Minor league baseball began in Hopewell, Virginia in 1916. The
Hopewell Powder Puffs became members of the
Class C level
Virginia League. Hopewell joined the Newport News Shipbuilders,
Norfolk Tars,
Petersburg Goobers,
Portsmouth Truckers and
Rocky Mount Tar Heels in beginning league play on April 24, 1916. In their first season of minor league play, the Hopewell Powder Puffs team disbanded before completing the season. Hopewell disbanded on July 22, 1916. The Powder puffs had a record of 30–52 record under managers
Win Clark and R. Barrett when the franchise folded. A
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina based franchise was added as a replacement for Hopewell on August 14, 1916. However, the Virginia League directors did not allow the franchise and Roanoke Rapids was dropped on August 16, 1916, after winning its only game. The franchise did not return to the 1917 Virginia League. In 1949, minor league baseball play returned to Hopewell, Virginia. The Hopewell "Blue Sox" joined the reformed six–team
Class D level
Virginia League, replacing the
Blackstone Barristers franchise in the league. The
Emporia Nationals,
Franklin Kildees,
Lawrenceville Robins,
Petersburg Generals and
Suffolk Goobers teams joined Hopewell in league play. True to their moniker, the Hopewell Blue Sox wore players wore uniforms with corresponding blue stirrups. Playing under manager Joe Mills, the Blue Sox finished the 1949 season with a record of 52–75, placing fifth in the Virginia League regular season standings. Hopewell finished the regular season 27.5 games behind the first place Franklin Kildees and did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Petersburg Generals. Hopewell, Virginia has not hosted another minor league team. ==The ballparks==