Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a professional minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.
Norfolk Tides Founded in 1961 Norfolk, Virginia | |||||
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Minor league affiliations | |||||
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Class | Triple-A (1969–present) | ||||
Previous classes | Class A (1961–1968) | ||||
League | International League (1969–present) | ||||
Division | South Division | ||||
Previous leagues |
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Major league affiliations | |||||
Team | Baltimore Orioles (2007–present) | ||||
Previous teams |
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Minor league titles | |||||
Class titles (1) | 1983 | ||||
League titles (5) |
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Division titles (8) |
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Team data | |||||
Name | Norfolk Tides (1993–present) | ||||
Previous names | Tidewater Tides (1963–1992)
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Colors | Green, black, orange, gray, sea foam | ||||
Ballpark | Harbor Park (1993–present) | ||||
Previous parks |
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Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Maryland Baseball Holding, LLC | ||||
General Manager | Joe Gregory | ||||
Manager | Gary Kendall |
Franchise history
The franchise began its history in the South Atlantic League in 1961 as the Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides, playing at Lawrence Stadium in Portsmouth. The main newspaper of South Hampton Roads, The Virginian-Pilot, ran a contest to determine the team name. Although the chosen name was "Mariners", the Pilot′s editor overruled the contest, deciding he liked the alliteration of "Tidewater Tides."
The Tides spent their first year as an "independent" team with no direct major-league affiliation, but became a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate the following season. However, the South Atlantic League decided to pull out of Virginia in 1963, threatening the future of minor-league baseball in the Hampton Roads area. A local group was able to convince the Carolina League to expand by two teams, one of them being the Tides.
![](../I/Rip_Tide_standing.jpg.webp)
In 1969, the New York Mets moved their Triple-A International League affiliate, then known as the Jacksonville Suns, from Jacksonville, Florida to Portsmouth. The team took up the Tides name and the previous owners continued to run the team under the Mets' ownership. Their first year in Triple-A ended with a pennant. At the same time, the Mets and the city of Norfolk cooperated to build the team's next home, Met Park.
The Tides won the Governors' Cup, the International League championship, in 1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, and 1985. They also had the league's best regular-season record in 1987 but lost in the playoffs. In 1983, they won the Triple-A World Series. In 1992, ground was broken on the club's current home of Harbor Park, and the Tides moved into the new facility in 1993. This period was a time of change in several other ways. First, in 1992, the Mets sold the franchise to a group led by Tampa businessman Ken Young. At the time the Tides moved into Harbor Park, the team also replaced the "Tidewater" in its name with that of Norfolk, partly for marketing reasons and partly for political considerations, as the city of Norfolk had facilitated the financing and building of Harbor Park. Also in 1993, The Tides introduced their mascot Rip Tide.
The Mets and Tides ended their affiliation after the 2006 season. At the time, their 38-year association was the second longest in Triple-A, behind the Atlanta–Richmond partnership, which dated to 1966 (The Braves have since moved the Richmond club to Gwinnett County). The Baltimore Orioles signed a Player Development Contract with the Tides on September 25, 2006.[1] Maryland Baseball Holding LLC, which owns the Tides,[2] also owns two other Orioles-affiliated minor-league clubs, the Bowie Baysox and the Frederick Keys.[3]
Titles
![](../I/Tides_vs_Clippers_at_Harbor_Park_at_night.jpg.webp)
The Tides have won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the International League, five times, and played in the championship series nine times.
- 1971 – Lost to Rochester
- 1972 – Defeated Louisville
- 1975 – Defeated Syracuse
- 1982 – Defeated Rochester
- 1983 – Defeated Richmond
- 1985 – Defeated Columbus
- 1987 – Lost to Columbus
- 1988 – Lost to Rochester
- 1995 – Lost to Ottawa
In 1983, the Tides also won the Triple-A World Series.
