Alexandria Dukes
Encyclopedia
The Alexandria Dukes were a baseball team in the minor-league Class A Carolina League
. The team was formed in 1978 by the then-floundering Carolina League, which had only four teams when the Dukes were formed.http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=60071&paper=60&cat=152 Their home park throughout their six-year existence was known as Municipal Stadium at Four Mile Run
Park--a ballfield adjacent to Cora Kelly Elementary School, located in Alexandria, Virginia
. Because the field was the property of the Alexandria City School District, alcohol was not served at any game. Seating in the park was limited to several hundred open-air, backless bleacher seats. Former notable veterans of the team include: Bobby Bonilla
, Joe Orsulak
, catcher Dave Valle
, and pitcher Tim Burke.
The Dukes' original Club President was Eugene Thomas, running the team along with Secretary-Treasurer Frank Higdon and General Manager Frank Mann. The radio team from WEEL-AM-1310 consisted of play-by-play man Nat Allbright
and color commentator Bob Diegrist. The team hosted 70 home games, all with 7:30 starts.
Alexandria was unable to secure a major-league affiliate for its inaugural season, forcing the team to operate as a co-op franchise. The Dukes finished in fourth place in both the first and second halves of the season, posting records of 29-37 and 29-38, respectively.
The Dukes' second season proved more successful than the first, as the team was picked up by the Seattle Mariners
as an affiliate. The team dropped the nickname "Dukes" in favor of being known as the Alexandria Mariners. Both halves of the season, the team finished in second place, winning more games than it lost, finishing 38-29 and 36-33. In 1979, third baseman Gary Pellant made baseball history on April 30 when he hit two grand slams in one inning, one batting right-handed and the other left-handed.
The 1980 campaign marked a return to a co-op management and a revival of the Dukes name--and a return to a sub-.500 winning percentage. Alexandria ended both portions of its year in last place in the newly formed Virginia Division. The Dukes first-half record was 28-42; the second-half, 26-44.
The following year, Alexandria was able to once again obtain major-league affiliation, signing a six-year player development contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Not surprisingly, the Dukes' alignment with a major league club resulted in an improvement, albeit a marginal one, as the team finished in second place and fourth place, posting records of 33-34 and 29-41 in the Northern Division, as the Carolina League replaced its Virginia and North Carolina Divisions with Northern and Southern ones.
1982 would prove the most successful season in the Dukes' six-year history. The first half of the season, Alexandria was victorious in nearly 70% of its games, winning the division with a 45-20 mark, securing a post-season appearance. The second half, the Dukes slipped to 35-34, finishing second, only one-half game behind their eventual first round playoff opponent, the Lynchburg Mets. After defeating the Mets in a one-game playoff, the Dukes swept the Durham Bulls
in three games, giving the team its only championship in its six-year history.
In their final season in Alexandria, the Dukes were not able to continue their winning ways, dropping to a first-half record of 35-32, followed by a 34-36 second half, both records good for third place. With the construction of the larger and more professional G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium
in nearby Woodbridge, Virginia
, the Dukes were reborn as the Prince William Pirates, who are now the Potomac Nationals
.
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. The team was formed in 1978 by the then-floundering Carolina League, which had only four teams when the Dukes were formed.http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=60071&paper=60&cat=152 Their home park throughout their six-year existence was known as Municipal Stadium at Four Mile Run
Four Mile Run
Four Mile Run is a stream in northern Virginia that starts near Interstate 66, at Gordon Avenue in Fairfax County and proceeds southeast through Falls Church to Arlington County in the U.S. state of Virginia...
Park--a ballfield adjacent to Cora Kelly Elementary School, located in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. Because the field was the property of the Alexandria City School District, alcohol was not served at any game. Seating in the park was limited to several hundred open-air, backless bleacher seats. Former notable veterans of the team include: Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Bonilla
Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:...
, Joe Orsulak
Joe Orsulak
Joseph Michael Richardson Orsulak III is a former Major League Baseball player from 1983 to 1997 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Florida Marlins, and Montreal Expos. Orsulak, who threw and batted lefthanded, played mostly in the outfield, although he played some games...
, catcher Dave Valle
Dave Valle
David Valle is an American former professional baseball player and current television and radio sports commentator. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers from to ....
, and pitcher Tim Burke.
The Dukes' original Club President was Eugene Thomas, running the team along with Secretary-Treasurer Frank Higdon and General Manager Frank Mann. The radio team from WEEL-AM-1310 consisted of play-by-play man Nat Allbright
Nat Allbright
Nathan Matthew "Nat" Allbright was an American sports announcer who specialized in doing play-by-play radio broadcasts of games that he had never seen, using information sent using Morse code from the stadiums where the games were played to provide listeners with vivid recreations of the actual...
and color commentator Bob Diegrist. The team hosted 70 home games, all with 7:30 starts.
Alexandria was unable to secure a major-league affiliate for its inaugural season, forcing the team to operate as a co-op franchise. The Dukes finished in fourth place in both the first and second halves of the season, posting records of 29-37 and 29-38, respectively.
The Dukes' second season proved more successful than the first, as the team was picked up by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
as an affiliate. The team dropped the nickname "Dukes" in favor of being known as the Alexandria Mariners. Both halves of the season, the team finished in second place, winning more games than it lost, finishing 38-29 and 36-33. In 1979, third baseman Gary Pellant made baseball history on April 30 when he hit two grand slams in one inning, one batting right-handed and the other left-handed.
The 1980 campaign marked a return to a co-op management and a revival of the Dukes name--and a return to a sub-.500 winning percentage. Alexandria ended both portions of its year in last place in the newly formed Virginia Division. The Dukes first-half record was 28-42; the second-half, 26-44.
The following year, Alexandria was able to once again obtain major-league affiliation, signing a six-year player development contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Not surprisingly, the Dukes' alignment with a major league club resulted in an improvement, albeit a marginal one, as the team finished in second place and fourth place, posting records of 33-34 and 29-41 in the Northern Division, as the Carolina League replaced its Virginia and North Carolina Divisions with Northern and Southern ones.
1982 would prove the most successful season in the Dukes' six-year history. The first half of the season, Alexandria was victorious in nearly 70% of its games, winning the division with a 45-20 mark, securing a post-season appearance. The second half, the Dukes slipped to 35-34, finishing second, only one-half game behind their eventual first round playoff opponent, the Lynchburg Mets. After defeating the Mets in a one-game playoff, the Dukes swept the Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
in three games, giving the team its only championship in its six-year history.
In their final season in Alexandria, the Dukes were not able to continue their winning ways, dropping to a first-half record of 35-32, followed by a 34-36 second half, both records good for third place. With the construction of the larger and more professional G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium
G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium
G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium is a stadium in the Coles Magisterial District of Prince William County, Virginia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Potomac Nationals minor league baseball team. It was built in 1984...
in nearby Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
, the Dukes were reborn as the Prince William Pirates, who are now the Potomac Nationals
Potomac Nationals
The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Nationals play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League, and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.-History:...
.