The ballclub was owned by Norton Baseball Club Inc.[3]
The 1951 Braves finished their first season of play with a 53–72 record, placing sixth in the regular season, playing under managers Bob Bowman, George Sifft and George Motto. Norton finished 39.5 games behind the first place Hazard Bombers in the regular season standings.[4] The Braves scored 812 runs and allowed 1002 runs on the season. Sergio Aguilar had a .363 average and Jack Estes led Norton with 15 wins and a 5.08 ERA. After the 1951 season, both the Jenkins Cavaliers and Pennington Gap Miners franchises folded and the Mountain States League reduced to six teams in 1952.[5][1][6][7]
The Norton Braves continued play in the 1952 Mountain States League. Norton ended the 1952 season with a record of 30–88, placing sixth and last in the Mountain States League. Norton finished 56.5 games behind the first place Hazard Bombers in the regular season standings.[4] Under managers George Motto, William Fitchko and Mark Muslin, the Braves scored 572 runs and surrendered 964 runs. Billy Williams led the team with a .272 average, while James Smiley and Albert Orlando led Norton with 7 wins each and Albert Orlando had a 4.12 earned run average.[8][9][10]
In their final season of play, the 1953 Norton Braves placed fifth in the standings. The Braves ended the Mountain States League regular season with a record of 63–63, playing the season under manager Walt Dixon. The Braves finished 16.0 games behind the first place Maryville-Alcoa Twins.[4] Norton scored 899 runs and surrendered 944 runs, most in the league. Player/manager Walt Dixon led Norton hitters with a .415 average and led the league with both 37 home runs and 197 hits. Eric Doughtie led Norton with 17 wins, while Albert Turner recorded a 4.44 ERA. Norton did not qualify for the playoffs.[11][12][13]
The Norton Braves franchise folded after the 1953 season.[4] Norton, Virginia has not hosted another minor league team.[14]
The ballparkedit
The Norton Braves teams played home games at Municipal Stadium. In 1953, the Norton Baseball Club, Inc. leased Municipal Stadium from the City of Norton for a fee of $15.00 per game, with $5.00 of the amount applied to a delinquent $410.00 balance. The ballpark was lighted and has a seating capacity of 1,200. The ballpark no longer exists.[15][16][3]
^"1953 Mountain States League". Baseball-Reference.com.
^"Norton, Virginia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
^"Municipal Stadium in Norton, VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
^"Summary of Resources: Southwest Virginia, Lee-Scott-Wise Counties". Tennessee Valley Authority. July 5, 1964 – via Google Books.
External linksedit
Norton - Baseball Reference
April 11, 2024
norton, braves, were, minor, league, baseball, team, based, norton, virginia, from, 1951, 1953, braves, played, exclusively, members, class, level, mountain, states, league, norton, hosted, home, minor, league, games, municipal, stadium, 1951, 1953norton, virg. The Norton Braves were a minor league baseball team based in Norton Virginia From 1951 to 1953 the Braves played exclusively as members of the Class D level Mountain States League Norton hosted home minor league games at Municipal Stadium Norton Braves1951 1953Norton VirginiaMinor league affiliationsClassClass D 1951 1953 LeagueMountain States League 1951 1953 Major league affiliationsTeamNoneMinor league titlesLeague titles 0 NoneWild card berths 0 NoneTeam dataNameNorton Braves 1951 1953 BallparkMunicipal Stadium 1951 1953 Contents 1 History 2 The ballpark 3 Timeline 4 Year by year records 5 Notable alumni 5 1 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editMinor league baseball began in Norton Virginia when the 1951 Norton Braves began play as members of the eight team Class D level Mountain States League The Big Stone Gap Rebels Harlan Smokies Hazard Bombers Jenkins Cavaliers Middlesboro Athletics Morristown Red Sox and Pennington Gap Miners joined the Braves in beginning league play on April 29 1951 1 2 The ballclub was owned by Norton Baseball Club Inc 3 The 1951 Braves finished their first season of play with a 53 72 record placing sixth in the regular season playing under managers Bob Bowman George Sifft and George Motto Norton finished 39 5 games behind the first place Hazard Bombers in the regular season standings 4 The Braves scored 812 runs and allowed 1002 runs on the season Sergio Aguilar had a 363 average and Jack Estes led Norton with 15 wins and a 5 08 ERA After the 1951 season both the Jenkins Cavaliers and Pennington Gap Miners franchises folded and the Mountain States League reduced to six teams in 1952 5 1 6 7 The Norton Braves continued play in the 1952 Mountain States League Norton ended the 1952 season with a record of 30 88 placing sixth and last in the Mountain States League Norton finished 56 5 games behind the first place Hazard Bombers in the regular season standings 4 Under managers George Motto William Fitchko and Mark Muslin the Braves scored 572 runs and surrendered 964 runs Billy Williams led the team with a 272 average while James Smiley and Albert Orlando led Norton with 7 wins each and Albert Orlando had a 4 12 earned run average 8 9 10 In their final season of play the 1953 Norton Braves placed fifth in the standings The Braves ended the Mountain States League regular season with a record of 63 63 playing the season under manager Walt Dixon The Braves finished 16 0 games behind the first place Maryville Alcoa Twins 4 Norton scored 899 runs and surrendered 944 runs most in the league Player manager Walt Dixon led Norton hitters with a 415 average and led the league with both 37 home runs and 197 hits Eric Doughtie led Norton with 17 wins while Albert Turner recorded a 4 44 ERA Norton did not qualify for the playoffs 11 12 13 The Norton Braves franchise folded after the 1953 season 4 Norton Virginia has not hosted another minor league team 14 The ballpark editThe Norton Braves teams played home games at Municipal Stadium In 1953 the Norton Baseball Club Inc leased Municipal Stadium from the City of Norton for a fee of 15 00 per game with 5 00 of the amount applied to a delinquent 410 00 balance The ballpark was lighted and has a seating capacity of 1 200 The ballpark no longer exists 15 16 3 Timeline editYear s Yrs Team Level League Ballpark1951 1953 3 Norton Braves Class D Mountain States League Municipal StadiumYear by year records editYear Record Finish Manager Attendance Playoffs Notes1951 53 72 6th Bob Bowman George Sifft George Motto 12 314 Did not qualify1952 30 88 6th George Motto William Fitchko Mark Muslin 10 029 Did not qualify1953 63 63 5th Walt Dixon 21 873 Did not qualify 4 Notable alumni editWalt Dixon 1953 MGR Billy Williams 1952 1953 See also edit Norton Braves playersReferences edit a b 1951 Mountain States League Baseball Reference com 1951 Mountain States League MSL Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew com www statscrew com a b Town Council Meeting Minutes Norton Virginia Archive Center 2 5 March 1953 a b c d e Johnson Lloyd Wolff Miles eds 2007 The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball Third ed Baseball America ISBN 978 1932391176 1951 Mountain States League MSL Standings on StatsCrew com www statscrew com 1951 Norton Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew com www statscrew com 1951 Norton Braves Statistics Baseball Reference com 1952 Norton Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew com www statscrew com 1952 Norton Braves Statistics Baseball Reference com 1952 Mountain States League Baseball Reference com 1953 Norton Braves minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew com www statscrew com 1953 Norton Braves Statistics Baseball Reference com 1953 Mountain States League Baseball Reference com Norton Virginia Encyclopedia Baseball Reference com Municipal Stadium in Norton VA minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew com www statscrew com Summary of Resources Southwest Virginia Lee Scott Wise Counties Tennessee Valley Authority July 5 1964 via Google Books External links editNorton Baseball Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norton Braves amp oldid 1158210357, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
