Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers

The Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers were a minor league baseball team based in Hampton, Virginia in partnership neighboring Newport News, Virginia. In 1896, the Petersburg Farmers of the Class B level Virginia League I relocated to Hampton during the season, where the team ended the season in fourth place. The Clamdiggers hosted home minor league games at Lincoln Park in Hampton.

Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass B (1896)
LeagueVirginia League I (1896)
Major league affiliations
TeamNone
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameHampton-Newport News Clamdiggers (1896)
BallparkLincoln Park (1896)

History

Minor league baseball began in Hampton in 1894, when the Newport News-Hampton Deck Hands joined the Virginia League during the season, placing fourth. The team did not return to league play in 1895.[1][2]

In 1896, the Virginia League began play as a six-team league on April 16, 1896, with the Lynchburg Tobacconists, Norfolk Braves, Petersburg Farmers, Portsmouth Browns, Richmond Bluebirds and Roanoke Magicians as league members to begin the season.[3][2]

On August 13, 1896, the Petersburg Farmers moved to Hampton, Virginia with a 32–60 record to become the "Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers" for the remainder of the season.[4] Some sources refer to the team as the shortened "Hampton Clamdiggers."[5]

The "Clamdiggers" nickname corresponds with the history of the seafood industry in the Hampton region.[6][7] With its location on Chesapeake Bay, the seafood available locally has been a major industry in Hamtpton, beginning after the conclusion of the Civil War.[8][9][10]

On August 20, 1896, Roanoke disbanded from the Virginia League, with Lynchburg disbanding two days later on August 20. This left the league with four remaining teams.[11]

The Clamdiggers finished the remainder of the season schedule in last place. After a 7–30 record while based in Hampton, the team ended the season with an overall record of 39–90 record, playing the season under managers Jimmie Breen, George Kelly and Charles Boyer.[4] The Clamdiggers ended the season 48.0 games behind first place Richmond.[11]

The Virginia League folded after the 1896 season.[1][12] Hampton next hosted the 1900 Hampton Crabs, who played as members of the six–team, Class D level Virginia League, joined in league play by the Newport based Newport News Shipbuilders.[13][1]

The ballpark

The Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers hosted 1896 home games at Lincoln Park.[14]

In the era, the 1895 and 1896 Philadelphia Phillies held spring training at the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Hampton. The Phillies utilized the Hampton Soldiers' Home athletic grounds, which were located 300 yards from the team hotel on the property.[15][16]

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueBallparks
18941Newport News-Hampton Deck HandsClass BVirginia League ILincoln Park
18961Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers

Year–by–year record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
189639–904thJimmie Breen / George Kelly
Charles Boyer		Petersburg (32–60) moved to Hampton August 13

Notable alumni

See also

Petersburg Farmers players
Hampton Clamdiggers players

References
  1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
  2. "1896 Virginia League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "1896 Virginia State League (VSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1896 Petersburg Farmers/Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "1896 Petersburg Farmers/Hampton Clamdiggers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "Becoming Hampton: A seafood industry". Daily Press.
  7. "Virginia still tops in hard clam, oyster farming". Daily Press.
  8. "Becoming Hampton: A seafood industry". Daily Press.
  9. "Seafood Industry - Seafood Industry | Hampton History Museum". hampton.pastperfectonline.com.
  10. Woods, Shannon (May 9, 2020). "Every day is Seafood Saturday in Hampton". Visit Hampton, VA.
  11. "1896 Virginia State League (VSL) Minor League Baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  12. "1896 Petersburg Farmers/Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1900 Hampton Crabs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. "Lincoln Park in Newport News, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "Phillies Begin Practice To-Day". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. March 22, 1895. p. 6.
  16. "Southern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers , 100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, Hampton, VA". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
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