Peninsula Pilots (minor league team)
The Peninsula Pilots were a Minor League Baseball team located in Hampton, Virginia. They began play in the Carolina League in 1963 as a Washington Senators farm team. The 1980 team was named the 74th best Minor League team of the 20th century in a list by two noted minor league historians, Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright. The team was known as the Peninsula Senators (1963), Grays (1964-1968), Astros (1969), Phillies (1970–71), Whips (1972-1973), Pennants (1974) and White Sox in 1986–1987 while affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, and as the Virginia Generals in 1988 when they operated as an unaffiliated co-op club. They regained their original name in 1989 and major league affiliation returned in 1990 with the Seattle Mariners (1990–1992). The team's existence ended after the 1992 season when they relocated to Wilmington, Delaware and became the Wilmington Blue Rocks.[1]
Notable Peninsula Alumni
Hall of Fame Alumni
- Johnny Bench (1966) Inducted, 1989
- Gary Carter (1973) Inducted, 2003
- Satchel Paige (1966) Inducted, 1971
Notable Peninsula Alumni
- Brett Boone (1990) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1991 AL RBI Leader
- Bernie Carbo (1966)
- Cesar Cedeno (1969) 4 x MLB All-Star
- Darren Daulton (1982) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1992 NL RBI Leader
- Bob Dernier (1979)
- Jim Essian (1971)
- Darrell Evans (1967) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1985 AL Home Run Leader
- Ken Forsch (1969) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Julio Franco (1980) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1991 AL Batting Title
- Craig Grebeck (1987)
- Cliff Johnson (1969)
- Mike LaValliere (1982)
- Skip Lockwood (1968)
- Hal McRae (1966) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1982 AL RBI Leader
- Mike Maddux (1983)
- Steve Mingori (1965-1966)
- Jeff Nelson (1990) MLB All-Star
- Scott Radinsky (1987)
- Steve Rogers (1972) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1977 NL ERA Leader
- Juan Samuel (1982) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Gene Tenace (1967) MLB All-Star
- Andre Thornton (1970) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Bob Walk (1977) MLB All-Star
Year-by-Year Record
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | 71-65 | 2nd | Cal Emery | none |
1977 | 71-67 | 2nd | Jim Snyder | League Champs |
1978 | 90-49 | 1st | Jim Snyder | Lost League Finals |
1979 | 68-68 | 3rd | Ron Clark | none |
1980 | 100-40 | 1st | Bill Dancy | League Champs |
1981 | 71-65 | 1st | Bill Dancy | Lost League Finals |
1982 | 90-47 | 1st | Bill Dancy | Lost in 1st round |
1983 | 58-80 | 7th | Tony Taylor | |
1984 | 73-67 | 3rd | Ron Clark | Lost in 1st round |
1985 | 67-68 | 3rd | Ron Clark | |
1986 | 60-74 | 5th | Bob Bailey / Duke Sims | |
1987 | 66-74 | 5th (tie) | Marv Foley | |
1988 | 41-99 | 8th | Joe Breeden | |
1989 | 44-89 | 8th | Jim Thrift | |
1990 | 57-83 | 7th | Jim Nettles | |
1991 | 46-93 | 8th | Steve Smith | |
1992 | 74-64 | 2nd | Marc Hill | League Champs |
See also
- Peninsula Pilots, an amateur baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league
References