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
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Triple-A (1969–present)
Previous classes	Class A (1961–1968)
League	International League (1969–present)
Division	South Division
Previous leagues	Carolina League (1963–1968) South Atlantic League (1961–1962)
Major league affiliations
Team	Baltimore Orioles (2007–present)
Previous teams	New York Mets (1969–2006) Philadelphia Phillies (1966–1968) Chicago White Sox (1964–1965) St. Louis Cardinals (1962) Kansas City A's (1961)
Minor league titles
Class titles (1)	1983
League titles (5)	1972 1975 1982 1983 1985
Division titles (8)	1969 1975 1987 1988 1995 2001 2005 2015
Team data
Name	Norfolk Tides (1993–present)
Previous names	Tidewater Tides (1963–1992) Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides (1961–1962)
Colors	Green, black, orange, gray, sea foam
Ballpark	Harbor Park (1993–present)
Previous parks	Met Park (1969–1992) Frank D. Lawrence Stadium (1961–1968)
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.

Rip Tide, the mascot of the Norfolk Tides

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

The Norfolk Tides take on the Columbus Clippers at Harbor Park

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
					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

The Tides at bat

• 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

Norfolk Tides roster

Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers -- Fernando Abad -- Diogenes Almengo -- Felix Bautista -- Cameron Bishop -- Cody Carroll -- Hunter Cervenka -- Claudio Custodio -- Marcos Diplán -- Tyler Erwin -- Thomas Eshelman -- Ignacio Feliz -- Conner Greene -- Eric Hanhold -- Brenan Hanifee -- Reed Hayes -- Félix Hernández -- Mickey Jannis -- Steven Klimek -- Dusten Knight -- Wade LeBlanc -- Zach Muckenhirn -- Tim Naughton -- Ofelky Peralta -- Evan Phillips -- Rickey Ramirez -- Josh Rogers -- Cody Sedlock -- Nick Vespi -- Konner Wade -- Spenser Watkins -- Ryan Wilson		Catchers -- Nick Ciuffo -- Brett Cumberland -- Taylor Davis -- Chris Hudgins -- Austin Wynns Infielders -- Seamus Curran -- Patrick Dorrian -- J. C. Encarnacion -- J. C. Escarra -- Mason McCoy -- Seth Mejias-Brean -- Wilbis Santiago -- Chris Shaw Outfielders -- Cristopher Cespedes -- Jaylen Ferguson -- Zach Jarrett -- Stevie Wilkerson		Manager -- Gary Kendall Coaches -- Sean Berry (hitting) -- Ramon Sambo (fundamentals) -- Kennie Steenstra (pitching) -- Eli Steinfield (development) 7-day injured list * On Baltimore Orioles 40-man roster # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporary inactive list Roster updated February 3, 2021 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • International League → Baltimore Orioles minor league players

Notes

1. "Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles," Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.
2. http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=59070
3. Goldberg, Stan (2007-04-17). "Young is a hands-on owner". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 2008-08-09.

External links

• Official website