HOME RUN ENTERTAINMENT

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

Among America’s many summertime traditions, minor league baseball is a go-to in many regions of the country, and nowhere more so than in North Carolina. Across the state, fans can enjoy leisurely evenings and warm weekend afternoons root-root-rooting for the home team in an environment that attracts both ardent baseball lovers and casual fans. That’s because the minor league experience offers some real advantages over the major leagues.

For starters, a family of four can spend less than $100 at a minor league game— a fraction of the cost at a big league stadium. The seating capacity at minor league facilities generally run between 6,000–10,000, making it an up-close and personal event. And let’s face it, no one really goes home disappointed when the home team loses. Most fans don’t know the players’ names or the team’s record, and that’s part of the charm. Minor league baseball is a family entertainment option as much as a professional sport. The production values are part of the pitch, and the players enjoy having an audience as they chase their dream.

The term “minor league” generally refers to teams affiliated with Major League Baseball. Players drafted or signed out of high school try to advance through Single-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, which is the doorstep to the majors. After a major realignment of the minor league system in 2021, there are also partner leagues and collegiate summer leagues under the Major League Baseball umbrella. Additional independent and collegiate leagues operate across the country, mostly at lesser skill levels.

In the Triangle, the Durham Bulls play Triple-A baseball, where the roster is filled each season with players waiting for a call to the “The Show”—and players who are trying to earn their way back. In Zebulon, the Carolina Mudcats play in Single-A, where prospects are just starting out. A fast-rising prospect might reach the majors in two seasons, while others will chase the dream for 10 years. And many Single-A players won’t ever make it to the next level.

But if you’re headed to the ballpark this summer, a primer is hardly necessary. Minor league baseball is a night out. It’s cold beer and plenty of food options. It’s taking a photo with the oversized mascot or buying a ball cap with that clever team logo. Maybe you will catch a foul ball— or be chosen to go on the field for a dizzy bat race.

And if you end up cheering a home run, so much the better.

HIGH POINT ROCKERS

The Rockers play at Truist Point as a member of the Atlantic League, a “partner league” of Major League Baseball, which is a new designation in the realignment of the minors. The 10 Atlantic League rosters are made up of unsigned free agents who have progressed through baseball’s development levels. More than 40% of the players have previously played in the major leagues. And fans are guaranteed to see at least one former major league star when they visit the ballpark—retired Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox pitcher Frank Viola is the Rockers’ pitching coach. He was the World Series MVP in 1987 and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1988.

The $36-million stadium opened in 2019 and holds 4,500 spectators. A Rockers game is kid-friendly, too, with a playground inside the stadium and a splash pad at the adjacent Blessing Park. The team’s mascot is Hype the Rocking Horse.

CAROLINA MUDCATS

The Mudcats, a Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, play at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The stadium was built in 1991 and features a steep upper deck that makes fans feel close to the action. The team has long been a hit at the merchandise stands, with its logo of a catfish swimming through the letter C.

Minor league teams are always searching for clever promotions, and the Mudcats have a couple good ones. The team plays as the “Carolina Micro Brews,” an alternate identity with separate logos, colors, jerseys and hats. The name not only pays homage to the team’s parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, but it also celebrates North Carolina’s history of microbrewing and craft beer culture. The hat features an interlocking M and B, also in tribute to the Brewers. The team also plays under the identity of “Pescados de Carolina,” with a special logo of a sugar skull fish in celebration of Mexican culture in the Carolinas. Merchandise is available for both identities.

Food and drink specials are available for Thirsty Thursdays, while Winning Wednesdays earn fans a free ticket for the next Wednesday home game. Bark in the Park (bring your dog!) and Souvenir Saturdays are among the most popular nights at Five County Stadium.

The Mudcats have a handful of famous alums, including knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. He won 15 games for the Mudcats in 1991, his best minor league season, before winning 200 games in 19 major league seasons.

