Commending the Fredericksburg Frogs.

Commending the Fredericksburg Frogs.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 23, 2026
WHEREAS, from approximately 1919 to 1944, the Fredericksburg Frogs were one of the most popular amateur baseball teams in the Fredericksburg area, inspiring a greater love of the game throughout the community and creating countless opportunities for Black athletes prior to the racial integration of professional baseball; and
WHEREAS, after World War I, communities across the nation sought to reestablish amateur and minor-league sports leagues that had been put on hiatus during wartime; the Fredericksburg Frogs were most likely established at the start of baseball season in April 1919, with the first known mention of the team appearing in a newspaper article the following May; and
WHEREAS, the Fredericksburg Frogs rose to prominence beginning with the 1922 season, when they played a team from Alexandria in a three-game championship series, the result of which is unfortunately lost to history; and
WHEREAS, the Fredericksburg Frogs typically played local Black teams from Richmond, Quantico, Culpeper, Alexandria, Tappahannock, Bowling Green, and Washington, D.C.; the team once defeated the Homestead Grays, a Negro League baseball team, which had been compared favorably to the New York Yankees of the time; and
WHEREAS, as an amateur team, the members of the Fredericksburg Frogs were not paid, but former players fondly recalled how the team drew large, integrated crowds at local fields, and how they enjoyed the opportunity to travel, sometimes as far away as South Carolina and New York, to hone their athletic abilities and build a sense of fellowship with other Black communities; and
WHEREAS, the Fredericksburg Frogs were highly engaged in the Fredericksburg community and occasionally held fundraisers to support worthy causes; and
WHEREAS, while many other amateur teams were formed in the area during the 1920s and 1930s, few could rival the Fredericksburg Frogs in popularity and skill; in its heyday, the team was managed by Charles C. Bland and boasted standout players such as Kelsie Deane, Charley “Hickory” Lewis, Augustus “Gus” Watts, and Dr. Jimmy Shields, a former Negro League pitcher; and
WHEREAS, the Fredericksburg Frogs played their last known game on September 3, 1944, finishing with an estimated overall record of 75–31–4; throughout the team's history, its players fostered a strong sense of community spirit and paved the way for other Black athletes; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Fredericksburg Nationals unveiled an alternate logo, jersey, and mascot to honor the Fredericksburg Frogs, which was used multiple times throughout the season; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Fredericksburg Frogs hereby be commended for their contributions to amateur baseball in Fredericksburg and important role in supporting and developing Black athletes; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Fredericksburg Nationals as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the historical significance of the Fredericksburg Frogs and appreciation for the efforts of the Fredericksburg Nationals to honor the team's legacy.