Baseball began in Roanoke with the Roanoke Magicians, who were members of the Virginia League and had three consecutive losing seasons. The Virginia League folded after the 1896 season. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jack Chesbro was a pitcher for Roanoke in 1896 in his second professional season. The Roanoke Tigers played in the reformed Virginia League. The Tigers captured Virginia League Championships in 1909 and 1912. In 1939, the Salem-Roanoke Friends again began play as members of the Virginia League. The team was named for Roanoke and neighboring Salem, Virginia. The Friends were affiliates of the Cleveland Indians and captured the 1941 Virginia League Championship. The Virginia League folded after the 1942 season. After the Virginia League folded, the Roanoke Red Sox began play as members of the Piedmont League in 1943, with Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Heinie Manush as player/Manager. The franchise would remain in the Piedmont League until 1953. The Red Sox were affiliated of the Boston Red Sox and changed their moniker to the Roanoke Ro Sox in 1951. The Roanoke Red Sox won the Piedmont League Championships in 1947 and 1950. On July 24, 1953, the franchise folded with a 39–53 record.
The ballparks
The original Roanoke Ballpark seated about 1,000. The ballpark was located along Jefferson Street, near the corner of today's Reserve Avenue and Jefferson Street. Salem Municipal Stadium in neighboring Salem, Virginia played host to some games of the Salem-Roanoke Friends. Built in 1932, the ballpark hosted the Salem Rebels beginning in 1955. The ballpark is still in use today, known as Salem Kiwanis Field. The ballpark hosts Roanoke College teams. The address is 731 Indiana Street, Salem, Virginia, 24153. From 1907–1914 and 1939–1953, Roanoke teams played at Maher Field. The Roanoke Tigers moved to Maher Field in 1908, as new grandstands had been erected by the Roanoke Fair Association. Maher Field hosted other events at the site. In 1914, the Detroit Tigers with Ty Cobb played the Boston Braves in an exhibition game at the Maher Field. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,000 and 7,500, with dimensions of 280–380–278. Today, grandstand is gone, but the playing field is still in use. Maher Field is located at 230 Reserve Avenue SW, Roanoke, Virginia 24016.
