Editing Norfolk Tides (section)

==History==

===Before the Tides===
Both [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] and [[Portsmouth, Virginia]], first hosted [[professional baseball]] teams in the late 19th century.<ref name=BRPortsmouth>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Portsmouth&state=VA&country=US|title=Portsmouth, Virginia Encyclopedia|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name=BRNorfolk>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Norfolk&state=VA&country=US|title=Norfolk, Virginia Encyclopedia|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> Among the clubs to hail from these neighboring cities were the [[Norfolk Tars]], which played on and off from 1906 to 1955 primarily in the [[Virginia League]] and [[Piedmont League]]; the [[Portsmouth Truckers]], which played at intervals from 1895 to 1935 mostly in the Virginia League; the [[Portsmouth Cubs]] of the Piedmont League from 1936 to 1952; and the [[Portsmouth Merrimacs]] also of the Piedmont League from 1953 to 1955.<ref name=BRPortsmouth/><ref name=BRNorfolk/> The Tars folded in July 1955 due to low attendance and steep financial losses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82844595/fourth-place-norfolk-tars-pull-out-of/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Fourth Place Norfolk Tars Pull Out of Shaky Piedmont League|work=The News Leader|location=Staunton|date=July 14, 1955|page=14}}</ref> Fiscal problems also caused the Merrimacs to cease operations after the 1955 campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82844984/outlook-dim-in-piedmont/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Outlook Dim in Piedmont|work=The Progress-Index|location=Petersburg|date=December 9, 1955|page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82844870/lawrence-will-quit-baseball-operations/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Lawrence Will Quit Baseball Operations|work=The Times Dispatch|location=Richmond|date=February 16, 1956|page=21}}</ref>

===South Atlantic League (1961–1962)===
Six years after the loss of the Tars and Merrimacs, the Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides were established as members of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[South Atlantic League (1904–1963)|South Atlantic League]].<ref name=BRNorfolk/> They played some home games at [[Frank D. Lawrence Stadium]] in Portsmouth and some at [[High Rock Park]] in Norfolk.<ref name=SCFDLStadium>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2178|title=Frank Lawrence Stadium|website=Stats Crew|access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SCHighRockPark>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1917|title=High Rock Park|website=Stats Crew|access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> The Tides had a limited affiliation with [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Kansas City Athletics]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rolfe|first=Shelley|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82855565/hamner-studying-sally-bus-schedules/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Hamner Studying Sally Bus Schedules|work=The Times-Dispatch|location=Richmond|date=January 2, 1961|page=17}}</ref> Their inaugural season opener was a 7–4 victory in Portsmouth over the [[Charlotte Hornets (baseball)|Charlotte Hornets]] with 3,158&nbsp;people in attendance on April 17, 1961.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karmosky|first=Charles|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82855170/3158-see-tides-break-tie-whip/|via=Newspapers.com|title=3,158 See Tides Break Tie, Whip Charlotte, 7-4, in Class 'A' Bow|work=Daily Press|location=Newport News|date=April 18, 1961|page=13}}</ref> In 1962, they became an affiliate of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref name=BR1962>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=0268faeb|title=1962 South Atlantic League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> The Tides dropped out of the Sally League after losing their working agreement with St. Louis and following what Tides general manager Marshall Fox called "unfair treatment" by the league.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82857174/orphaned-tides-may-see-bid-to-class-b/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Orphaned Tides may See Bid to Class 'B' Carolina League|work=Daily Press|location=Newport News|date=November 9, 1962|page=30}}</ref>

===Carolina League (1963–1968)===

The [[Carolina League]], a Class A circuit, accepted the Tides as members for 1963.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karmosky|first=Charles|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82856900/seven-year-wait-over-pro-baseball-back/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Seven-Year Wait Over, Pro Baseball Back on Peninsula|work=Daily Press|location=Newport News|date=January 14, 1963|page=9}}</ref> At this point, the team became known as the Tidewater Tides, taking their geographic identifier from the [[Tidewater (region)|Tidewater]] region, and began playing their home games exclusively at Lawrence Stadium in Portsmouth.<ref name=BRNorfolk/><ref name=SCFDLStadium/> They were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team in their first Carolina League season.<ref name=BR1963>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b08b09e0|title=1963 Carolina League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Ed Stroud Senators.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|[[Ed Stroud]] won the 1964 [[Carolina League Most Valuable Player Award|Carolina League MVP Award]].]]

