The Norfolk Jewels were a minor league baseball team based in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1897 and 1898, the Norfolk Jewels played as members of the Atlantic League in both seasons. The Jewels were immediately preceded by the 1896 Norfolk Braves of the Virginia League.
| Norfolk Jewels | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Class A (1897) Class B (1898) |
| League | Atlantic League (1897–1898) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | None |
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles (0) | None |
| Team data | |
| Name | Norfolk Jewels (1897–1898) |
| Ballpark | Bain Field* (1897–1898) |
History
editThe 1896 Norfolk Braves played as a member of the Virginia League, preceding the Jewels in minor league play.[1]
The 1987 Norfolk Jewels began play as members of the eight–team, Class A level, Atlantic League.[2] Norfolk joined the Hartford Bluebirds, Lancaster Maroons, Newark Colts, Paterson Silk Weavers, Philadelphia Athletics, Reading Coal Heavers and Richmond Bluebirds in beginning league play on April 26, 1897.[3]
The Norfolk Jewels placed 5th in the 1897 Atlantic League standings.[4] The Jewels ended the season with a record of 66–72, playing the season under managers Charlie Schafer and Billy Smith.[5] Norfolk finished 25.5 games behind the 1st place Lancaster Maroons in the final standings. No playoffs were held.[6]
In their final season of Atlantic League play, the Jewels finished last.[7] Norfolk ended the 1898 with a record of 47–79 to finish in 8th place.[8][9] Led by manager Charley Jewell, the Jewels finished 35.5 games behind the 1st place Richmond Bluebirds.[6]
The Jewels were succeeded in Norfolk by the 1900 Norfolk Phenoms, who resumed minor league play as members of the Virginia League.[10]
The ballpark
editThe name of the home ballpark of the 1897 and 1898 Norfolk Jewels is not directly referenced. Bain Field in Norfolk, was originally called "League Park." The date League Park was constructed is unknown, but newspaper coverage for baseball games there started as early as 1894.[11][12][13]
Timeline
edit| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 1 | Norfolk Jewels | Class B | Atlantic League |
| 1898 | 1 | Class A |
Year–by–year records
edit| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 66–72 | 5th | Charlie Schafer / Billy Smith | No playoffs held |
| 1898 | 47–79 | 8th | Charley Jewell | No playoffs held |
Notable alumni
edit- Tun Berger (1898)
- Stub Brown (1897)
- Fritz Clausen (1897)
- Henry Cote (1897)
- Brownie Foreman (1898)
- George Fox (1898)
- Bill George (1898)
- John Gilroy (1897)
- Scott Hardesty (1898)
- Mike Heydon (1897)
- Bert Inks (1898)
- Billy Klusman (1898)
- Jimmy Knowles (1897)
- Dan Leahy (1897)
- Tom Maher (1898)
- Lefty Marr (1898)
- Doc Newton (1897)
- Doc Sechrist (1897)
- Harry Staley (1898)
- Farmer Steelman (1898)
- Pop Tate (1897)
- Jack Wentz (1897–1898)
- Bobby Wheelock (1898–1898)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "1896 Norfolk Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1897 Atlantic League (AL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1897 Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1897 Norfolk Jewels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1897 Norfolk Jewels minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1898 Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1898 Norfolk Jewels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "1898 Norfolk Jewels minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1900 Norfolk Phenoms Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Baseball", The Norfolk Landmark, Norfolk, Virginia, volume XXXVIII, number 137, June 9, 1894, page 1.
- ^ "The Second Waterloo: For the Hill City Boys at Hill Park.", Norfolk Virginian, Weekly Virginian and Carolinian, Norfolk, Virginia, volume LVII, number 137, April 26, 1894, page 3.
- ^ "League Park, Norfolk, VA". www.projectballpark.org.