Portsmouth, Virginia minor league baseball history

The Portsmouth Truckers began play in 1935 as members of the Piedmont League, joining the Asheville Tourists, Durham Bulls, Norfolk Tars, Richmond Colts and Rocky Mount Red Sox.

The franchise played one last season in Portsmouth when the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AAA level International League moved there in 1969.

[1][6][7][8] Baseball Hall of Fame members Jimmie Foxx (1944) and Tony Lazzeri (1942) both managed and played briefly for Portsmouth.

Lewis would organize exhibitions with Negro league teams such the Indianapolis Clowns, Kansas City Monarchs and the Homestead Grays, with Hall of Famer Josh Gibson.

Gibson once hit a home run at Lawrence Stadium that was said to have cleared the football press box and landed on Glasgow Street, traveling an estimated 585 feet.

Gibson's Grays teammate, Hall of Famer Buck Leonard, later played for Portsmouth.