Norfolk had a good team in 1938. Doc Bennett had a good set of players and the team won the first half of the season. The second half was taken by Sioux City. Norfolk won the playoffs behind the timely hitting of Ted Nighe.
Opening day saw Norfolk hosting Sioux City before 700 fans. John Kreevich hit the deciding home run as Norfolk won 4-2.
Four of the Elks were promoted to higher level clubs at the end of the season. Pitchers Johnny Orr and Kenneth Jacobsen along with outfielder Ned Tighe were promoted to Akron Ohio in the Mid-Atlantic League. Johnny Kreevich was traded to Joplin Missouri in the Western Association.
Roster:
First base for the Elks was held down by
James Boyd who played first for 99 games and averaged .308 for
the season. James played for Grand Forks and Crookston in the Northern
League after his year at Norfolk.
Third base for Norfolk in 1938 was held down by William Morgan who averaged .304 in 105 games. He also played some games in the outfield. He moved to Jackson to play in the Kentucky Illinois Tennessee League (KITL) in 1939.
The center garden was tended by Ed Tighe. He led the league with 161 hits. He was promoted to the Yankees class "C" affiliate in Joplin for 1939 and to the class "B" Norfolk Tars in 1940.
The third outfield position was ?
Wendell Finders hit .266 in 62 games.
Everett Silvey hit .273 in 16 games.
Pitchers:
Kenneth Jacobsen led the staff with and 18-5 record in
31 games. He had 169 strike outs for the year.
John Orr played in 23 games as a pitcher and 66 games total for the Elks. He had a 17-5 record.
George Verbeck was another player who both pitched and played in the infield. He pitched in 22 games, had a 12-9 record and 147 strikeouts.
Leonard Bobeck managed an 11-7 record in 28 games and Dewey Derry was 4-6 in his 16 appearances.
Berbeck was 12-9 in 22 games.
Dewey Derry ws 4-6 in 15 games.