In 1894, the Virginia League began play as an
Independent level league and fielded six teams: the
Lynchburg, Virginia based
Lynchburg Hill Climbers, the
Norfolk, Virginia based
Norfolk Clam Eaters, the
Petersburg Farmers, the
Richmond Bluebirds, the
Roanoke, Virginia based
Roanoke Magicians, and the
Staunton, Virginia based
Staunton Hayseeds /
Newport News, Virginia-
Hampton, Virginia based
Newport News-Hampton Deck Hands (the Staunton team relocated in the middle of the 1894 season). In 1895, the league was upgraded to a
Class B level league. The teams during the 1895 season were the Lynchburg Hill Climbers, the
Norfolk Clams/Crows, the Petersburg Farmers, the
Portsmouth Truckers, the Richmond Blue Birds, and the Roanoke Magicians. In 1896, the Norfolk team became the
Norfolk Braves, the Portsmouth team became the
Portsmouth Browns and then moved to Hampton and became the
Hampton-Newport News Clamdiggers. ==1894–1896 cities represented==