DURHAM BULLS

The Bulls are perhaps the most famous minor league team in America, thanks to the classic 1988 movie, “Bull Durham.” In part due to the success of the film, the Bulls moved from Single-A to Triple-A in 1998, where they serve as the top affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Home games are played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and feature a variety of regular promotions, including Friday night fireworks shows. Kids ages 12 and younger eat free at the ballpark on Wednesdays, while everyone enjoys discounted concessions on Thursday. And it’s not just standard ballpark fare. Durham-based Pie Pushers pizza and El Jefecito street tacos are popular options.

For the serious baseball fan, the Triple-A International League offers a chance to see stars in the making, whether they play for the Bulls or their opponent. Last season, Tampa Bay prospect Wander Franco showcased his star power for 40 games with the Bulls before his call-up to the major leagues. The Bulls have graduated hundreds of players to the majors, most notably Hall of Famers Joe Morgan (1963) and Chipper Jones (1992).

GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS

First National Bank Field opened in 2005 and continues to be part of the attraction for Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball. The stadium seats 7,499 and provides a view of downtown Greensboro beyond the outfield fence. It features a play park for kids and two grass-berm picnic areas.

Once the game starts, a lot of the action revolves around Willie Mae Mays, the team’s bat dog. She picks up the bat after each batter, runs the bases at the end of the game and greets fans as they leave the ballpark.

The Grasshoppers are the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and started the 2022 season with a future star on the roster. Henry Davis, a catcher, was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. With a history that dates to the early 1990s, Greensboro has also been home to Hall of Famers Johnny Mize, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

PHOTO BY DERRICK BRADY

HOLLY SPRINGS SALAMANDERS

The Salamanders play in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate wood-bat summer league. While the Holly Springs team is not professional or associated with Major League baseball, the fan experience is nearly the same. Ting Stadium, which opened in 2015, seats 1,800. The 14-team league also has teams in Asheboro, Thomasville, Morehead City, Wilson, Forest City and Wilmington. Players are recruited from around the country, but most teams select some regional players, many of whom play at universities in North Carolina or have ties to the Triangle.

FAYETTEVILLE WOODPECKERS

The Woodpeckers settled into Segra Stadium in 2019 after spending two seasons playing on the Campbell University campus in Buies Creek. The Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, the team is named for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, which was once common in the Sandhills area. The team’s merchandise is among the top-selling in the minors.

With their proximity to Fort Bragg, the Woodpeckers have developed a large military fan base. In return, the team supports the military population with related theme nights and alternate Black Ops jerseys. T-shirt Tuesdays are a popular promotion, along with replica jersey giveaways. The Woodpeckers are popular at the merchandise stand, too, ranking in the top 25 in minor league baseball sales.

DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS

The Wood Ducks are the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. While they only arrived in Kinston in 2017, Grainger Stadium has hosted minor league baseball in Kinston since 1949, and the city has welcomed teams since the 1920s. If the “Woodies” win on Wednesdays, fans get a free ticket for the next Wednesday home game, along with half-priced wine. Other promotions include Thirsty Thursdays, $4 draft beer on Fridays and $2 Pepsi on Saturdays. And here’s something completely different: the team plays some weekends as the Kinston Collard Greens in a salute to the state’s agricultural heritage.

ALL IMAGES IN THIS STORY ARE COURTESY OF THE RESPECTIVE TEAMS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BURLINGTON SOCK PUPPETS

Burlington hosted minor league baseball as the Indians and Royals in the Appalachian League from 1988–2020 as an affiliated “Rookie Level” team, a designation that was discarded in realignment. That change ushered in the Sock Puppets, who play summer collegiate baseball.

The new Appalachian League is part of the MLB and USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline, a pathway for amateur baseball players in the U.S. It will serve as an integral part of the identification and development process for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, headquartered in Cary.

With a knack of promotions, the Sock Puppets feature T-shirt Tuesdays, $1 beers on Thursdays and a Socksquatch Bobblehead at the final home game of the season on August 4.

Wherever you find yourself in North Carolina this summer, there’s likely to be a minor league team nearby. Here are some more options for passing a slow summer evening. Asheville Tourists High-A, Houston Astros Charlotte Knights Triple-A, Chicago White Sox Hickory Crawdads High-A, Texas Rangers Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Single-A, Chicago White Sox Winston-Salem Dash High-A, Chicago White Sox