Roanoke teams were a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1940 and Boston Red Sox from 1943 to 1953.
Baseball Hall of Fame members Jack Chesbro (1896) and Heinie Manush (1943) played for Roanoke.
[1] Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jack Chesbro was a pitcher for Roanoke in 1896 in his second professional season.
The Friends were affiliates of the Cleveland Indians (1940) and captured the 1941 Virginia League Championship.
In 1914, the Detroit Tigers with Ty Cobb played the Boston Braves in an exhibition game at the Maher Field.
Maher Field is located at 230 Reserve Avenue SW, Roanoke, Virginia.