Sims Legion Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sims Legion Park
LocationGastonia, North Carolina
Coordinates35°16′47″N 81°11′02″W / 35.279810°N 81.183813°W / 35.279810; -81.183813Coordinates: 35°16′47″N 81°11′02″W / 35.279810°N 81.183813°W / 35.279810; -81.183813
Capacity3,000 (expandable to 4,500)
Field sizeLeft Field: 335 Left-Center: 360 Center Field: 380 Right-Center: 360 Right Field: 335
SurfaceNatural Grass
Opened1950 (Sims Legion Park I)
1977 (Sims Legion Park II)
Tenants
Local American Legion Baseball, 1972–
Gastonia Pirates (WCL) 1966–1968
Gastonia Cardinals (WCL, SAL) 1977–1982
Gastonia Expos (SAL) 1983–1984
Gastonia Jets (SAL) 1985
Gastonia Tigers (SAL) 1986
Gastonia Rangers (SAL) 1987–1992
Gaston County King Cougars (ACL) 1995
Carolina Diamonds (NPF) 1997–98
Gastonia Grizzlies (CPL) 2002–

Sims Legion Park is a 3,000-seat baseball stadium located in Gastonia, North Carolina. It hosts the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League, as well as American Legion baseball. It was reported in October 2020 that the Grizzlies are moving to Spartanburg, South Carolina starting with the 2021 season.[1]

The stadium underwent a total rebuild in the 1970s in order to attract a Minor League Baseball team. Since then the stadium has seen many tenants come and go. There is an ongoing effort to build a new ballpark in Gastonia, but it is not guaranteed to be a new home for the Grizzlies.[2][3] City officials are favoring a potential partnership which would put an Atlantic League expansion team in the new ballpark.[4] Grizzlies ownership have said they would not share the stadium.[4]

Players who've played here include Andy Van Slyke (Cardinals, Pirates), Sammy Sosa (Rangers, White Sox, Cubs, Orioles), Juan González (Rangers, Tigers, Indians, Royals), Iván Rodríguez (Rangers, Marlins, Tigers), and former Major Leaguer Tug McGraw (Mets, Phillies), who pitched one game for the Rangers in 1989.

References[]

  1. ^ Hughes, Joe (October 22, 2020). "'The roar is gone': Grizzlies bolt south for new name, fresh start". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Barrett, Michael (January 20, 2019). "Many questions remain about what teams will play in FUSE stadium". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  3. ^ Spedden, Zach (January 23, 2019). "Grizzlies Not Guaranteed Use of Proposed Gastonia Ballpark". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Spedden, Zach (August 5, 2019). "Atlantic League Could Land in New Gastonia Ballpark". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved August 5, 2019.

External links[]


This article about a baseball venue in North Carolina is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""