Eastern Carolina League
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Carolina League was a minor league baseball
affiliation which operated in the Eastern part of North Carolina
. The league had two distinct periods of operation: 1908-1910 and a revival of the league in 1928-1929. It was classified as a "D" league.
By far, the most famous person to come out of the league was Jim Thorpe
. Some consider Thorpe the greatest athlete of the twentieth century. It was his involvement with the Eastern Carolina League that cost him his amateur status and his Olympic medals
.
† In late August 1908, Eastern North Carolina was hit by what is now known as Tropical Storm #5. The playoffs were abandoned with Wilmington
leading Wilson
2 games to 1.
‡ These teams had no known nicknames.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliation which operated in the Eastern part of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The league had two distinct periods of operation: 1908-1910 and a revival of the league in 1928-1929. It was classified as a "D" league.
By far, the most famous person to come out of the league was Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
. Some consider Thorpe the greatest athlete of the twentieth century. It was his involvement with the Eastern Carolina League that cost him his amateur status and his Olympic medals
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
Eastern Carolina League Champions
- 1908-None †
- 1909-WilsonWilson, North CarolinaWilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
- 1910-FayettevilleFayetteville, North CarolinaFayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
- 1928-GoldsboroGoldsboro, North CarolinaGoldsboro is a city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 37,597 at the 2008 census estimate. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787 and Goldsboro was...
- 1929-Rocky MountRocky Mount, North CarolinaRocky Mount is an All-America City Award-winning city in Edgecombe and Nash counties in the coastal plains of the state of North Carolina. Although it was not formally incorporated until February 28, 1867, the North Carolina community that became the city of Rocky Mount dates from the beginning of...
† In late August 1908, Eastern North Carolina was hit by what is now known as Tropical Storm #5. The playoffs were abandoned with Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
leading Wilson
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
2 games to 1.
Complete team list (1908-1910,1928-1929)
- Fayetteville Highlanders (1909-10,1928-29)
- Goldsboro Giants (1908-10)
- Goldsboro GoldbugsGoldsboro GoldbugsThe Goldsboro Goldbugs were an Eastern Carolina League and Coastal Plain League baseball team based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA. Don Heffner is one athlete who played for them....
(1929) - Goldsboro Manufacturers (1928)
- Greenville Tobacconists (1928-29)
- KinstonKinston, North CarolinaKinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
‡ (1908) - Kinston Eagles (1928-29)
- New BernNew Bern, North CarolinaNew Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
‡ (1908) - Raleigh Red Birds (1908-10)
- Rocky Mount Buccaneers (1928-29)
- Rocky Mount Railroaders (1909-10)
- Wilmington Pirates (1928-29)
- Wilmington Sailors (1908-10)
- Wilson Tobacconists (1908-10)
‡ These teams had no known nicknames.