Carolina League

Carolina League
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1945
Ceased	2021
Replaced by	Low-A East
Country	United States
Last; champion(s)	Wilmington Blue Rocks (2019)
Most titles	Winston-Salem Dash (11)
Classification	Class A-Advanced
Official website	www.carolinaleague.com

The Carolina League was a Minor League Baseball league which operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States from 1945 to 2020. It was classified as a Class A-Advanced league from 1990 onward, one of three leagues at that level.^[a]

The organization that later became the Carolina League formed in 1945, just as World War II was ending, and consisted of only two teams based in southern Virginia and six from North Carolina. Historically, however, as many as 12 teams in a given year competed in the Carolina League. The league disbanded in 2021 in conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball.

History[]

The Carolina League was announced on October 29, 1944, after an organizational meeting at Durham, North Carolina. It was a successor to the Bi-State League that existed before World War II. The league began play in 1945 with eight teams based in Burlington, Durham, Greensboro, Leaksville, Raleigh, Winston-Salem (all from North Carolina), along with Danville and Martinsville from Virginia.^[1]

A few of the many Carolina League players who have gone on to star in the Major Leagues are: Johnny Bench (Peninsula, 1966), Wade Boggs (Winston-Salem, 1977), Barry Bonds (Prince William, 1985), Rod Carew (Wilson, 1966), Dock Ellis (Kinston, 1965), Dwight Evans (Winston-Salem, 1971), Dwight Gooden (Lynchburg, 1983), Zack Greinke (Wilmington, 2003), Andruw Jones (Durham, 1996), Chipper Jones (Durham, 1992), Willie McCovey (Danville, 1956), Joe Morgan (Durham, 1963), Dave Parker (Salem, 1972), Tony Pérez (Rocky Mount, 1962), Andy Pettitte (Prince William, 1993), Jorge Posada (Prince William, 1993), Darryl Strawberry (Lynchburg, 1981), Bernie Williams (Prince William, 1988), and Carl Yastrzemski (Raleigh, 1959).^{[citation needed]}

Director and screenwriter Ron Shelton's 1988 film Bull Durham, starring Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, and Susan Sarandon, depicted a fictionalized account of the Durham Bulls, at that time a Carolina League team (they have since become a Class AAA team in the International League). Before he began making films, Shelton had a five-year minor league career in the Baltimore Orioles' organization, which included a stint in the Carolina League.^{[citation needed]}

The Carolina League added two expansion teams for the 2017 season to fill two vacant spots at the Class A-Advanced level previously occupied by the California League's Bakersfield Blaze and High Desert Mavericks , which ceased operations at the end of the 2016 season. These additional teams were the Down East Wood Ducks in Kinston, North Carolina, and the Buies Creek Astros in Buies Creek, North Carolina.^[2] After the 2019 season, the Potomac Nationals relocated within Northern Virginia to Fredericksburg, rebranding themselves as the Fredericksburg Nationals.

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.^[3]^[4] The league ceased operations before the 2021 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball.^[5] Nine of the league's 10 teams continued on in professional baseball. The Fredericksburg Nationals, Lynchburg Hillcats, Salem Red Sox, Carolina Mudcats, Down East Wood Ducks, Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, were placed in the Low-A East. The Wilmington Blue Rocks and Winston-Salem Dash were placed in the High-A East.^[6] The Frederick Keys became a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League.^[7]

Champions[]

Awards[]

All-time teams (1945–2020)[]

All teams that have competed in the Carolina League from its founding in 1945 through disbandment after the 2020 season.^[8]

Alamance Indians (1958–1964, became the Burlington Senators)
Alexandria Dukes (1978, became the Alexandria Mariners)
Alexandria Dukes (1980–1983, became the Prince William Pirates)
Alexandria Mariners (1979, became the Alexandria Dukes)
Asheville Tourists (1967, moved to Southern League)
Buies Creek Astros (2017–2018; became the Fayetteville Woodpeckers)
Burlington Bees (1945–1951, became the Burlington-Graham Pirates)
Burlington Rangers (1972, folded)
Burlington Senators (1965–1971, became the Burlington Rangers)
Burlington-Graham Pirates (1952–1955, folded)
Carolina Mudcats (2012–2020, moved to Low-A East)
Danville 97s (1998, became the Myrtle Beach Pelicans)
Danville Leafs (1945–1958, folded)
Down East Wood Ducks (2017–2020, moved to Low-A East)
Durham Bulls (1945–1967, merged with the Raleigh Pirates and became the Raleigh-Durham Mets)
Durham Bulls (1980–1997, became the Danville 97s)
Fayetteville Athletics (1950–1952, became the Fayetteville Highlanders)
Fayetteville Highlanders (1953–1956, folded)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (2019–2020, moved to Low-A East)
Frederick Keys (1989–2020, moved to MLB Draft League)
Fredericksburg Nationals (2020, moved to Low-A East)
Greensboro Patriots (1945–1957, became the Greensboro Yankees)
Greensboro Patriots (1968, folded)
Greensboro Yankees (1958–1967, became the Greensboro Patriots)
Hagerstown Suns (1981–1988, became the Frederick Keys)
High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms (1954–1958, folded)
High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms (1968, became the High Point-Thomasville Royals)
High Point-Thomasville Royals (1969, folded)
Kinston Blue Jays (1982–1985, became the Kinston Eagles)
Kinston Eagles (1956–1957, merged with the Wilson Tobs)
Kinston Eagles (1962–1973, became the Kinston Expos)
Kinston Eagles (1978–1981, became the Kinston Blue Jays)
Kinston Eagles (1986, became the Kinston Indians)
Kinston Expos (1974, folded)
Kinston Indians (1987–2011, became the Carolina Mudcats)
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets (1945–1947, moved to the Blue Ridge League)
Lynchburg Hillcats (1995–2020, moved to Low-A East)
Lynchburg Mets (1976–1987, became the Lynchburg Red Sox)
Lynchburg Rangers (1975, became the Lynchburg Mets)
Lynchburg Red Sox (1988–1994, became the Lynchburg Hillcats)
Lynchburg Twins (1970–1974, became the Lynchburg Rangers)
Lynchburg White Sox (1966–1969, became the Lynchburg Twins)
Martinsville Athletics (1945–1949, folded)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1999–2020, moved to Low-A East)

