The hot stove season was one of high expectations for Norfolk in the winter of 1935. While Kenneth Cabble was expected to make the Cedar Rapids club and Orie Arntzen signed with the Cardinals the town was expecting great things from the host of newcomers expected to arrive in Norfolk in the spring.
Norfolk was a first division club for most of the season. In early July the team went on a tear winning 8 of 10 games leading into a key series with league leading Mitchell. Mitchell took all three games, 14-8, 7-5 and 14-9 putting Norfolk back in third place. They wound up the year in third with a 63-57 record eight games out of first.
On August 14th the team did execute a triple play against Mitchell.
Roster:
Russell Bullis played 17 games at first. He averaged
.273 and was released in early June.
Chas Knoblauch was picked up on June 18th. The reported phenom was 17 years old from Bay City Michigan. He averaged .231 in 12 games and was released in early July.
Polly Morse Hurst was picked up in mid June. The San Diego native played in 36 games and averaged .182. He was released July 2nd and optioned to Batesville in the Arkansas League.
Max Marshall averaged .396 in 38 games at first. He was given a tryout with Rochester in 1937.
Howard Zeng was an All Star at second base. He averaged .293 for the season.
Dexter Savage was also an All Star. The Little Rock native averaged .319 in 115 games.
Darol Shimer came in from Long Beach to play for Norfolk in 1936. He averaged .308 in 119 games.
Center fielder Bill James led league with 137 runs scored, 122 RBI's and 29 home runs. He averaged .352 for the year and was given a try out with Rochester in 1937.
Cotney "Bill" Hopp was an All Star in 1936. The Hastings Nebraska native averaged .361 in 107 games.
Melvin Wasley averaged .361 in 94 games in the outfield.
Roy Neveral caught 27 games, averaged .266 and was released on June 18th.
Marvin Felderman averaged .306 while catching for 89 games.
Pitchers:
Cliff Homstad from Cashton Wisconsin had pitched for
Duluth in 1935. He was 15-14 in 45 games with 175 k's. He also gave up a
league leading 212 runs, 306 hits and 176 walks. He was assigned to
Jacksonville via Houston for 1937.
Forrest Orrell was 2-9.
Burr Nebraska native Les Dunkle was 15-11 in 33 games. He also averaged .305 at the plate.
Robert Jones was 5-5 in 16 games.
James Ronseik was 6-9 in 21 games.
Rett Charles was a 19 year old who pitched both ends of a double header on September 7th. He won both games 5-1 and 3-2.