The Newport News Dodgers were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

affiliate of the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays. In 1884, it became a member of the American Association as the Brooklyn Atlantics before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brook ...

from 1944 to 1955. They played in the Piedmont League and were based in

Newport News, Virginia Newport News () is an Independent city (United States), independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the List of c ...

. The teams played at Peninsula War Memorial Stadium on Pembroke Avenue in

Hampton, Virginia Hampton is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 137,148 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, seve ...

from 1948 to 1955. The stadium was built by

president

Branch Rickey Wesley Branch Rickey (December 20, 1881 – December 9, 1965) was an American baseball player and sports executive. Rickey was instrumental in breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing black player Jackie Robinson. He also creat ...

. Previously, Newport News teams played at Builders' Park on Warwick Road (1944–1947) and prior to that at a ballpark on Wickham Avenue on the East End of Newport News. The Piedmont League folded after the 1955 season, ending Newport News' franchise. Newport News won Piedmont League championships in 1946, 1948, and 1954.

Notable Newport News alumni

Gil Hodges Gilbert Raymond Hodges (born Hodge; April 4, 1924 – April 2, 1972) was an American first baseman and manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his 18-year career for the History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Broo ...

(1946) inducted

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...

, 2022 *

Duke Snider Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider (September 19, 1926 – February 27, 2011), nicknamed "the Duke of Flatbush", was an American professional baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, he spent most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career playing f ...

(1944) inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1980 *

Chuck Connors Kevin Joseph "Chuck" Connors (April 10, 1921 – November 10, 1992) was an American actor and professional basketball and baseball player. He is one of only 13 athletes in the history of American professional sports to have played in both Majo ...

(1946) actor * Roger Craig (1951, 1954) * Billy Hunter (1949)

MLB All-Star The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the all-stars from the American League (AL) and National ...

Clem Labine Clement Walter Labine (August 6, 1926 – March 2, 2007) was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) best known for his years with the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 1950 to 1960. As a key member of the Dod ...

(1944, 1947) two-time MLB All-Star *

Bob Lillis Robert Perry Lillis (born June 2, 1930) is an American former infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lillis was an original member of the expansion Houston Colt .45s who remained with the club (renamed the Astro ...

(1951, 1953) * Danny Ozark (1948) *

Johnny Podres John Joseph Podres (September 30, 1932 – January 13, 2008) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in the majors from 1953 to 1969, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. Podres ...

(1951) four-time MLB All-Star; 1955 World Series Most Valuable Player; 1956 NL earned run average leader * Ed Roebuck (1950) * Larry Sherry (1955) 1959 World Series Most Valuable Player * Norm Sherry (1951, 1954) * Stan Williams (1955) two-time MLB All-Star

References

External links

Baseball ReferenceArticle on the ballpark and team
Defunct minor league baseball teams Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates Defunct baseball teams in Virginia 1944 establishments in Virginia 1955 disestablishments in Virginia Baseball teams established in 1944 Baseball teams disestablished in 1955 Sports in Newport News, Virginia Piedmont League teams {{Virginia-baseball-team-stub