Historic Hicks Field
Encyclopedia
Historic Hicks Field is a baseball
stadium located in Edenton, North Carolina
. The stadium is home to the John A. Holmes High School Aces as well as the Edenton Steamers
of the Coastal Plain League
.
Hicks Field was built as a WPA project in 1939 at the corner of East Freemason and Woodward, adjacent to John A. Holmes High School.
The main structure is a wood grandstand with a roof that was built to accommodate slightly more than 500 people. The main grandstand is the oldest remaining wooden grandstand of its type in the state of North Carolina
. Hicks Field was home to minor league baseball and semipro teams up until 1952, including the Edenton Colonials of the original Coastal Plain League
, the Albemarle League, and the Virginia League. The Albemarle League was well known for its baseball prominence throughout the area as collegiate players would grace areas such as Elizabeth City, Hertford, Edenton, Windsor and Williamston for a summer full of great baseball.
Hicks Field was also the long time spring training site for a number of minor league teams during the 1940's, including Binghamton, NY, and Reading, PA. In 1995, Hicks Field was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
Players such as Bob Feller and other major league all-stars have stepped foot inside this historic stadium. In 1946 Hicks Field played host to arguably one of the best games of that era as an Albemarle League all-star team faced off against a major league all star team composed of players from the Pittsburgh Pirates
, New York Yankees
, Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox
. The Albemarle team was defeated but for the 4,500 in attendance they were treated to some of the best players in all of baseball.
In 1997 Hicks Field underwent extensive renovations including a complete remodeling of the main grandstand behind home plate and the addition of two new grandstands; one down the first baseline and one down the third baseline as well. New bathrooms were built. as well as a manual wooden scoreboard that was placed in right field as well as double decking the outfield fence in left field to give Hicks a “Fenway Park” feel. After all of the renovations were complete Hicks Field grew in capacity to seat 1,200 people and gives off a nostalgic feeling that can rival any major league baseball stadium.
In 1998 the Edenton Steamers
were formed in the new Coastal Plain League
summer collegiate baseball league. Hicks Field continues to host the Steamers, Edenton-Holmes high school baseball, American Legion Post 40 contests, and various tournaments in the summer. In 2004 Baseball America
(regarded as the definitive baseball publication in the sport) rated Historic Hicks Field the #2 summer collegiate venue in the country.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
stadium located in Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
. The stadium is home to the John A. Holmes High School Aces as well as the Edenton Steamers
Edenton Steamers
The Edenton Steamers are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Edenton, North Carolina, and one of fifteen teams that compete from May-August in the Coastal Plain League...
of the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
.
Hicks Field was built as a WPA project in 1939 at the corner of East Freemason and Woodward, adjacent to John A. Holmes High School.
The main structure is a wood grandstand with a roof that was built to accommodate slightly more than 500 people. The main grandstand is the oldest remaining wooden grandstand of its type in the state 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...
. Hicks Field was home to minor league baseball and semipro teams up until 1952, including the Edenton Colonials of the original Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League (Class D)
The Coastal Plain League was a minor league baseball affiliation which, except for the war years , operated in North Carolina from 1937 to 1952. It was classified as a "D" league. It grew out of a semi-pro league that operated from 1934 to 1936 under the same Coastal Plain League name.- Coastal...
, the Albemarle League, and the Virginia League. The Albemarle League was well known for its baseball prominence throughout the area as collegiate players would grace areas such as Elizabeth City, Hertford, Edenton, Windsor and Williamston for a summer full of great baseball.
Hicks Field was also the long time spring training site for a number of minor league teams during the 1940's, including Binghamton, NY, and Reading, PA. In 1995, Hicks Field was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Players such as Bob Feller and other major league all-stars have stepped foot inside this historic stadium. In 1946 Hicks Field played host to arguably one of the best games of that era as an Albemarle League all-star team faced off against a major league all star team composed of players from the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. The Albemarle team was defeated but for the 4,500 in attendance they were treated to some of the best players in all of baseball.
In 1997 Hicks Field underwent extensive renovations including a complete remodeling of the main grandstand behind home plate and the addition of two new grandstands; one down the first baseline and one down the third baseline as well. New bathrooms were built. as well as a manual wooden scoreboard that was placed in right field as well as double decking the outfield fence in left field to give Hicks a “Fenway Park” feel. After all of the renovations were complete Hicks Field grew in capacity to seat 1,200 people and gives off a nostalgic feeling that can rival any major league baseball stadium.
In 1998 the Edenton Steamers
Edenton Steamers
The Edenton Steamers are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Edenton, North Carolina, and one of fifteen teams that compete from May-August in the Coastal Plain League...
were formed in the new Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
summer collegiate baseball league. Hicks Field continues to host the Steamers, Edenton-Holmes high school baseball, American Legion Post 40 contests, and various tournaments in the summer. In 2004 Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
(regarded as the definitive baseball publication in the sport) rated Historic Hicks Field the #2 summer collegiate venue in the country.