The Waynesboro Red Birds were a minor league baseball team based in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. From 1920 to 1930, the Waynesboro Red Birds, "Cardinals" and "Villagers" teams played exclusively as members of the Class D level Blue Ridge League. The Waynesboro "Cardinals" and Red Birds were a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1925 and again from 1928 to 1930. Waynesville hosted home minor league games at E-B Park.

History

The 1920 Waynesboro Villagers were the first minor league baseball team based in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, as the Villagers became members of the reformed Class D level six–team Blue Ridge League. The league reformed after not playing the 1919 season and Waynesboro replaced the Gettysburg Ponies franchise in the 1920 league. On May 19, 1920, Waynesboro won their opening day game at home, an 11-9 victory over the Hanover Raiders. In their first season of play, Waynesboro finished the 1920 season with a 53–42 record to place third in the Blue Ridge League. The Villagers manager was Bill "Country" Morris, who would manage the team through the 1923 season. Waynesboro finished 2.5 games behind the first place Hagerstown Champs in the final standings as the league had no playoffs until 1926. Harold Yordy of Waynesboro led the Blue Ridge League in home runs with 12 and

Lefty Clarke Alan "Lefty" Thomas Clarke (March 8, 1896 – March 11, 1975) was an American professional baseball player who played one game for the Cincinnati Reds in . He recorded one strike out while surrendering 7 runs (3 earned) on seven hits and tw ...

had a league leading 150 strikeouts. Continuing play in 1921, the Waynesboro Villagers placed third in the six–team Blue Ridge League. Waynesboro ended the season with a record of 52–45 to finish 6.5 games behind the 1st place

Frederick Hustlers Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederick ...

, playing under returning manager Bill Morris.

Wally Kimmick Walter Lyons Kimmick (May 30, 1897 – July 24, 1989) was an American professional baseball infielder. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball between and , appearing in 163 games as a second baseman, third baseman and shortstop. He play ...

led the Blue Ridge League with 20 home runs, 47 stolen bases and 146 hits, while Alan "Lefty" Clarke led the circuit both with 25 wins and 258 strikeouts. In 1922, the Villagers placed second in the Blue Ridge League final standings. With a 56–42 record in the six–team league, Waynesboro finished in second place, 9.5 games behind the first place Martinsburg Blue Sox under returning manager Bill Morris. Beginning in 1922 and continuing through 1927, the champion of the Blue Ridge League played the champion of the Eastern Shore League in a championship playoff called the "Five-State Championship Series". Waynesboro teams did not advance to any of the playoffs. The 1923 Waynesboro Villagers again placed second in the Blue Ridge League standings. The Villagers finished with a record of 52–45. Playing their final full season under manager Bill Morris, Waynesboro finished 15.0 games behind the first place Martinsburg Blue Sox. In 1924, the unaffiliated Waynesboro Villagers finished last in the Blue Ridge League. The villagers ended the season with a record of 39–56 to place sixth, playing the season under managers Joe Ward and Joe Conti and finishing 19.0 games behind the champion Martinsburg Blue Sox. Jackson Mathews of Waynesboro led the Blue Ridge League with 115 strikeouts. Waynesboro became an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals for the 1925 season. The "Waynesboro Cardinals" finished the 1925 season with a record of 47–49 to place fourth in the six–team Blue Ridge League. Under manager John Breckenridge, the Cardinals finished 16.0 games behind the first place Hagerstown Hubs in the final standings. George Hammen of Waynesboro led the Blue Ridge in hitting with a batting average of .375 and topped the circuit with 141 hits. Waynesboro returned to the "Villagers" nickname as an unaffiliated team in 1926 and finished last in the league standings. With a regular season record of 34–59, Waynesboro placed sixth, finishing 29.0 games behind the first place

Hagerstown Hubs The Hagerstown Hubs were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The team played predominantly in the Blue Ridge League (1915–1930) and briefly in the Middle Atlantic League (1931). Their home (sports), home ...

. The team was managed by Ed Greene, William Suhre and the returning Bill Morris. The 1927 Waynesboro Villagers finished the season with a record of 41–57. The Villagers placed fifth in the Blue Ridge League, playing under managers John Perrin and John Ebert. Waynesboro ended the season 23.5 games behind the first place

Chambersburg Maroons The Chambersburg Maroons were a baseball team located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. They called historic Henninger Field their home, and had done so since the club's creation in 1895. They played their last season in 2010, ending 116 years of ex ...

in the final standings. Waynesboro again became a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate in 1928, as the newly named Waynesboro Red Birds finished last in the Blue Ridge League standings. The Red Birds ended the regular season with a record of 37–58 to place sixth in the six–team league. Managed by Ed Miller and Harold Funk, Waynesboro finished 21.0 games behind the first place Hanover Raiders in the final standings. Beginning in 1928, the Blue Ridge League champion was matched in a championship series with the champion of the

Middle Atlantic League The Middle Atlantic League (or Mid-Atlantic League) was a lower-level circuit in American minor league baseball that played during the second quarter of the 20th century. History The Middle Atlantic League played from 1925 through 1951, with t ...

in the "Tri-State Series." Waynesboro did not advance to play in this series. The 1929 Waynesboro Red Birds finished last in the Blue Ridge League for the second consecutive season. Waynesboro finished the regular season with a record of 40–69 to place sixth in the six–team Blue Ridge League. Under managers Ken Kirkham and Irwin Wimer, Waynesboro finished the season 11.0 games behind the first place Martinsburg Blue Sox in the final standings. In their final season of play, the 1930 Waynesboro Red Birds reached the Blue Ridge League playoffs. As the Blue Ridge League compacted to four teams, Waynesboro finished the regular season with an overall record of 56–57 to place second in the standings under manager

Bob Rice Robert Turnbull Rice (May 28, 1899 – February 20, 1986) was a third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for one month with the Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Phila ...