Seasons
Regular season champions |
League champions |
Division champions |
Wild Card berth |
Season | League | Division | Affiliate | Manager | Regular season | Postseason | Attendance | ||||
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Division finish |
W | L | Win% | GB | |||||||
Tidewater Tides | |||||||||||
1969 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Clyde McCullough | 1st | 76 | 59 | .563 | – | Lost first round vs. Columbus, 1–3 | n/a |
1970 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Chuck Hiller | 4th | 74 | 66 | .529 | 10.0 | Lost first round vs. Syracuse, 0–3 | n/a |
1971 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Hank Bauer | 2nd | 79 | 61 | .564 | 7.0 | Won First Round vs. Charleston, 3–0 Lost Governors' Cup Final vs. Rochester, 2–3 |
n/a |
1972 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Hank Bauer | 3rd | 76 | 68 | .545 | 2.5 | Won First Round vs. Charleston, 2–1 Won Governors' Cup Final vs. Louisville, 3–2 |
n/a |
1973 | IL | National | New York (NL) | Johnny Antonelli | 2nd | 75 | 70 | .493 | 10.0 | Lost First Round vs. Pawtucket, 2–3 | n/a |
1974 | IL | Southern | New York (NL) | Johnny Antonelli | 4th | 57 | 82 | .410 | 28.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1975 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Joe Frazier | 1st | 86 | 55 | .610 | – | Won First Round vs. Charleston, 3–0 Won Governors' Cup Final vs. Syracuse, 3–1 |
n/a |
1976 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Tom Burgess | 7th | 60 | 78 | .435 | 28.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1977 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Frank Verdi | 3rd | 73 | 67 | .521 | 7.0 | Lost First Round vs. Charleston, 1–3 | n/a |
1978 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Frank Verdi | 5th | 69 | 71 | .493 | 16.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1979 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Frank Verdi | 4th | 73 | 67 | .521 | 12.5 | Lost First Round vs. Columbus, 1–3 | n/a |
1980 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Frank Verdi | 6th | 67 | 72 | .482 | 15.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1981 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Jack Aker | 3rd | 70 | 68 | .507 | 17.5 | Lost First Round vs. Richmond, 2–3 | n/a |
1982 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Jack Aker | 3rd | 74 | 63 | .540 | 7.0 | Won First Round vs. Columbus, 3–0 Won Governors' Cup Final vs. Rochester, 3–0 |
n/a |
1983 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Davey Johnson | 4th | 71 | 68 | .511 | 11.5 | Won First Round vs. Columbus, 3–2 Won Governors' Cup Final vs. Richmond, 3–1 Won Triple-A World Series vs. Portland (PCL) and Denver (AA) |
n/a |
1984 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Bob Schaefer | 5th | 71 | 69 | .507 | 11.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1985 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Bob Schaefer | 3rd | 75 | 64 | .540 | 3.5 | Won First Round vs. Maine, 3–2 Won Governors' Cup Final vs. Columbus, 3–1 |
n/a |
1986 | IL | – | New York (NL) | Sam Perlozzo | 4th | 74 | 66 | .529 | 6.0 | Lost First Round vs. Richmond, 0–3 | n/a |
1987 | IL | — | New York (NL) | Mike Cubbage | 1st | 81 | 59 | .579 | – | Won First Round vs. Pawtucket, 3–1 Lost Governors' Cup Final vs. Columbus, 0–3 |
n/a |
1988 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Mike Cubbage | 1st | 77 | 64 | .546 | – | Lost Governors' Cup Final vs. Rochester, 1–3 | n/a |
1989 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Mike Cubbage | 2nd | 77 | 69 | .527 | 4.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1990 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Steve Swisher | 2nd | 77 | 65 | .542 | 8.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1991 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Steve Swisher | 2nd | 79 | 67 | .541 | 8.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1992 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Clint Hurdle | 4th | 56 | 86 | .394 | 39.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
Norfolk Tides | |||||||||||
1993 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Clint Hurdle | 4th | 70 | 71 | .496 | 16.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1994 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Clint Hurdle | 4th | 67 | 75 | .472 | — | Did not qualify | n/a |
1995 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Toby Harrah | 1st | 86 | 56 | .606 | – | Won Semifinals vs. Richmond, 3–2 Lost Governors' Cup Final vs. Ottawa, 1–3 |
n/a |
1996 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Bobby Valentine Bruce Benedict |
2nd | 82 | 59 | .582 | 2.5 | Lost Semifinals vs. Columbus, 0–3 | n/a |
1997 | IL | West | New York (NL) | Rick Dempsey | 3rd | 75 | 67 | .528 | 4.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1998 | IL | South | New York (NL) | Rick Dempsey | 2nd | 70 | 72 | .493 | 9.0 | Did not qualify | n/a |