The Tides became the Class A affiliate of the [[Chicago White Sox]] in 1964. Under [[manager (baseball)|manager]] Allen Jones, they qualified for the playoffs that year for the first time in team history and defeated the [[Kinston Eagles (1962–1973)|Kinston Eagles]] in the semifinals to advance to the championship round where they lost to the [[Winston-Salem Red Sox]].<ref name=SC1964>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-CARL/y-1964|title=1964 Carolina League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> [[Outfielder]] [[Ed Stroud]] won the league's [[Carolina League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) Award.<ref name=CLawards>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/carolina/history/award-winners|title=Carolina League Award Winners|website=Carolina League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref>  Jones led the team back to the postseason in 1965. After defeating the [[Peninsula Grays]] in the semifinals, the Tides won the [[List of Carolina League champions|Carolina League championship]] by sweeping the [[Durham Bulls]], 2–0.<ref name=SC1965>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-CARL/y-1965|title=1965 Carolina League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref>

Tidewater became an affiliate of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 1966.<ref name=BR1966>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=2b07a2e3|title=1966 Carolina League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> They made the postseason in 1967 and 1968, but they were defeated in the finals by Durham in 1967 and eliminated in the quarterfinals by the [[Raleigh-Durham Mets]] in 1968.<ref name=SC1967>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-CARL/y-1967|title=1967 Carolina League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC1968>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-CARL/y-1968|title=1968 Carolina League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref>

===International League===

====New York Mets (1969–2006)====

In 1969, the [[New York Mets]] moved their [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[International League]] (IL) affiliate, the [[Jacksonville Suns]], from [[Jacksonville, Florida]], to Portsmouth as the Tidewater Tides.<ref name=SKouvaris12-19-2020>{{cite web |last=Kouvaris|first=Sam|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/12/19/sam-kouvaris-triple-opens-up-new-opportunities-jumbo-shrimp/3971976001/|title=Sam Kouvaris: Triple-A Leap Brings New Opportunities for Jumbo Shrimp|website=The Florida Times-Union|date=December 19, 2020|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> The team was operated by Tidewater Professional Sports and owned by the Mets.<ref name=2021MGhistory>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/norfolktides/docs/2021_norfolk_tides_media_guide_online|via=Issuu|title=2021 Norfolk Tides Media Guide|website=Norfolk Tides|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=2021|access-date=August 5, 2021|page=123}}</ref> The Triple-A Tides carried on the history of the Class A team that preceded them.<ref name=2021MGhistory/>

[[International League Manager of the Year Award|International League Manager of the Year]] [[Clyde McCullough]] led the team to a league-best 76–59 record in their first Triple-A season, but they were eliminated in the semifinals of the Governors' Cup playoffs to determine the [[List of International League champions|IL championship]].<ref name=ILawards>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/international/history/award-winners|title=International League Award Winners|website=International League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC1969>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1969|title=1969 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> The 1969 season was the team's last at Lawrence Stadium.<ref name=SCFDLStadium/> They moved into the new [[Met Park]], located in Norfolk, in 1970.<ref name=SCMetPark>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1918|title=Metropolitan Park|website=Stats Crew|access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> After another semifinal exit that year,<ref name=SC1970>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1970|title=1970 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> the Tides reached the finals in 1971 but lost the championship to the [[Rochester Red Wings]] in the full five-game series.<ref name=SC1971>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1971|title=1971 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> [[Hank Bauer]], manager of the 1972 club, led the Tides to win their first Governors' Cup with a 3–2 series defeat of the [[Louisville Colonels (minor league baseball)|Louisville Colonels]] in the finals.<ref name=SC1972>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1972|title=1972 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> Following this win, Tidewater competed in the [[Kodak World Baseball Classic]], a five-team [[round-robin tournament]] that included the champions of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] (the [[Evansville Triplets]]) and [[Pacific Coast League]] (the [[Albuquerque Dukes]]), the Caribbean All-Stars, and the hosting [[Hawaii Islanders]].<ref name=AAApost>{{cite web|url=http://www.tripleabaseball.com/PostSeasonOthers.jsp|title=Triple-A Baseball Interleague Post-Season Play Results|website=Triple-A Baseball|access-date=August 3, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710202943/https://www.tripleabaseball.com/PostSeasonOthers.jsp|archive-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref> The Tides went 3–2 but were  eliminated.<ref name=AAApost/> Bauer was selected as the 1972 IL Manager of the Year.<ref name=ILawards/> The club returned to the playoffs in 1973 but could not advance past the semifinals.<ref name=SC1973>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1973|title=1973 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref>

