The Portsmouth Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Portsmouth, Virginia. From 1935 to 1955, Portsmouth teams played exclusively as members of the Class B level Piedmont League, which was one of few minor leagues that continued play during World War II. Portsmouth qualified for the Piedmont League playoffs 17 times in 21 seasons, capturing the 1945 league championship, winning league pennants in 1942, 1943 and 1950 while advancing to the league Finals on ten separate occasions. For three seasons, the team became known as the Portsmouth "Merrimacs," beginning in 1953.
The Portsmouth Cubs played as a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1935 to 1938 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1939 and 1940, before a second stint with the Chicago Cubs from 1941 to 1947.
Portsmouth hosted minor league games at two different ballparks in the era. The team played at Sewanee Stadium from 1935 to 1940, before moving full time to City Park / Frank Lawrence Stadium in 1941.
Baseball Hall of Fame member Buck Leonard played for Portsmouth in 1953 in his final professional season at age 45, hitting .333 for Portsmouth. Baseball Hall of Fame members Tony Lazzeri (1942) and Jimmie Foxx (1944) managed the Portsmouth Cubs, both leading their teams to the league Finals.
History Portsmouth had an early history of semi-professional baseball, hosting the Piedmont Manufacturing Baseball Team in a textile league as early as 1889. Portsmouth first hosted minor league baseball in 1895, when the Portsmouth Truckers played the season as members of the Class B level Virginia State League. In 1928, the Portsmouth Truckers ended a 16-season tenure as members of the Virginia League and immediately preceded the Piedmont League membership teams.
1935 Piedmont League / Portsmouth Truckers After the Virginia League folded following the 1928 season, Portsmouth, Virginia next hosted minor league baseball play in 1935, The Portsmouth minor league franchise was reformed after a six-season absence and the Truckers became members of the six–team Class B level Piedmont League. (Class B was the equivalent of today's Class AA level league). The Asheville Tourists, Charlotte Hornets, Norfolk Tars, Richmond Colts and Wilmington Pirates teams joined with the Portsmouth "Truckers" in beginning league play on April 25, 1935. The new Portsmouth franchise replaced the Greensboro Patriots in the Piedmont League.
Founded in 1920, the Piedmont League was named for the region, as the league member teams were located in the Piedmont plateau and Piedmont Triad regions in the eastern United States.
The new Portsmouth franchise was owned by local Portsmouth businessman Frank Lawerence. Lawrence first began his baseball administrative career when he became the owner of the 1913 Portsmouth Truckers. Lawerence owned each of the subsequent Portsmouth minor league teams through their tenure of Piedmont League play, ending in 1955.
The Truckers played the 1935 season as a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, beginning a lengthy partnership between Chicago and Portsmouth. Portsmouth hosted home games at Sewanee Stadium, which would remain as their primary home ballpark from 1935 thorough the 1941 season. In their first season of play in the Piedmont League, Portsmouth ended the season with a record of 67–72. The Truckers ended the regular season in fifth place, playing under manager Pip Koehler and finishing 9.0 games behind the first place Asheville Tourists in the final overall standings. Portsmouth did not qualify for the Piedmont League final playoff, as the league played a split season schedule in 1935. Asheville won the first half pennant, and third place Richmond won the second half pennant. Richmond then defeated Asheville in the final.
1936 to 1938 Piedmont League: Portsmouth Cubs In 1936, Portsmouth continued play as a Chicago Cubs affiliate in the six-team Class B level Piedmont League and became known by a new nickname. The Portsmouth "Cubs" ended the season in fifth place, as the league abandoned the split season schedule and adopted a four-team playoff following the completion of the regular season. Portsmouth became known as the "Cubs" and were known by the Cubs nickname for the next 17 seasons. With a final record of 66–77, Portsmouth was managed by returning manager Pip Koehler and finished 27.0 games behind the first place Norfolk Tars in the final regular season standings. With their fifth-place finish, Portsmouth did not qualify for the four-team playoffs, which was won by Norfolk.
The Piedmont league expanded to become an eight-team league in the 1937 season, adding the Rocky Mount Red Sox and Winston-Salem Twins teams to the Class B level league. Portsmouth qualified for the four-team Piedmont League playoffs for the first time. The Cubs ended the regular season in third place after finishing with a record of 75–62, while playing the under manager Elmer Yoter. Portsmouth finished 13.0 games behind the first place Asheville Tourists. In the playoffs, Portsmouth defeated Asheville 3 games to 2 in the first round. In the final, Portsmouth lost to the Norfolk Tars, who swept Portsmouth in three games in the best of five game series and won their second consecutive league title. Pitcher Harry Brecheen of Portsmouth led the Piedmont League with 185 strikeouts.
After having played with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1936 following his graduation from Washington College, outfielder Bill Nicholson played for Portsmouth in 1937. At age 22, Nicholson batted .310 with 20 home runs and 92 RBI and a .909 OPS in 121 games for Portsmouth after having played with Philadelphia during spring training. Nicholson became a five-time Major League All-Star after he then spent the 1937 and 1938 seasons in the minor leagues before joining the Chicago Cubs in 1939. Nicholson led the Chicago Cubs in home runs for eight consecutive seasons. In his 16-year major league career, Nicholson compiled a lifetime .268 batting average with 235 home runs and 948 RBI, while playing in 1,677 career major league games.
