Professional baseball debuted at McCormick Field in 1924. The diamond has remained in place ever since and is currently hosting its 93rd season of minor league baseball.
A record-setting 187,718 fans entered the front gates of McCormick Field during the 2019 season. From 2017-2023 (excluding 2020), the Tourists attracted crowds totaling 1.028 million over the six campaigns.
The 1924 Skylanders posted a 58-63 record to finish in fifth place in the six-team Class B South Atlantic League
Dr. Lewis McCormick
A crowd of 3,199 fans attended the April 3, 1924, exhibition game between the Asheville Skylanders and Detroit Tigers, starring future Hall of Famers in Ty Cobb, Heinie Manush, and Harry Heilmann.
The 1928 Tourists won the city’s first championship when they established the franchise record with 97 victories against only 49 losses.
On the evening of March 28, 1935, fire broke out at McCormick Field that created “the biggest blaze in years” in Asheville. A day later, city manager George Hackney cleared the insurance technicalities to have the wooden grandstands rebuilt immediately.
The Asheville Blues were led by owner and manager Clarence M. Moore Sr. (kneeling at left, front row). Moore played for the Asheville Black Tourists in the 1930s, but he changed the name of the team because he wanted the club to have its own identity.
During McCormick Field’s hiatus from baseball, the stadium hosted stock car races beginning in 1956.
Motorsports Hall of Famer Edwin “Banjo” Matthews operated the iconic “Mr. X” on the speedway. In 1957, Matthews won thirteen straight races on McCormick Field Speedway.
“Struttin’ Bud” Shaney (left) chats with Asheville skipper Cal Ripken Sr. Shaney pitched for Asheville on several occasions, beginning in 1928 when he had a 23-11 record. He later served as the McCormick Field groundskeeper in the 1950s and 1960s.
Sparky Anderson (inducted 2000)
Eddie Murray (inducted 2003)
Billy Southworth (inducted 2008)
Craig Biggio (inducted 2015)
Todd Helton (inducted July 21, 2024)
In 2014, Asheville won its second title in three seasons when the Tourists posted an overall record of 94-51 and beat Hagerstown, 3 games to 2, in the championship series.
In 2016, the Beer City Tourists debuted to recognize the area’s craft breweries.
One of the premier managers in minor league history, Joe Mikulik was also known for his entertaining disagreements with umpires.
A rendering of McCormick Field’s pending construction updates.
Fans are always ready to enter McCormick Field as soon as the gates open.
Thirsty Thursdays attract large crowds, and sellouts are commonplace for fireworks displays as well as when replica jerseys are given away. Ted E. Tourist made his debut at McCormick Field in the 1980s before Mr. Moon landed in 2011. Since then, the two mascots have had a sibling rivalry, much to the delight of the Asheville fans.
At the 12th annual Rhodedendron Festival in 1939, a king and queen are selected.
