The Alexandria Dukes were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1978 to 1983. The team was a member of the Class-A Carolina League and affiliated with Seattle Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout its history. However, Alexandria was unable to secure a major-league affiliate for its inaugural season, and again in 1980, forcing the team to operate as a co-op franchise for those two seasons.
History
Inaugural season
Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the Dukes' home stadium was Municipal Stadium at Four Mile Run Park—a ballfield adjacent to Cora Kelly Elementary School. Because the field was the property of the Alexandria City School District, alcohol was not served at any game. Seating in the park was limited to several hundred open-air, backless bleacher seats. The Dukes finished their inaugural season in fourth place in both the first and second halves of the season, posting records of 29-37 and 29-38, respectively.
Alexandria Mariners
The Dukes' second season was more successful than the first, as the team was picked up by the Seattle Mariners as an affiliate. The team dropped the "Dukes" nickname for the Alexandria Mariners. Both halves of the season, the team finished in second place, winning more games than it lost, finishing 38-29 and 36-33. On April 30, 1979, third baseman Gary Pellant made baseball history when he hit two grand slams in one inning, one batting right-handed and the other left-handed.
Alexandria Dukes II
The 1980 campaign marked a return to a co-op management and a revival of the Dukes name – and a return to a sub-.500 winning percentage. The following year, Alexandria was able to once again obtain major-league affiliation, signing a six-year player development contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates as the team finished in second place and fourth place, posting records of 33-34 and 29-41 in the Northern Division. The 1982 season was the most successful season in the Dukes' six-year history. The first half of the season, Alexandria won nearly 70% of its games, winning the division with a 45-20 mark, securing a post-season appearance. After defeating the Lynchburg Mets in a one-game playoff, the Dukes swept the Durham Bulls in three games, winning their only championship. In their final season in 1983, the Dukes posted a third place record.
