Tombstone
Born: 1943
Folded (Announced): July 20, 1953
Folded (Final Game): July 24, 1953
First Game:
Last Game:
Piedmont League Champions: 1947 & 1950
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 1943-1948: Stanley Radke
- 1948-1952: Clarke Wray, et al.
- 1952-1953: Leroy Schneider, et al.
Major League Affiliation: Boston Red Sox
Background
The Roanoke Red Sox were a Class B farm of the Boston Red Sox that competed in the Piedmont League, a minor league circuit made up mostly of teams from Virginia and the Carolinas. The team was sometimes referred to as the “Ro-Sox” in press accounts of the early 1950’s.
Roanoke won Piedmont League crowns in 1947 and 1950.
Notable future Major Leaguers included:
- Pitcher Hal Brown went 19-8 for Roanoke’s 1947 Piedmont League championship team. He later won 85 games over 14-year Major League career.
- Outfielder Charlie Maxwell (Roanoke ’47-’49) won the Piedmont League triple crown in 1949 and went on to earn two American League All-Star appearances with Detroit in 1956 and 1957.
Demise & Aftermath
The Ro-Sox folded abruptly midway through the 1953 season on July 20th, 1953, citing financial losses. The team played a few more games after the announcement, making their final appearance on July 24th, 1953.
Professional baseball has never returned to Roanoke proper since the Red Sox folded up in 1953. But Roanoke’s loss was nearby Salem, Virginia’s gain. Salem got its first team, the Salem Rebels, in 1955 and has been a stable hub of minor league ball ever since.
Links
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3 Responses
Edde Popowski was player-manager of the Ro-Sox in 1946. On “Eddie Popowski Day” he received a cheque for $1200 from local fans.
Do you have any information on the history of sandlot baseball in Roanoke, Virginia? I am particularly interested in the late 1920’s through early 30’s … team names, stats, players, etc.
Thanks.
No … I’m not sure I understand the question though (or if you are kidding). I associate sandlot baseball which informal children’s games – are you suggesting there was something more organized than that?
Drew