Infielder Eddie Stanky first played for the Portsmouth Cubs in 1937 and continued with the team through 1939. Stanky was a three-time All-Star in the major leagues as a player, playing 11 seasons and retiring with a lifetime .410 OBP in the major leagues. Following his major league playing career, Stanky managed the St. Louis Cardinals (1952–1955), Chicago White Sox (1966–1968) and Texas Rangers (1977).
Ace Parker was a Portsmouth, Virginia native who won 16 varsity letters at Woodrow Wilson High School participating in football, basketball, baseball, track and field and golf. Parker played his first season of professional baseball for his native Portsmouth team in 1937, at age 25. Parker would later become a player/manager for Portsmouth. Playing third base, the multi-sport athlete batted .243, hitting 4 home runs in 21 games for the Cubs. Parked made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1937, following his short stint with Portsmouth. Parker played in 38 games for the Athletics after his stint with Portsmouth. Following the baseball season, Parker played his first season in the National Football League in the fall of 1937. A future hall of fame football player, Parker was a quarterback, halfback and defensive back in football, He had been selected by the football Brooklyn Dodgers with the 13th pick in the 1937 NFL draft after having played collegiately at Duke.
The 1938 Piedmont League continued play as a Class B eight-team league and Portsmouth qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Portsmouth ended the regular season in fourth place with a 69–67 record. Playing the season under manager Dick Luckey, the Cubs finished 15.0 games behind the first place Norfolk Tars in the final regular season standings. Portsmouth lost in first round of the four-team playoffs to the eventual champion Charlotte Hornets 3 games to 2.
Pitcher Bud Tinning played briefly for Portsmouth in 1938 at age 32. Tinning had injured his arm in 1935 while pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals and was attempting a comeback from the injury. He played his final professional season in 1939.
1939 & 1940 Piedmont League: Philadelphia Phillies affiliate
The Portsmouth Cubs continued play in the eight-team Piedmont League in 1939, as the franchise became a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite the affiliate change, the Portsmouth team continued to be known as the "Cubs." Portsmouth ended the 1939 season with a final record of 66–71. The Cubs ended the regular season in a fifth-place tie with the Norfolk Tars, who had an identical record. Playing the season under manager Jim Keesey, the Cubs finished 19.5 games behind the first place Asheville Tourists. With their fifth-place finish, Portsmouth did not qualify for the four-team playoffs won by Asheville. Portsmouth's Floyd Yount won the Piedmont League batting title, hitting .350 while also leading the league with 175 total hits. Portsmouth Pitcher Ray Clark won 20 games to lead the Piedmont League.
After playing the 1938 season, with Philadelphia Athletics, Ace Parker returned to Portsmouth for the 1938 season. Playing in 116 games, Parker batted .303 with an .889 OPS hitting 16 home runs for the Cubs. In the fall of 1938, Parker also led the National Football League with 865 passing yards while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) team, finishing ahead of Sammy Baugh.
Portsmouth did not qualify for the 1940 Piedmont League playoffs after the conclusion of the eight-team league's regular season. Continuing as a Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliate, Portsmouth ended the season in seventh place. The Cubs finished with a final record of 59–78, while playing the season under managers Ray Brubaker (19–26) and Art McHenry (40–52). Ending the regular season 18.5 games behind the first place Richmond Colts, Portsmouth did not qualify for the four-team playoffs that were won by the fourth place Durham Bulls. Pitcher Max Wilson of Portsmouth won 20 games, to lead the Piedmont League. Following his season with Portsmouth, Wilson made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies near the end of the 1940 major league season.
1941 to 1947 Piedmont League World War II play: Chicago Cubs affiliate In 1941, Portsmouth continued Piedmont League play and returned to being a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Piedmont League continued play during the 1941 season as an eight-team Class B level league and Portsmouth finished as the league runner-up in the regular season. 75–65 second place manager Don Curry, 10.5 games behind the first place Durham Bulls. In the four-team playoffs, Portsmouth lost in first round to the Greensboro Red Sox 4 games to 2, as the Durham Bulls defeated Greensboro in the final to win the league championship. One season after winning 20 games, left-hander Max Wilson compiled a 19–9 record with a 2.39 ERA on the season for Portsmouth. Following the 1941 season Wilson's professional baseball career was interrupted by his service with the U.S. Navy during World War II, from 1941 to 1945.
At age 38, Baseball Hall of Fame member Tony Lazzeri became Portsmouth's player/manager in 1942. Lazzeri Came to Portsmouth after playing the 1941 season for the San Francisco Seals team of the Pacific Coast League. Lazzeri was working at a Defense Plant in San Francisco at the time of his hiring by Portsmouth on December 28, 1941. Lazzeri was the second baseman for the New York Yankees from 1926 to 1937, playing alongside Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez and Joe DiMaggio and winning five world series championships, while accumulating seven seasons with over 100 RBI. Lazzeri died in August 1946 at the age of 42 of a heart attack. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.