Peninsula Whips

• Location: Hampton, VA
• League: International League (1972-1973)
• Affiliation: Montreal Expos
• Ballpark: Peninsula War Memorial Stadium

Team History

The Peninsula Whips played just two seasons (1972 and 1973). The team played in the International League as an affiliate of the Montreal Expos. They were based in Hampton, Virginia and also represented Newport News, VA - they were the first AAA team from Hampton or Newport News. For their entire existence, the club was managed by Bill Adair. They kept the name Whips from their former incarnation as the Winnipeg Whips.

Their first year, they were 56-88, last in the IL. 48,681 fans came out, almost half of any other team, showing that the region was more of a class A region as it had been before. The club had no All-Stars. OF Pepe Mangual (.261/~.354/.429, 16 HR) led the league in runs (91), steals (29) and times caught stealing (10). They were outscored 637-523, allowing the most runs in the IL. Don Koonce (8-10, 2.97) was their top pitcher while future MLB star Steve Rogers was just 2-6 with a 4.08 ERA.

In their second season, the Whips improved to 72-74, third in the 4-team National Division. Attendance remained last (45,356) but the run differential improved (547-570). 2B Jim Cox (.267/~.354/.388), C Barry Foote (.262/~.330/.441, 19 HR) and P Craig Caskey (11-7, 3.95) made the All-Star team. John Montague (15-9, 3.11) was fourth in the league in ERA and led in wins; he tied for the most complete games (16). Hall-of-Fame C Gary Carter made his AAA debut, hitting .280/~.308/.360 in 8 games.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1972	56-88	8th	Bill Adair
1973	72-74	4th	Bill Adair

Sources: 1973-74 Baseball Guides