Larry Toombs is the author of Baseball in Petersburg: The Virginia League and Beyond, a book that looks at how professional baseball has its origins right here in Petersburg, VA. Off and on, from the 1880s-1950s, baseball was a way of life in Petersburg. Picture it: Teams would ride in on a train, stop at a ballpark (located close to the railroad station), play a game, and then move to the next town. In the early years, there were no cars - people walked, rode bicycles, street cars, or drove a horse and carriage just to watch the game. Many famous baseball players like Willie Mays, Roy Campanella, Ted Williams, and Sam Rice played in Petersburg!

Larry Toombs is a native of Petersburg, VA and has been involved in sports as player, coach, manager, and executive for over 50 years. He was instrumental in returning baseball to Petersburg when the city joined the Coastal Plain League, a summer circuit of all-star college players. He was recently hired as the Associate Athletic Director of Development for Virginia University of Lynchburg.