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. Portsmouth changed their moniker to "Cubs" in 1936. Portsmouth remained a member of the Piedmont League until the league itself folded after the 1955 season. Earlier, Portsmouth had played in the Virginia League. The first team in Portsmouth was the Portsmouth Truckers in 1985. Portsmouth fielded teams in the Virginia League in 1895–1897, 1900–1901, 1912–1917 and 1919–1928. The Virginia League folded after the 1928 season. They were affiliates of the Chicago Cubs, the Philadelphia Phillies and again the Chicago Cubs. Later, Portsmouth was home of the Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides, who played in the Class ASouth Atlantic League and the Class A Carolina League. The franchise played one last season in Portsmouth when the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AAA International League moved there in 1969. The franchise relocated permanently to neighboring Norfolk, Virginia in 1970 to become the Tidewater Tides of the International League, evolving into today's Class AAA Norfolk Tides. Baseball Hall of Fame members Jimmie Foxx and Tony Lazzeri both managed and played briefly for Portsmouth. Hall of Famer and Negro League star Buck Leonard, played for Portsmouth in 1953 at age 45 and Hall of Famers Hack Wilson and Pie Traynor , also played for Portsmouth. Actor and 2-sport professional athlete Chuck Connors played for Portsmouth in 1942 and 1946. Portsmouth won the Piedmont League Championship in 1945 and regular season titles in 1943 and 1950.
The ballparks
Beginning in 1936, Portsmouth teams played at Lawrence Stadium, originally called Portsmouth Stadium, which was demolished in 1997. The stadium was named for Frank Lawrence, owner of the Portsmouth Cubs and Merrimacs. Previous teams had played exclusively at Sewanee Stadium, which was built in 1921. Piedmont still played a few games each season at Sewanee Stadium after Lawrence Stadium was constructed. Sewanee Stadium was located near the corner of Washington and Lincoln Streets in Portsmouth, Virginia. Initially, teams played at High Street Park. Frank Lawrence often leased leased Lawrence Stadium to Joe Lewis, a former Negro Leagues player. 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.