Tidewater finished atop the league standings in 1974 with an 86–55 record under manager [[Joe Frazier (baseball)|Joe Frazier]]. After sweeping the [[Charleston Charlies]], 3–0, in the semis, they won the IL championship over the [[Syracuse Chiefs]], 3–1.<ref name=SC1975>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1975|title=1975 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> Afterwards, they met the Evansville Triplets, champions of the American Association, in the [[Junior World Series]], which the Tides lost, 4–1.<ref name=AAApost/> The Tides swept the 1975 International League year-end awards with outfielder [[Mike Vail]] as the [[International League Most Valuable Player Award|IL MVP]] and [[International League Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]], [[Craig Swan]] as the [[International League Most Valuable Pitcher Award|Most Valuable Pitcher]], and Frazier as Manager of the Year.<ref name=ILawards/>

[[File:Davey Johnson 1986.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|[[Davey Johnson]] led the Tides to win the 1983 [[List of International League champions|IL championship]] and the [[Triple-A World Series]].]]

They next appeared in the postseason in 1977, 1979, and 1981, but they were unable to move on past the semifinals.<ref name=SC1977>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1977|title=1977 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC1979>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1979|title=1979 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC1981>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1981|title=1981 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> During this stretch, [[Juan Berenguer]] won the 1978 Most Valuable Pitcher Award, and outfielder [[Mookie Wilson]] won the 1979 Rookie of the Year Award.<ref name=ILawards/> Tidewater won back-to-back Governors' Cups in 1982 and 1983. [[Jack Aker]]'s 1982 club swept the [[Columbus Clippers]], 3–0, in the semifinals and did the same against Rochester in the finals.<ref name=SC1982>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1982|title=1982 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> Under [[Davey Johnson]] in 1983, the Tides dispatched Columbus in the semis, and then won a second consecutive IL title over the [[Richmond Braves]].<ref name=SC1983>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1983|title=1983 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> That postseason, the Tides, the American Association champion [[Denver Bears]], and Pacific Coast League champion [[Portland Beavers]] contested the [[Triple-A World Series]], a round-robin tournament to crown an overall champion of the classification. Tidewater won the series, 3–1.<ref name=AAApost/> [[Walt Terrell]] was the IL's Most Valuable Pitcher for 1973.<ref name=ILawards/>

In 1985, [[Bob Schaefer]] led the team to its sixth and final Governors' Cup championship with a semifinal victory over the [[Maine Guides]] and a finals win over Columbus.<ref name=SC1985>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1985|title=1985 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> Though the Tides would remain members of the International League for the next 35&nbsp;years, they were unable to win another league crown. They lost in the semifinals in 1986 and suffered defeats in the finals of both 1987 and 1988.<ref name=SC1986>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1986|title=1986 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC1987>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1987|title=1987 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC1988>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1988|title=1988 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> [[John Mitchell (pitcher)|John Mitchell]] was selected as the IL Most Valuable Pitcher for 1986.<ref name=ILawards/> [[First baseman]] [[Randy Milligan]] won both the 1987 MVP and Rookie of the Year Awards.<ref name=ILawards/> [[Third basemen]] [[Tom O'Malley]] (1989) and [[Jeff Manto]] (1994) later won IL MVP Awards.<ref name=ILawards/>

