The Emporia Nationals were a minor league baseball team based in Emporia, Virginia. From 1948 to 1951, Emporia played as members of the Class D level Virginia League, winning the 1950 league Championship. The Emporia Nationals were a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators (today's Minnesota Twins). The team played as the "Rebels" in 1951, with Emporia hosting minor league home games at Slagle Stadium. History In 1947, the Washington Senators had the fewest number of minor league affiliates (6) and scouts (3) of any major-league team. Owner Clark Griffith named former player Ossie Bluege as Farm Director and expanded the Washington system to 11 minor league affiliates and 7 scouts in 1948. One of Bluege’s goals was to establish a Class D level affiliate in the Middle Atlantic region, when several other teams were seeking to turn the semipro Virginia League into a minor league, which proved to be successful. Local businessman Eugene Bloom was instrumental in reaching an agreement with the Senators to place a team in Emporia. Griffith then named Bloom as business manager of the Emporia team. In 1948, the Emporia "Nationals" became members of the Virginia League, which reformed as a six–team, Class D level league. The Blackstone Barristers, Franklin Cubs, Lawrenceville Cardinals, Petersburg Generals and Suffolk Goobers joined Emporia in beginning league play on April 23, 1948. The Emporia Nationals began play as a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators. The franchise would continue the affiliation through the 1950 season. In their first season of play, the Emporia Nationals missed the 1948 Virginia League playoffs. The Nationals ended the regular season with a record of 63–74, placing 5th in the standings, finishing 21.0 games behind the 1st place Suffolk Goobers. Morrie Aderholt served as player/manager, his first of three seasons as player/manager. Aderholt won the league batting title with a .387 batting average and hit a league leading 31 home runs. In their second season, the Nationals qualified for the Virginia League playoffs in 1949. Playing under returning manager Morrie Aderholt, Emporia ended the 1949 season with a record of 67–55 and placed 3rd the regular season standings, finishing 10.0 games behind the 1st place Franklin Kildees. Emporia was the only league team with a major league affiliation in 1949, after the league had three in 1948. In the 1st round of the playoffs, the Petersburg Generals defeated the Nationals in seven