1901 Virginia-North Carolina League

Professional baseball spilled into North Carolina in 1901 popping up at Raleigh, and, curiously, the southern port town of Wilmington. These two teams combined with Portsmouth, VA, to make up the southern component balancing three old Virginia League staples: Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk.

But failure once again sheathed this effort: despite a rumble through June 23rd. That day Newport News and Portsmouth both transferred operations to the North Carolina towns of Charlotte and Tarboro, respectively. Tarboro was an even more curious choice than Wilmington. ItÕs a hamlet halfway between Raleigh and Albermarle Sound.

The league commenced a split season June 23 as well, but that came to an inglorious end July 9th when the other two Virginia towns called it a season. The league drew up a four-team schedule and removed the won-loss records of Norfolk and Richmond from all teams before collapsing for good August 18. Norfolk won the first season, 34-22, while Raleigh won the second season 22-12, a four game bulge over Tarboro. These cities would re-organize again in 1905.