Asheville Tourists
From SoSH
| Location: | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Established: | 1915 |
| MLB Affiliation: | Colorado Rockies |
| League: | South Atlantic League |
| Level: | A |
| Ballpark: | McCormick Field |
| Championships: | 5 (1915, 1939, 1961, 1968, 1984) |
| Division Titles: | |
| Wild Card: |
The Asheville Tourists are a Minor League Baseball team that plays in the South Atlantic League, and are a Single-A affiliate to the Colorado Rockies.
Contents |
Franchise History
The Tourists play home games at McCormick Field. The park opened in 1924. It was renovated in 1959, and renovated again for the 1992 season. McCormick Field seats 4,000 fans, and is often joked about because of its scoreboard, which reads "Visitors" in the guest slot and "Tourists" in the home slot.
In 1968, the Tourists won the Southern League championship under manager Sparky Anderson. Anderson went on to manage the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers during his 26 years in Major League Baseball.
In mid-2005 the Tourists owner Peter "Woody" Kern, who had owned the team since 1981, sold the team to Palace Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Pistons, and part owner of the Detroit Shock. Currently, their manager is Joe Mikulik, who is now known for his 2006 tirade after being ejected from the June 25 game against the Lexington Legends. The very animated tantrum was shown on newscasts nationwide.
Major League Affiliations
- Colorado Rockies (1994-present)
- Texas Rangers (1976-1981)
- Chicago White Sox (1971)
- Cincinnati Reds (1968-1970)
- Houston Astros (1967, 1982-1993)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (1961-1966)
- Philadelphia Phillies (1959-1960)
- Brooklyn Dodgers (1946-1951, 1953-1955)
- St. Louis Cardinals (1935-42)
- Boston Red Sox (1934)
Team Names
- Asheville Tourists (1994-present)
