1915, 1919 to 1921: Virginia League After Suffolk folk first hosted minor league baseball with the 1911 Suffolk championship team of the
Tidewater League, the "Nuts" were preceded in minor league play by the 1915 Suffolk Tigers of the
Class C level
Virginia League. The Tigers finished the 1915 season in fifth place in the six-team league with a record of 59-62. The Suffolk Tigers folded from the Virginia League following the 1915 season, replaced in 1916 league play by the
Hopewell Powder Puffs. The Suffolk use of the "Nuts" moniker corresponded with local peanut agriculture and production in the city. Suffolk was self–nicknamed as the "Peanut Capitol of the World." The team played home games at Peanut Park, located next to the Suffolk Peanut Company. In their first season of play, the Suffolk Nuts placed fifth in the Virginia League final standings. The Nuts ended the regular season with a record of 49–58, finishing 12.0 games behind the first place Petersburg Goobers. The league did not hold playoffs.
Rube Oldring served as the Suffolk manager. Street would later manage the 1931 St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series championship and become a longtime Cardinals radio announcer. Under Street, Suffolk ended the 1920 season with a record of 47–69 in the Virginia League season standings. The Nuts finished the season 30.0 games behind the first place Richmond Colts in the final standings. In 1921, Suffolk became known as the "Wildcats," as the Virginia League was upgraded to become a
Class B level league and held a playoff for the first time. The Suffolk Wildcats ended the Virginia League regular season in sixth place with a record of 59–78, finishing 20.5 games behind the first place Portsmouth Truckers in the eight-team league. Managed by the returning Gabby Street and
Bill Cunningham, Suffolk did not qualify for the playoff, won by Portsmouth over the Norfolk. The Virginia League reduced from eight teams to six for the 1922 season, and the Suffolk franchise was folded, along with the
Tarboro Tarbabies. Suffolk, Virginia next hosted minor league baseball when the 1948 Suffolk Goobers returned to play when the
Virginia League reformed.
1948 to 1951: Goobers in Virginia League In 1948, minor league play in the Virginia resumed, as the Suffolk "Goobers" were formed and followed the previous Suffolk team, the 1921 Suffolk Wildcats. The Suffolk use of the "Goobers" moniker corresponds with peanut agriculture in the region in the era. Suffolk was self–nicknamed as the "Peanut Capitol of the World." In their first season of play, the Suffolk Goobers won the 1948 Virginia League pennant. The Goobers ended the regular season with a record of 83–52, finishing 1st in the standings, 7.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Blackstone Barristers.
Bill Steinecke served as manager in leading the team to the league pennant. In the 1st round of the four–team playoffs, the Petersburg Generals defeated Suffolk 4 games to 2, ending their season. Pitcher Cecil Hutson of Suffolk led the league with 23 wins. Suffolk finished the 1949 season with a record of 57–65, placing 4th in the Virginia League regular season standings. The Goobers finished the regular season 20.0 games behind the 1st place Franklin Kildees. In the playoffs, Franklin defeated the Goobers 4 games to 1. In their final season, the 1951 Goobers returned to the playoffs with a 4th place finish in the league standings. The Suffolk Goobers ended the Virginia League regular season with a record of 56–62, finishing 23.5 games behind the 1st place
Colonial Heights-Petersburg Generals. In the playoffs, Colonial Heights-Petersburg defeated Suffolk Goobers 4 games to 1, in the last games for the franchises. Buster Kinard of Suffolk won the league batting title, hitting .378. The Virginia League permanently folded as a minor league following the 1951 season. ==The ballpark==