As I am sure you can figure out from my writings, I have strong feelings about minor league baseball. Working in minor league baseball for five years, you grow to love the atmosphere of the minors and knowing that the players you may be watching today can be the stars of tomorrow.
With the winter as the slow time in the world of baseball, I have decided to take a look at a variety of leagues within minor league baseball. There are Triple A Leagues (International, Pacific Coast and Mexican), Double A Leagues (Eastern, Southern and Texas), Advanced A Leagues (California, Carolina and Florida State), A Leagues (Midwest and South Atlantic), A Short-Season Leagues (New York-Penn and Northwest), Rookie Leagues (Appalachian, Arizona, Gulf Coast and Pioneer) and Rookie Academy leagues (Dominican and Venezuelan). I will chose leagues to write about and introduce you to these leagues and information about them. So, this week I have chosen the Carolina League to introduce you to.
The Carolina League formed in 1945. It has ranged from 4 teams to 12 teams and currently has an eight team format. The current teams in the Carolina League (and their major league affiliate) are: Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles), Kinston Indians (Cleveland Indians), Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves), Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Texas Rangers), Potomac Nationals (Washington Nationals), Salem Red Sox (Boston Red Sox), Wilmington Blue Rocks (Kansas City Royals) and Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox). Now that you have met the league, allow me to introduce to the Top 5 Facts You Need to Know about the Carolina League.
#1 – Twelve Hall of Famers have been involved with the Carolina League. Three of these Hall of Famers managed in the Carolina League. Heinie Manush managed in 1945 for the Martinsville Athletics, Joe Medwick managed in 1951 for the Raleigh Capitals and Enos Slaughter managed for the 1961 Raleigh Capitals. One Hall of Fame manager, Earl Weaver, played for the 1950 Winston-Salem Cardinals. Eight other Hall of Famers played in the Carolina League. Willie McCovey (1956 Danville Leafs), Carl Yastrzemski (1959 Raleigh Capitals), Tony Perez (Rocky Mountain Leafs), Joe Morgan (1963 Durham Bulls), Satchel Paige (1966 Peninsula Grays), Johnny Bench (1966 Peninsula Grays), Rod Carew (1966 Wilson Tobs) and Wade Boggs (1977 Winston-Salem Red Sox).
#2 – Twenty-eight cities or combination of cities have been represented in the Carolina League. Although the league currently has teams in four states (Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina), the twenty defunct teams have all been from North Carolina or Virginia.
#3 – Well known Carolina League Most Valuable Player includes players such as: Curt Flood (1956), Carl Yastrzemski (1959), Rusty Staub (1962), Bobby Murcer (1965), Dave Parker (1972) and Victor Martinez (2001). Pitcher of the Year includes pitchers such as: Dwight Gooden (1983), Bartolo Colon (1995), Zack Greinke (2003) and Zach Duke (2004).
#4 – Of the eight current teams in the league, they have won a combined 38 titles with a combined 262 years of existence. Winston-Salem has won 11 titles in 62 years (1 every 5.6 years), Lynchburg has won 6 titles in 41 years (1 every 6.8 years), Wilmington has won 4 titles in 14 years (1 every 3.5 years), Salem has won 4 titles in 39 years (1 every 9.8 years), Frederick has won 3 titles in 26 years (1 every 8.7 years), Myrtle Beach has won 2 titles in 8 years (1 every 4 years) and Potomac has won 2 titles in 29 years (1 every 14.5 years).
#5 – The film “Bull Durham” was about a fictional minor league baseball team called the Durham Bulls. In 1988 at the time of the film’s release, the Durham Bulls were a Carolina League team. The Director and Screenwriter, Ron Shelton was in the minor leagues for five years for the Baltimore Orioles. He played in the Carolina League.
There you have it…a little look into the Carolina League. The league is one of nineteen minor leagues. When the time arises, I will select another and let you know my Top 5 of that league as well. Until that time, let’s see who signs free agents, who makes trades and who makes the headlines. See you next Wednesday.
