Rocky Mount Pines

The Rocky Mount Pines was an American minor league baseball team located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina which competed in the Class A Carolina League for the 1980 season. They were the 42nd and final team to represent Rocky Mount in minor league baseball during the 20th century, beginning in 1909.

Rocky Mount Pines
Previously known as Phillies, Leafs, Senators, Rocks, Red Sox, Buccaneers, Broncos, Tar Heels, Carolinians and Railroaders
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1963–1975; 1980)
  • Class B (1920–1924; 1936–1940; 1962)
  • Class C (1915–1917; 1927)
  • Class D (1909–1910; 1928–1929; 1941–1942; 1946–1952)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 6 1915; 1929; 1942; 1946; 1966; 1975
Team data
Previous names
  • Rocky Mount Pines (1980)
  • Phillies(1973–1975)
  • Rocky Mount Leafs (1941; 1947–1952; 1962–1963; 1965–1972)
  • Rocky Mount Senators (1964)
  • Rocky Mount Rocks (1942; 1946)
  • Rocky Mount Red Sox (1936–1940)
  • Rocky Mount Buccaneers (1927–1929)
  • Rocky Mount Broncos (1924)
  • Rocky Mount Tar Heels (1916–1917; 1920–1923)
  • Rocky Mount Carolinians (1915)
  • Rocky Mount Railroaders (1909–1910)
Previous parks
Municipal Stadium

History

The 1980 Rocky Mount Pines were unaffiliated with any Major League Baseball franchise or farm system, and played their home games at Municipal Stadium.[1] The Pines were formed by owner Lou Haneles and led by manager Mal Fichman, and represented the return of professional baseball to Rocky Mount since the departure of the Rocky Mount Phillies in 1975.

The low light of the 1980 season came on August 29 when Durham Bulls pitcher Rick Behenna no-hit the Pines in an 8-0 victory.[2] The Pines finished their lone season with a record of only 24 wins and 114 losses, the worst mark in Carolina League history. The Pines had losing streaks of 18, 14, 13, and 11 games, and drew a total 26,702 fans for the season.[1] The franchise relocated the next year to Hagerstown, Maryland as the Hagerstown Suns (now the Frederick Keys).

Rocky Mount minor league history prior to 1980

Rocky Mount minor league teams played as members of the Carolina League (1962–1975; 1980), Coastal Plain League (1946–1952), Bi-State League (1942), Coastal Plain League (1941), Piedmont League (1936–1940), Eastern Carolina League (1928–1929), Piedmont League (1927), Virginia League (1915–1917; 1920–1924), and Eastern Carolina League (1909–1910).[3]

In addition to the Rocky Mount Phillies of 1973–1975, previous clubs were known as the Rocky Mount Senators (1964), Rocky Mount Rocks (1942; 1946), Rocky Mount Red Sox (1936–1940), Rocky Mount Buccaneers (1927–1929), Rocky Mount Broncos (1924), Rocky Mount Tar Heels (1916–1917; 1920–1923), Rocky Mount Carolinians (1915) and the original Rocky Mount Railroaders (1909–1910).[3]

Rocky Mount teams were an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies (1973–1975), Detroit Tigers (1965–1972), Washington Senators (1964), Cincinnati Reds (1962–1963), Boston Red Sox (1936–1940) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1929). Rocky Mount won six league championships: in 1915, 1929, 1942, 1946, 1966 and 1975.[4]

The ballpark

Rocky Mount teams played at Municipal Stadium. Municipal Stadium was also Known "Briles Field" (1946), "Tar Heel Park" (1920-1929), and "Briles Park" (1915). The ballpark had a capacity of 4,500 (1920), 2,800 (1923), 3,200 (1936), 3,500 (1950) and 4,500 (1971). The field dimensions were (Left, Center, Right) 350-430-350 (1923), 300-430-350 (1936) and 350-350-346 (1971). The ballpark is still in use today, hosting youth baseball. The location is South Howell Street & O'Berry Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.[5][6]

1980 season results
YearNameLeagueLevelAffiliationRecordManagerAttendancePlayoffsMost Valuable Player
1980PinesCarolinaAUnaffiliated24-114Mal Fichman26,702NoneSteve Swain[7]

Notable alumni (all 20th Century minor league teams)

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. Kellenberger, Hugh W. (July 16, 2006). "Missing its swing – Minor leagues only a memory in Rocky Mount". Rocky Mount Telegram. p. C1.
  2. Myatt, Al (August 29, 2002). "Minor Details". The News & Observer. p. C7.
  3. "Rocky Mount, North Carolina sports teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1929 Rocky Mount Buccaneers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Municipal Stadium in Rocky Mount, NC history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  6. "Municipal Stadium, Rocky Mount, N.C." www.charliesballparks.com.
  7. Swift, E.M. (1 September 1980). "It's Been Some Rocky Year". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
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