Virginia Mountain League
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The Virginia Mountain League was a minor league baseball organization active in central western Virginia in 1914. The Class D level league folded during its only season of play.
| Classification | Class D (1914) |
|---|---|
| Sport | Minor League Baseball |
| First season | 1914 |
| Folded | July 25, 1914 |
| President | B.F. Donovan (1914) |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Most titles | 1 Covington Papermakers Clifton Forge Railroaders* |
| Related competitions | Virginia League |
History
On March 3, 1914, at a meeting in Lynchburg, Virginia, discussions began for the formulation of a six–team, Class D level baseball league. Teams were tentatively slated to be based in Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville, Clifton Forge, Staunton and Covington, with a salary limit of $800 (per team) monthly. Lynchburg was hesitant to commit because of a previous $700 lien on its territory, a result of a previous team in the Virginia League.[1]
The league was then formed at a March 12, 1914, meeting, without Danville and Lynchburg franchises. B.F. Donovan, of Clifton Forge, was elected league president. D. R. Ellis, of Covington, was elected as vice-president.[1]
The Virginia Mountain League had four teams: the Charlottesville Tuckahoes, the Clifton Forge, Virginia based Clifton Forge Railroaders, the Covington, Virginia based Covington Papermakers; the Staunton, Virginia based Staunton Lunatics and the Harrisonburg, Virginia hosted Harrisonburg Lunatics, The Staunton team later moved to Harrisonburg in July 1914.[2] The league disbanded on July 25, 1914, with Covington in first place with a 37–26 record, 5.0 games ahead of second place Charlottesville.[3]
The Virginia Mountain League was reported to have folded due to poor attendance and the onset of World War I amid "rumors of fixed games."[4][5]
Shortly after the Virginia Mountain League folded, there was an unsuccessful attempt, headed by Clifton Forge manager Buck Hooker, in August 1914, to revive the league and the teams.[6]
However, following the collapse of the league, the Covington and Clifton Forge teams elected to play a 10–game championship series. The Railroaders captured the unofficial league “title,” winning 7 of the 10 games. After winning a final doubleheader against Covington by scores of 5–4 and 5–3, a farewell reception and banquet was held for the players at Clifton Forge.[1]
Cities represented
1914 Virginia Mountain League standings
| Team standings | W | L | PCT | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington Papermakers | 37 | 26 | .587 | – | Frank Moore / Nick Carter |
| Charlottesville Tuckahoes | 31 | 30 | .508 | 5.0 | Walter Steinhause |
| Clifton Forge Railroaders | 28 | 34 | .452 | 8.5 | Clarence Irwin / Harvey Bailey Edward Eschback / Buck Hooker |
| Staunton Lunatics / Harrisonburg Lunatics | 26 | 32 | .448 | 8.5 | Davey Crockett / Pat Krebs |
Staunton (15–22) moved to Harrisonburg July 21.[3]
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