The club went through a season of change from 1992 to 1993. First, in December 1992, the Mets sold the franchise to a group led by [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] businessman Ken Young.<ref name=MHoltzclaw1992>{{cite news|last=Holtzclaw|first=Mike|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82933432/norfolk-tides-yes-norfolk-get-face/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Norfolk Tides (Yes, Norfolk) Get Face Lift|work=Daily Press|location=Newport News|date=December 23, 1992|page=D2}}</ref> The Triple-A affiliation between the teams remained intact. In 1993, the Tides left Met Park and moved into the new US$16-million [[Harbor Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1919|title=Harbor Park|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> As they moved into the new facility, the team also replaced the "Tidewater" in its name with that of Norfolk.<ref name=MHoltzclaw1992/> Also in 1993, the Tides introduced their [[sports mascots|mascot]], Rip Tide.<ref name=Mascots>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/norfolk/community/rip-tide-triton|title=Rip Tide and Triton|website=Norfolk Tide|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=August 6, 2021}}</ref> The franchise was awarded the 1993 [[John H. Johnson President's Award]], recognizing them as the "complete baseball franchise—based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community, and promotion of the baseball industry."<ref name=MILBawards>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/about/awards |title=Minor League Baseball Award Winners |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=August 6, 2021}}</ref>

The 1995 Tides led the league with their 86–56 record but were eliminated in the Governors' Cup finals by the [[Ottawa Lynx]].<ref name=BR1995>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1995|title=1995 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> They did, however, win all four IL year-end awards: MVP (third baseman/outfielder [[Butch Huskey]], Most Valuable Pitcher and Rookie of the Year ([[Jason Isringhausen]], and Manager of the Year ([[Toby Harrah]]).<ref name=ILawards/> Norfolk made three more playoff appearances as a Mets affiliate, exiting in the semifinal rounds of 1996, 2001, and 2005.<ref name=SC1996>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-1996|title=1996 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC2001>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-2001|title=2001 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name=SC2005>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-2005|title=2005 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> [[Mike Fyhrie]] won the 1996 Most Valuable Pitcher Award, and first baseman [[Roberto Petagine]] was the 1997 IL MVP.<ref name=ILawards/> The 38-year Triple-A affiliation with New York ended after the 2006 season when the Mets elected to affiliate with the [[New Orleans Zephyrs]] for 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82934953/tides-all-but-certain-to-join-with/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Tides All But Certain to Join with Orioles|work=Daily Press|location=Newport News|date=September 22, 2006|page=B2}}</ref>

====Baltimore Orioles (2007–2020)====

[[File:Harbor park.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|The Tides have played at [[Harbor Park]] since 1993.]]

Norfolk became the Triple-A affiliate of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in 2007. The Orioles preferred the quality of the facilities at Harbor Park as well as the more favorable weather and proximity of Norfolk compared to their previous location in [[Ottawa]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82968646/orioles-pick-norfolk-for-aaa-affiliate/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Orioles Pick Norfolk for AAA Affiliate|work=The Progress-Index|location=Petersburg|date=September 24, 2006|page=B4}}</ref> Maryland Baseball Holding, the Tides' ownership group led by Ken Young, also owned two other Orioles-affiliated teams at the time: the [[Bowie Baysox]] and [[Frederick Keys]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Stan |title=Young is a Hands-on Owner |work=The Frederick News-Post |date=April 17, 2007|url=http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=59070 |access-date=August 7, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217031229/http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=59070 |archive-date=February 17, 2012}}</ref>

From 2007 to 2014, the Tides regularly finished with losing records and only finished at or above .500 in 2009, 2012, and 2013.<ref name=BRNorfolk/> The 2015 team, led by IL Manager of the Year [[Ron Johnson (baseball)|Ron Johnson]] qualified for the Governors' Cup playoffs as winners of the Southern Division title but lost in the semifinals to Columbus in five games.<ref name=SC2015>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-IL/y-2015|title=2015 International League|website=Stats Crew|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref> The Tides added a second mascot, a green sea creature named Triton, in 2016.<ref name=Mascots/> Norfolk continued to post losing seasons from 2016 to 2019.<ref name=BRNorfolk/> In 2019, first baseman [[Ryan Mountcastle]] was selected as the IL MVP.<ref name=ILawards/> The start of the 2020 season was initially postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before being cancelled altogether.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name=2020can>{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>

===Triple-A East / International League===
====Baltimore Orioles (2021–present)====