. The Red Birds ended the regular season 13.0 games behind the first place

Chambersburg Young Yanks Chambersburg is a borough in and the county seat of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Franklin County, in the South Central Pennsylvania, South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Grea ...

. As the two teams tied for the first half title, they met in the playoffs. Waynesboro lost to Chambersburg in the Blue Ridge League playoff 2 games to 1. The Blue Ridge League folded following the 1930 season, greatly affected by the stock market crash of 1929. Waynesboro, Pennsylvania has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballpark

Waynesboro minor league teams were noted to have played home games exclusively at E-B Park. On September 22, 1920, E-B Park hosted an exhibition game featuring the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

with Lefty Grove, champions of the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

, against a team of Blue Ridge League All–Stars. The game ended in a 5–5 tie after 9–innings with 1,500 in attendance. Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Timeline

Year–by–year records

Notable alumni

Ed Boland Edward John Boland (April 18, 1908 – February 5, 1993) was a Major League Baseball right fielder who played for three seasons. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1934 to 1935. After a hiatus from the majors, he returned and played for ...

(1930) * Jim Bucher (1930) *

(1920–1923) *

Adam Comorosky Adam Anthony Comorosky (December 9, 1905 – March 2, 1951) was an American former Major League Baseball player. Comorosky started working in the coal mines of Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, at the age of 12, where he worked as a breaker boy. His ...

(1925) * Joe Fitzgerald (1922–1925) *

Walt Herrell Walter "Walt" "Reds" William Herrell (February 19, 1889 – January 29, 1949) was an American professional baseball player who played in one game for the Washington Senators during the season. Herrell began his career with the Johnson City Sol ...

(1920-1921, 1924) *

Nat Hickey Nicholas J. "Nat" Hickey (born Nicola Zarnecich; January 30, 1902 – September 16, 1979) was a Croatian-American professional basketball coach/player and baseball player. He turned to coaching basketball after his retirement from playing full-tim ...

(1923) * Al Hollingsowrth (1928) *

Johnny Keane John Joseph Keane (November 3, 1911 – January 6, 1967) was an American professional baseball manager and coach. He managed in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four complete seasons and parts of two others. Keane is perhaps best remembered for hi ...

(1930) Manager 1964 World Series champion - St. Louis Cardinals *

(1920–1921) *

Ray Knode Robert Troxell "Ray" Knode (January 28, 1901 – April 13, 1982) was an American Major League Baseball baseball and college football player. He played for four seasons as a first baseman with the Cleveland Indians from 1923 to 1926. Knode atten ...

(1922) *

Karl Kolseth Karl Dickey "Koley" Kolseth (December 25, 1892 – May 3, 1956) was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League in . He began his professional career with the Lawrence Barristers of the clas ...

(1920) *

Walt Lerian Walter "Peck" Irvin Lerian (February 10, 1903 – October 22, 1929) was an American professional baseball player who played two seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies from through . He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and died there at the age ...

(1921) *

Billy Myers William Harrison Myers (August 14, 1910 – April 10, 1995) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from 1935 through 1941 for the Cincinnati Reds (1935–1940) and Chicago Cubs (1941). Listed at 5' 8", 168 lb., Myers batted and threw ...

(1928–1929)

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is an entity established by Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds franchise that pays homage to the team's past through displays, photographs and multimedia. It was instituted in 1958 to recognize the ...

Dick Niehaus Richard J. Niehaus (October 24, 1892 – March 12, 1957) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1913 to 1915 and the Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American ...

(1922) * Red Nonnenkamp (1930) * John Perrin (1926), (1927, MGR) *

Johnny Posewitz John Anton Posewitz (August 9, 1906 – April 11, 1994) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Sheboygan Red Skins in the National Basketball League (United States), National Basketball League and averaged 2.4 points per ...

(1930) *

(1930, MGR) *

Mike Ryba Dominic Joseph "Mike" Ryba (June 9, 1903 – December 13, 1971) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of De Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attended Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. He was a right-hander and played for the St. ...

(1929) *

Burton Shipley Howard Burton Shipley (January 17, 1890 – February 22, 1976) was a multi-sport athlete and coach for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland. He is probably most remembered as the first and long-time head coach of the men's basket ...

(1921) Namesake of Shipley Field * Dick Siebert (1929) MLB All–Star *

Steve Slayton Foster Herbert "Steve" Slayton (April 26, 1902 – December 20, 1984) was a professional baseball relief pitcher who played briefly for the 1928 Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at and , Slayton batted and threw right-hand ...

(1929) *

Al Smith Alfred Emanuel Smith (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944) was an American politician who served four terms as Governor of New York and was the Democratic Party's candidate for president in 1928. The son of an Irish-American mother and a C ...

(1930) MLB All–Star *

Bill Trotter William Felix Trotter (August 10, 1908 – August 26, 1984) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors, between 1937 and 1944, for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators and St. Louis Cardinals ...

(1929-1930) *

Tommy Vereker John James "Tommy" Vereker (December 2, 1893 – April 2, 1974) was a professional American baseball player who played two games for the Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League during the season. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland ...

(1922–1924) * Jack Warner (1921)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Waynesboro - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates Baseball teams established in 1925 Baseball teams disestablished in 1930 Defunct baseball teams in Pennsylvania Blue Ridge League teams Franklin County, Pennsylvania