Editing Norfolk Tides (section)

===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>