The Hendersonville Honeycrisps are a summer league baseball team that soon begin their third season playing at historic Berkeley Mills Ballpark.
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The Hendersonville Honeycrisps are a summer league baseball team that soon begin their third season playing at historic Berkeley Mills Ballpark.
Asheville’s McCormick Field officially opened 100 years ago this week. To commemorate the anniversary, Xpress takes a look back at 10 of the more memorable moments in the history of the venerable ballpark: Everything from Franklin Roosevelt and NASCAR races to Kevin Costner, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Nelly.
“And they ‘want,’ they ‘like’ the Tourists. So do we, but City Council and the city manager are making a huge mistake paying this unreasonable price to keep them.”
Tennis, soccer, baseball and softball players face different challenges in the colder parts of the year.
“The Tourism Development Authority is the party that needs to pony up the money!”
“I think tax dollars could be better spent on infrastructure — perhaps an upgraded water system?”
“I can’t even get my head around $30 million or how we can find a way to get it, but I’m pretty sure there’s enough people with that kind of money to preserve our honored tradition in our wonderful city!”
As players count the days until Feb. 14 — the day pitchers and catchers report to spring training — Xpress spoke with two Tourists from the 2021 season about their time in Asheville, their plans for the winter months and how the minor league experience isn’t as glamorous as it may seem.
“I am also the commissioner/director of the Alternative Baseball Organization, a 501(c)(3) authentic baseball experience for teens 15-plus and adults with autism and special needs across America. We are searching for coach/managers and volunteers to help us start a new program in Asheville.”
In 1916, E.W. Pearson formed the Asheville Royal Giants, the city’s first black baseball team.
Longtime journalist DeWitt Robbeloth recently moved to Asheville from Phoenix, Ariz. He visited the Xpress office a few weeks ago, offering this baseball-themed musing. Seems fitting for a post-July 4 week — baseball, apple pie and all that. You can read more at his blog (see the link at the end.)
Team to remember him with moment of silence at July 4th home game, other events to come
No matter the ability or skill level, there is a way to adapt the great American pastime to make it accessible to all.
Six Asheville Tourists baseball players and Ted E. Tourist took a break from the diamond to visit kids at Mission Children’s Hospital on May 29. They played board games, built Lego houses and, of course, played a modified game of catch. (Photos by Caitlin Byrd)
Sometimes you just need a little Getaway — not a big-to-do, not a major trip, just a little escape. Here’s the next video in our Xpress Getaway series: the Asheville Tourists at McCormick Field. Since 1924, there’s been baseball at McCormick, and everyone from Lou Gehrig to Jackie Robinson, and from Willie Stargell to Cal Ripkin Jr. has played in this historic park.
I was nervous when my oldest kid turned three, because I’d read that that’s around the age when most of us embed our first long-term memories.
The Asheville Tourists, a minor-league team in the South Atlantic League, has been sold to the DeWine family of Ohio; son Brian DeWine is moving to town with his young family.
The Asheville Tourists baseball team is back again for another season at historic McCormick Field.