklin Cubs, Lawrenceville Cardinals and

Petersburg Generals The Petersburg Generals were an amateur baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The team played its home games at the Petersburg Sports Complex in Petersburg, Virginia. The Generals first started participa ...

joined Suffolk in beginning league play on April 23, 1948. The Suffolk use of the "Goobers" moniker corresponds with peanut agriculture in the region in the era. Suffolk was self–nicknamed as the "Peanut Capitol of the World." The term was known to be used as a nickname for peanuts. In their first season of play, the Suffolk Goobers won the 1948 Virginia League pennant. The Goobers ended the regular season with a record of 83–52, finishing 1st in the standings, 7.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Blackstone Barristers.

Bill Steinecke William Robert Steinecke (February 7, 1907 – July 20, 1986) was an American professional baseball catcher and manager. A native of Cincinnati who attended DePaul University, Steinecke spent almost 40 years in uniform, but only four games in Major ...

served as manager in leading the team to the league pennant. In the 1st round of the four–team playoffs, the Petersburg Generals defeated Suffolk 4 games to 2, ending their season. Pitcher Cecil Hutson of Suffolk led the league with 23 wins. Playing under returning manager Bill Steineke and Paul Badgett, the Goobers qualified for the 1949 Virginia League playoffs. Suffolk finished the 1949 season with a record of 57–65, placing 4th in the Virginia League regular season standings. The Goobers finished the regular season 20.0 games behind the 1st place Franklin Kildees. In the playoffs, Franklin defeated the Goobers 4 games to 1. In 1950, the Suffolk Goobers placed 6th in the Virginia League regular season standings, missing the playoffs. With a record of 50–79, Suffolk ended the regular season in last place, with the Goobers playing under manager Buster Kinard. Suffolk finished 21.5 games behind the 1st place Emporia Nationals. In their final season, the 1951 Goobers returned to the playoffs with a 4th place finish in the league standings. The Suffolk Goobers ended the Virginia League regular season with a record of 56–62, finishing 23.5 games behind the 1st place Colonial Heights-Petersburg Generals. In the playoffs, Colonial Heights-Petersburg defeated Suffolk Goobers 4 games to 1, in the last games for the franchises. Buster Kinard of Suffolk won the league batting title, hitting .378. The Virginia League permanently folded as a minor league following the 1951 season. Suffolk, Virginia has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

The Suffolk Goobers hosted home minor league home games at Peanut Park. The ballpark was located next to the Suffolk Peanut Company, giving it its name. In its history, the site was also known as Smith Street Park, Athletic Park and League Park, with the capacity being expanded from 2,500 in 1948 to 5,000 in 1950. Peanut Park is still in use today as a public park with a ballfield. The location is 308 South Saratoga Street.

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Vern Freiburger Vern Donald Freiburger (December 19, 1923 – February 27, 1990) was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who started two games for the Cleveland Indians near the end of the 1941 season (September 6 and September 15). At 17 years of age ...

(1948–1949) *

Eddie Kasko Edward Michael Kasko (June 27, 1931 – June 24, 2020) was an American infielder, manager, scout and front office executive in Major League Baseball (MLB). Kasko was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and raised in nearby Linden. He graduated ...

(1950) *

(1948–1948, MGR) *

Red Treadway Thadford Leon "Red" Treadway (April 28, 1920 – May 26, 1994) was an American professional baseball player. He played two seasons in Major League Baseball in 1944-45 for the New York Giants, primarily as an outfielder. He also had an extensive ca ...

(1951, MGR)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Suffolk - Baseball Reference
Suffolk, Virginia Defunct minor league baseball teams Professional baseball teams in Virginia Defunct baseball teams in Virginia Baseball teams disestablished in 1951 Baseball teams established in 1948 Virginia League teams