Editing Norfolk Tides (section)

===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>