Fieldale Towlers

	Fieldale Towlers; 1934–1936; Fieldale, Virginia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Class D (1934–1936);
League	Bi-State League (1934–1936);
Major league affiliations
Team	Detroit Tigers (1936);
Team data
Name	Fieldale Virginians (1934); Fieldale Towlers (1935–1936);
Ballpark	Riverside Park (1934–1936)

The Fieldale Towlers was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Fieldale, Virginia. Fieldale teams played as members of the Class D Bi-State League from 1934 to 1936. The Fieldale Towlers were an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers (1936).

Pro Football Hall of Fame member Joe Guyon was player/manager of the 1936 Fieldale Towlers.

History

The Fieldale Virginians began minor league play as charter members of the 1934 Class D Bi-State League. The Virginians finished their first season with a record of 36–41, placing 3rd in the six–team Bi-State League regular season under Manager Luther Hodge. The 1934 standings were: Danville-Schoolfield Leafs 53–25, Martinsville Manufacturers 46–29, Fieldale Virginians 36–41, Mount Airy Graniteers 33–43, Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets 32–45 and Mayodan Senators 29–46. Fieldale played their home games at Riverside Park.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

The franchise was renamed as the Fieldale Towlers for the 1935 season. The moniker reflected the local industry of towel-producing textile mills. Continuing play in the Bi-State League, the Towlers ended the 1935 season with a record of 50–64 losses, finishing sixth in the eight team Bi-State League regular season. Dixie Parker served as the Manager in 1935.[8][9][10][11][5][12][13][14]

In their final season, the Fieldale Towlers became an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Fieldale finished the 1936 regular season with a record of 52–62, 7th in the Bi-State League standings. Joe Guyon, Red Smith and Jimmie Rimmer all served time as Manager in 1936. Joe Guyon later had a storied football career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Fieldale franchise folded from the Bi-State League following the 1936 season and was replaced by the South Boston Twins for the 1937 Bi-State League season. Fieldale has not hosted another minor league franchise.[8][9][3][11][5][15][16]

The ballpark

From 1934–1936 Fieldale teams played at Riverside Park. Riverside Park had a ballpark capacity of 1,500, with field dimensions (Left, Center, Right) of: 325–380–325 (1936). Today, the site is known as Fieldale Park and has a baseball field that is still in use. The address is 188 Field Avenue, Fieldale, Virginia, 24089.[17] [18]