Following the 2020 season, Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> The Tides were organized into the [[Triple-A East]] and maintained their affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021/> Norfolk ended the season in sixth place in the Southeastern Division with a 48–72 record.<ref name=MILB2021>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/standings/2021?standingsType=firstHalf&standingsView=division|title=2021 Triple-A East Standings|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> No playoffs were held to determine a league champion; instead, the team with the best regular-season record was declared the winner.<ref name=MiLB7-14-2021>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/triple-a-classification-to-add-10-games-to-2021-schedule |title=MiLB Announces 'Triple-A Final Stretch' for 2021 |website=Minor League Baseball |date=July 14, 2021 |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}</ref> However, 10&nbsp;games that had been postponed from the start of the season were reinserted into the schedule as a postseason tournament called the Triple-A Final Stretch in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage.<ref name=MiLB7-14-2021/> Norfolk finished the tournament tied for 20th place with a 4–6 record.<ref name=2021FinalStretch>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/standings/|title=2021 Triple-A Final Stretch Standings|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.<ref name=ILrename>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref> [[Shortstop]] [[Gunnar Henderson]] won the 2022 [[International League Top MLB Prospect Award]].<ref name=2022awards>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/triple-a-all-stars-mvp-top-prospect-2022|title=Triple-A Award Winners and All-Stars|website=Minor League Baseball|date=November 7, 2022|access-date=November 7, 2022}}</ref>

On April 8, 2023, the Tides set the franchise record as an Orioles affiliate for the most runs scored in a game in a 21–2 victory over the [[Gwinnett Stripers]]. In addition, Norfolk tied the franchise record for runs scored in an inning after 11 crossed the plate in the 6th inning.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Robbins|first=Zach|title=Historic Sixth Propels Tides to Commanding Victory|url=https://www.milb.com/norfolk/news/historic-sixth-propels-tides-to-commanding-victory|date=April 8, 2023|access-date=July 5, 2023|website=Norfolk Tides|publisher=Minor League Baseball|language=en}}</ref> The Tides won the first-half of the 2023 season, clinching a berth in the championship playoffs at the conclusion of the season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stanley|first=John|url=https://www.milb.com/norfolk/news/tides-clinch-playoff-berth-as-international-league-first-half-winners|title=Tides Clinch Playoff Berth As International League First-Half Winners|website=Norfolk Tides|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref> In the best-of-three series, the Tides defeated the Durham Bulls to win the International League championship.<ref name=MHeller>{{cite news|last1=Heller|first1=Melanie|url=https://www.milb.com/news/norfolk-tides-win-first-international-league-title-in-38-years|title=Mayo, Holliday Lead Tides to First IL Title in 38 Years|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 29, 2023|date=September 29, 2023}}</ref> They won the [[Triple-A National Championship Game]] versus the [[Oklahoma City Dodgers]], champions of the [[Pacific Coast League]], 7–6.<ref name=2023AAAchamp>{{cite news|last1=Heneghan|first1=Kelsie|title=Tides Nab Triple-A National Championship Crown|url=https://www.milb.com/news/norfolk-tides-win-triple-a-national-championship|access-date=October 1, 2023|website=Minor League Baseball|date=October 1, 2023}}</ref> [[Buck Britton]] won the 2023 IL Manager of the Year Award.<ref name=2023awards>{{cite web|last=Terranova|first=Rob|url=https://www.milb.com/news/milb-reveals-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-for-2023|title=The 2023 Triple-A All-Stars and Award Winners|website=Minor League Baseball|date=October 4, 2023|access-date=October 4, 2023|archive-date=October 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004195952/https://www.milb.com/news/milb-reveals-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-for-2023}}</ref>

The franchise was purchased by [[Diamond Baseball Holdings]] on October 17, 2023.<ref name=DBH/> In 2024, third baseman [[Coby Mayo]] won the IL Top MLB Prospect Award.<ref name=2024awards>{{cite web|last=Avallone|first=Michael|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/minor-league-baseball-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-2024|title=Here are the 2024 Triple-A All-Stars and Award Winners|website=Major League Baseball|date=October 2, 2024|access-date=October 2, 2024|archive-date=October 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002183839/https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/minor-league-baseball-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-2024|url-status=live}}</ref>