[RMc]

On May 25, 1927, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Commissioner of Baseball, was in Portsmouth, Virginia, part of a tour of the Class B Virginia League. The hometown Portsmouth Truckers were at home at High Street Park, scheduled to take on the Petersburg Bronchos. The game was scheduled for 3:30, and the tiny ballpark was packed -- even the local schools had closed early to allow children to attend. It was a big event for the small town, and nobody gave much notice to the black clouds forming in the west.

Landis had just settled into his seat when a 72 mph gale ripped into the ballpark, tearing the press box apart and hurling it down the grandstand. Many avoided injury by running away, but thousands of pounds of timber suddenly crashed onto the screaming fans. In the end, 24 people lost their lives -- including Kenesaw Mountain Landis.