1999 | IL | South | New York (NL) | John Gibbons | 3rd | 77 | 63 | .550 | 4.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
2000 | IL | South | New York (NL) | John Gibbons | 3rd | 65 | 79 | .451 | 16.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
2001 | IL | South | New York (NL) | John Gibbons | 1st | 85 | 57 | .599 | – | Lost Semifinals vs. Louisville, 2–3 | n/a |
2002 | IL | South | New York (NL) | Bobby Floyd | 3rd | 70 | 73 | .490 | 9.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
2003 | IL | South | New York (NL) | Bobby Floyd | 3rd | 67 | 76 | .469 | 7.5 | Did not qualify | 480,963 |
2004 | IL | South | New York (NL) | John Stearns | 3rd | 72 | 72 | .500 | 8.5 | Did not qualify | n/a |
2005 | IL | South | New York (NL) | Ken Oberkfell | 1st | 79 | 65 | .549 | – | Lost Semifinals vs. Toledo, 2–3 | 502,502 |
2006 | IL | South | New York (NL) | Ken Oberkfell | 3rd | 57 | 84 | .404 | 22.0 | Did not qualify | 463,769 |
2007 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Allenson | 3rd | 69 | 74 | .483 | 11.0 | Did not qualify | 464,034 |
2008 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Allenson | 2nd | 64 | 78 | .451 | 9.0 | Did not qualify | 433,767 |
2009 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Allenson | 3rd | 71 | 71 | .500 | 11.0 | Did not qualify | 387,153 |
2010 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Allenson Bobby Dickerson |
3rd | 67 | 77 | .465 | 21.5 | Did not qualify | 392,752 |
2011 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Allenson | 4th | 56 | 87 | .395 | 24.5 | Did not qualify | 397,889 |
2012 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Allenson | 2nd | 74 | 70 | .514 | 9.0 | Did not qualify | 389,188 |
2013 | IL | South | Baltimore | Ron Johnson | 2nd | 77 | 67 | .535 | 10.0 | Did not qualify | 382,195 |
2014 | IL | South | Baltimore | Ron Johnson | 3rd | 65 | 79 | .451 | 10.0 | Did not qualify | 358,147 |
2015 | IL | South | Baltimore | Ron Johnson | 1st | 78 | 66 | .542 | – | Lost Semifinals vs. Columbus, 2–3 | 386,402 |
2016 | IL | South | Baltimore | Ron Johnson | 4th | 62 | 82 | .431 | 3.5 | Did not qualify | 373,042 |
2017 | IL | South | Baltimore | Ron Johnson | 3rd | 66 | 76 | .465 | 20 | Did not qualify | 359,263 |
2018 | IL | South | Baltimore | Ron Johnson | 3rd | 69 | 71 | .493 | 10.5 | Did not qualify | 341,369 |
2019 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Kendall | 4th | 60 | 79 | .432 | 20 | Did not qualify | 350,086 |
2020 | IL | South | Baltimore | Gary Kendall | N/A | – | – | – | – | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | N/A |
Alumni
![](../I/Norfolk_Tides_at_bat.jpg.webp)
- Benny Agbayani
- Edgardo Alfonzo
- Jake Arrieta
- Wally Backman
- Billy Beane
- Heath Bell
- Juan Berenguer
- Richard Bleier
- Hubie Brooks
- Jeromy Burnitz
- Dave Magadan
- Mike Cervenak
- Ron Darling
- Octavio Dotel
- Lenny Dykstra
- Carl Everett
- Sid Fernandez
- Mike Fitzgerald
- Armando Gabino
- Ron Gardenhire
- John Gibbons
- Dwight Gooden
- Shane Halter
- Aaron Heilman
- Clint Hurdle
- Butch Huskey
- Jason Isringhausen
- Gregg Jefferies
- Bobby Jones
- Ty Kelly
- Terrence Long
- Terry Leach
- Tim Leary
- Ed Lynch
- Nate McLouth
- Lastings Milledge
- Kevin Mitchell
- Melvin Mora
- Jamie Moyer
- Alex Ochoa
- Rey Ordóñez
- Jose Oquendo
- Amos Otis
- Mike Piazza
- Jay Payton
- Timo Pérez
- Roberto Petagine
- José Reyes
- Rafael Santana
- Calvin Schiraldi
- Pete Schourek
- Mike Scott
- Alfredo Simón
- Esix Snead
- John Stearns
- Darryl Strawberry
- Dave Telgheder
- Walt Terrell
- Miguel Tejada
- Mike Vail
- Danny Valencia
- Mookie Wilson
- Eli Whiteside
- Matt Wieters
- Herm Winningham
- Dontrelle Willis
- David Wright
- David Cone
Notable former broadcasters
- Marty Brennaman (1970–73), Cincinnati Reds, 1974–2019, The Baseball Network, 1994–95 (Ford C. Frick Award Winner, 2000)
- Pete Van Wieren (1974–75), Atlanta Braves, 1977–2008, The Baseball Network, 1994–95
- Charlie Slowes (1986–87, 1989, 1992), New York Mets, 1988, 1991, Baltimore Orioles 1989–90, MLB on CBS Radio 1988–90, Tampa Bay Rays, 1998–2004, Washington Nationals, 2005–present
- Ken Levine (1989–90), Baltimore Orioles, 1991, Seattle Mariners, 1992–94, 2011–12, San Diego Padres, 1995–1997, Los Angeles Dodgers, 2008–2010
- Todd Kalas (1993), New York Mets, 1992, Philadelphia Phillies, 1994–96, Tampa Bay Rays, 1998–2016, Houston Astros, 2016–present
- Bob Rathbun (1980–85, 1990–91), Detroit Tigers, 1992–94, Atlanta Braves, 1998–2006
- Bob Socci (2006-2011), New England Patriots, 2013–present
Roster
Players | Coaches/Other | |||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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Notes
- "Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles," Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.
- http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=59070
- Goldberg, Stan (2007-04-17). "Young is a hands-on owner". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 2008-08-09.