Norfolk Tars

• Location: Norfolk, VA
• League: Virginia League 1906-1918, 1921-1928; Eastern League 1931-1932; Piedmont League 1934-1955
• Affiliation: New York Yankees 1934-1955
• Ballpark: Myers Field (1940-1955)

The Norfolk Tars joined the Virginia League in 1906 and captured league championships in 1907 and 1914. The circuit folded on June 3, 1928 with the Tars in first place.

A second Norfolk Tars began play in the Eastern League in 1931 and finished in sixth place. The team returned the following year, but the league ceased operations on July 17, 1932.

Another Norfolk Tars joined the Piedmont League in 1934 and were instantly successful, capturing a title in their first season. They added several more championships over the years, with their 1952 team being considered one of the best minor league clubs of all-time. Led by manager Mayo Smith, that year's club went 96-36 in the regular season and featured future big leaguers Johnny Kucks, Woodie Held, and Dick Tettelbach. However, they were defeated by Richmond in the first round of the playoffs. Despite their success on the field, the Tars struggled at the gate, and the team folded on July 14, 1955.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1906	62-44	2nd	Win Clark	none
1907	67-48	1st	Robert Pender	none League Champs
1908	52-78	6th	Robert Pender	none
1909	72-49	2nd	Robert Pender / (in May 20) Win Clark	none
1910	59-56	3rd	Win Clark	none
1911	67-54	2nd	Charles Babb	none
1912	67-65	5th	Charles Shaffer	none
1913	51-83	6th	Charles Shaffer / George Kirscher / Ray Ryan	none
1914	93-48	1st	William "Buck" Pressley	none League Champs
1915	66-56	3rd	M.D. "Red" McMahon	none
1916	38-77	5th	M.D. "Nelly" McMahon / William "Buck" Pressley	none
1917	7-9	4th	Art Devlin	League disbanded May 15
1918	13-33	4th	Art Devlin	League ceased operations in June
1921	74-64	5th	Jack Warhop	Lost League Finals
1922	58-56	3rd	Win Clark	none
1923	62-60	4th	Win Clark	none
1924	69-66	4th	Win Clark	none
1925	72-60	3rd	Dave Robertson	none
1926	79-73	3rd	Dave Robertson	none
1927	58-72	5th	Dave Robertson	none
1928	26-13	1st	Zinn Beck	League disbanded June 3
1929	33-24/49-23	2nd/1st	Win Clark	none
1931	62-73	6th	Win Clark	none
1932	31-45	7th	Win Clark (26-41) / Harry Lake (5-4)	League disbanded July 17
1934	89-49	1st	Bill Skiff	League Champs
1935	67-70	4th	Bill Skiff
1936	93-50	1st	Johnny Neun	League Champs
1937	83-53	2nd	Johnny Neun	League Champs
1938	84-52	1st	Ray White	Lost in 1st round
1939	66-71	6th	Ray White
1940	66-71	6th	Ray White (45-57) / Phil Page (21-14)
1941	71-68	4th	Eddie Sawyer	Lost in 1st round
1942	57-79	7th	Buzz Boyle
1943	66-63	3rd	Thomas Kain	League Champs
1944	72-68	3rd	Garland Braxton	Lost in 1st round
1945	83-57	1st	Garland Braxton	Lost in 1st round
1946	71-69	4th	Thomas Kain	Lost in 1st round
1947	69-70	2nd	Buddy Hassett	Lost League Finals
1948	65-75	5th	Earl Bolyard
1949	68-72	5th	Earl Bolyard (27-36) / Frank Novosel (41-36)
1950	58-82	5th	Frank Novosel
1951	81-58	1st	Mayo Smith	League Champs
1952	96-36	1st	Mayo Smith	Lost in 1st round
1953	81-51	1st	Mickey Owen	League Champs
1954	87-53	1st	Skeeter Scalzi	Lost in 1st round
1955	37-34	--	Al Evans (11-14) / Alton Brown (2-1) / Bill Herring (24-19)	Team disbanded July 14

External Link

1952 Norfolk Tars