Peninsula Astros (1969–1970, became the Peninsula Phillies)
Peninsula Grays (1964–1968, became the Peninsula Astros)
Peninsula Pennants (1974, folded)
Peninsula Phillies (1971, folded)
Peninsula Pilots (1976–1985, became the Peninsula White Sox)
Peninsula Pilots (1989–1992, became the Wilmington Blue Rocks)
Peninsula Senators (1963, became the Peninsula Grays)
Peninsula White Sox (1986–1987, became the Virginia Generals)
Potomac Cannons (1999–2004, became the Potomac Nationals)
Potomac Nationals (2005–2019, became the Fredericksburg Nationals)
Prince William Cannons (1990–1998, became the Potomac Cannons)
Prince William Pirates (1984–1986, became the Prince William Yankees)
Prince William Yankees (1987–1989, became the Prince William Cannons)
Raleigh Capitals (1957–1962, became the Raleigh Mets)
Raleigh Capitals (1945–1953, folded)
Raleigh Cardinals (1964–1965, became the Raleigh Pirates)
Raleigh Mets (1963, became the Raleigh Cardinals)
Raleigh Pirates (1966–1967, merged with the Durham Bulls and became the Raleigh-Durham Mets)
Raleigh-Durham Mets (1968, became the Raleigh-Durham Phillies)
Raleigh-Durham Phillies (1969, became the Raleigh-Durham Triangles)
Raleigh-Durham Triangles (1970–1971, folded)
Red Springs Twins (1969, folded)
Reidsville Luckies (1948–1954, became the Reidsville Phillies)
Reidsville Phillies (1955, folded)
Rocky Mount Leafs (1962–1963, became the Rocky Mount Senators)
Rocky Mount Leafs (1965–1972, became the Rocky Mount Phillies)
Rocky Mount Phillies (1973–1975, folded)
Rocky Mount Pines (1980, became the Hagerstown Suns)
Rocky Mount Senators (1964, became the Rocky Mount Leafs)
Salem Avalanche (1995–2008, became the Salem Red Sox)
Salem Buccaneers (1987–1994, became the Salem Avalanche)
Salem Pirates (1972–1979, became the Salem Redbirds)
Salem Rebels (1968–1971, became the Salem Pirates)
Salem Red Sox (2009–2020, moved to Low-A East)
Salem Redbirds (1980–1986, became the Salem Buccaneers)
Tidewater Tides (1963–1968, moved to the International League)
Virginia Generals (1988, became the Peninsula Pilots)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (1993–2020, moved to High-A East)
Wilson Pennants (1973, folded)
Wilson Tobs (1956–1968, folded)
Winston-Salem Cardinals (1945–1953, became the Winston-Salem Twins)
Winston-Salem Dash (2009–2020, moved to High-A East)
Winston-Salem Red Birds (1957–1960, became the Winston-Salem Red Sox)
Winston-Salem Red Sox (1961–1983, became the Winston-Salem Spirits)
Winston-Salem Spirits (1984–1994, became the Winston-Salem Warthogs)
Winston-Salem Twins (1954–1956, became the Winston-Salem Red Birds)
Winston-Salem Warthogs (1995–2008, became the Winston-Salem Dash)

League timeline (1945-2020)[]

2019-2020 team Earlier team

Notes[]

^ The other two Class A-Advanced leagues were the California League and the Florida State League.

References[]

^ Barrier, Smith (November 2, 1944). "Wilson Heads Carolina Loop: Seven Franchises Awarded to N.C. Cities, Another to Danville, Va". The Sporting News.
^ Glaser, Kyle. "Carolina League To Add Two Franchises In 2017". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
^ Cooper, J. J. (December 9, 2020). "Frederick Becomes Sixth Team To Join MLB Draft League". Baseball America.
^ "2013 Carolina League Media Guide and Record Book". p. 4.

External links[]

Official website

[1] The other two Class A-Advanced leagues were the California League and the Florida State League.

[:0-2] Barrier, Smith (November 2, 1944). "Wilson Heads Carolina Loop: Seven Franchises Awarded to N.C. Cities, Another to Danville, Va". The Sporting News.

[3] Glaser, Kyle. "Carolina League To Add Two Franchises In 2017". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.

[4] "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.

[2020can-5] "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.

[6] Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.

[JMayo2-12-2021-7] Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

[8] Cooper, J. J. (December 9, 2020). "Frederick Becomes Sixth Team To Join MLB Draft League". Baseball America.

[9] "2013 Carolina League Media Guide and Record Book". p. 4.

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