The Wytheville Cubs were a minor league baseball team located in Wytheville, Virginia, between 1948 and 1989 that played under several monikers. An affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1985 to 1989, the Wytheville Cubs were members of the Rookie level Appalachian League. Previous Wytheville teams played as members of the Blue Ridge League (1948–1949) and Appalachian League (1953–1955, 1957–1965, 1967, 1969, 1971–1973).

Wytheville Cubs
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class D 1948-1962
  • Rookie (1963-65, 1967, 1969, 1971-1973, 1985-1989)
DivisionNorth Division (1985-1989)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (1)1960
Team data
Previous names
  • Wytheville Cubs (1985-1989)
  • Wytheville Braves (1971-1973)
  • Wytheville Senators (1960, 1965, 1969)
  • Wytheville Reds (1967)
  • Wytheville A's (1964)
  • Wytheville Twins (1961-1963)
  • Wytheville Cardinals (1957-1959)
  • Wytheville Statesman (1949, 1953-1955)
  • Wytheville Pioneers (1948)

History

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The Wytheville Cubs finished with their best record in their first year, when they went 39–31, finishing third in the 1985 Appalachian League.

Previously, Wytheville was home of the Wytheville Braves (1971-1973), Wytheville Senators (1960, 1965, 1969), Wytheville Reds (1967), Wytheville A's (1964), Wytheville Twins (1961-1963), Wytheville Cardinals (1957-1959), Wytheville Statesman (1949, 1953–1955) and Wytheville Pioneers (1948). Wytheville was an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1985–1989), Atlanta Braves (1971-1973), Washington Senators II (1965, 1969), Cincinnati Reds (1967), Kansas City A's (1964), Minnesota Twins (1961-1963), Washington Senators I (1960), St. Louis Cardinals (1957-1959), Baltimore Orioles (1954), and St. Louis Browns (1953).[1]

Alumni include Jerome Walton, Tony Oliva, Reggie Smith, Joe Rudi, and Jeff Burroughs.

After the 1989 season, the Wytheville Cubs moved to Huntington, West Virginia to become the Huntington Cubs.

The 1960 Wytheville Senators captured the Appalachian League Championship.

The ballpark

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Wytheville teams played at Withers Field. Constructed in 1948, the ballpark hosted all Wytheville minor league teams during its existence. The ballpark was repurposed in 1993 to become a public park, renamed Withers Park. Its grandstand and brick exterior are still in existence today within the park and a plaque recognizes the home plate location. The address is 300 North 4th Street, Wytheville, Virginia, 24382.[2][3]

Year-by-year Cubs record

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Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1985 39-31 3rd Ramon Conde None
1986 22-46 7th Tony Franklin None
1987 32-38 5th Brad Mills None
1988 28-40 9th Steve Roadcap None
1989 34-35 4th Steve Roadcap None

Notable franchise alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Wytheville, Virginia Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "Withers Field - Wytheville, VA". www.baseballpilgrimages.com.
  3. ^ "Withers Field - Wytheville, Virginia". ballparkreviews.com.
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