Danville 97s

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The Danville 97s were a minor league baseball team based in Danville, Virginia, USA. They were a Class High-A team in the Carolina League and were affiliated with the Atlanta Braves for their lone 1998 season. Prior to becoming the 97s, the franchise played as the Durham Bulls from 1980 through 1997. The 97s played home games at the American Legion Field. Following the 1998 season, the franchise relocated to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and currently plays as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Previously, Danville has also been the home of various minor league teams known as the Danville Leafs, and it is currently home to the Danville Braves of the Advanced Rookie-Level Appalachian League.

[edit] History

After Durham was awarded a Triple A International League franchise, where the existing Bulls franchise would relocate would need to be determined. The two strongest contenders for relocated emerged as Myrtle Beach and Williamsburg, Virginia.[1] As a result of Williamsburg not having a facility ready for the 1998 season, Danville developed a plan to house the team temporarily while the stadium was completed.[1]

By October 1997, the league gave the Bulls permission to relocate to Myrtle Beach. However at the time of the team's relocation, Myrtle Beach would not have a new stadium complete in time for the 1998 season.[2] After an agreement was reached with Appalachian League, as the team would share the same stadium with the Danville Braves for a portion of the season, Danville was selected as the temporary home of the franchise.[1][3] The city was selected due to its previously developed plan as well as the Braves' organization's familiarity with the community.[1] For their lone season, the team was owned by the Capitol Broadcasting Company of Raleigh and managed by the Danville Braves, Inc.[3]

On October 21, 1997, the team name "Danville 97s" was announced. The name pays tribute to the victims of the infamous Wreck of the Old 97, which had the reputation as the fastest regularly scheduled train in the world at the time of its fatal wreck in 1903.[2] The team would finish last in the Carolina League during their lone season and complete their move to Myrtle Beach in time for the 1999 season.[4]

[edit] Season-by-season results

Year Name League Level Affiliation Record Manager Playoffs
1998 97s Carolina High-A Atlanta Braves 58-82 Paul Runge

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Uthman, Daniel. "Double play: Baseball will be twice as nice in Danville", The Roanoke Times, April 7, 1998, pp. E7. 
  2. ^ a b Staff Reports. "Danville picks name", The Roanoke Times, October 22, 1997, pp. B6. 
  3. ^ a b Staff Reports. "The Durham Bulls will be replaced for the 1998 Carolina League season by the Danville 97s", The Durham Herald-Sun, October 24, 1997, pp. B2. 
  4. ^ The Baseball Cube, Stone (1998). 1998 Danville 97s Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-04-05.