1924
McCormick field is built (the first contests are high school football games in 1923).
Major league highlight April 3, 1924 —Tigers vs. Skylanders
In front of 3,199 fans, Asheville christened McCormick Field by shocking Detroit with an 18-14 win. The Tigers started three Hall of Famers in the outfield in Ty Cobb, Heinie Manush, and Harry Heilmann.
Major league highlight April 7, 1925 —Yankees vs. Dodgers
New York won the game, 16-8, with a reported 8,000 fans in attendance. The big story involved Babe Ruth fainting at the Asheville train station and remaining under doctor’s care. The incident became known as “the Bellyache Heard ‘Round the World.”
1928
The Tourists win the South Atlantic League championship
1929-1930s
The Black Tourists debut with Clarence Moore as an original member of the team.
Major league highlight April 7-9, 1931—Yankees vs. Tourists
New York won all three games by scores of 5-2, 11-3 and 17-4. Ruth and Lou Gehrig homered in back-to-back at-bats in the second contest and the Babe hit another roundtripper in the third game.
July 7, 1932
The tourists disband during the Great Depression
Major league highlight April 6, 1933—Giants vs. Tigers
New York won, 4-3, and four future Hall of Famers took the field. The Giants had Mel Ott and Bill Terry and the Tigers featured Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer.
1934
The tourists return after the Great Depression
1935
Tourists sign working relationship with St. Louis Cardinals
1935 & 1937 Tourists win Piedmont League pennant
Major league highlight April 13, 1937—Cardinals vs. Tourists
Dizzy Dean pitched seven innings in the Cardinals’ 12-4 victory over the Tourists in front of 5,900 fans.
1939
Tourists win Piedmont League pennant
1940s
McCormick Field is home to the Asheville Blues, a member of the Negro Southern League.
1946
Tourists return after WWII
1948 & 1954
Tourists win Tri-State League pennant
Major league highlight April 8-9, 1948—Dodgers vs. Tourists
Brooklyn overcame soggy conditions to post 7-2 and 10-2 victories over Asheville. With the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson as the main attraction, the first game attracted 5,500 fans while nearly 4,000 attended the second contest.
Major league highlight April 9, 1951—Dodgers vs. Tourists
A crowd of 6,579 fans stuffed the ballpark to watch the Dodgers beat Asheville, 9-8. Roy Campanella hit two home runs and Robinson added an inside-the-park roundtripper.
1959
Baseball returns after a three-year stint of hosting stock car racing.
1961
Tourists win South Atlantic League championship
Major league highlight April 11, 1964—Pirates vs. Phillies
The Pirates received home runs from Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente and beat Jim Bunning and the Phillies, 16-3.
1968
Tourists win Southern League championship
1972-1975
Asheville spends four years as an Oriole affiliate. Cal Ripken Sr. was manager from 1972-74.
1980-1993
Ron McKee takes over as general manager to begin 25-year career. Woody Kern buys Tourists from Community Baseball, Inc. Asheville is an affiliate of the Houston Astros.
1984
The Tourists win the South Atlantic League championship
1992
Major renovation of McCormick Field
2012 & 2014
Tourists win the South Atlantic League championships
2023
The city of Asheville votes in favor of funding McCormick Field repairs
2024
McCormick Field celebrates its 100th anniversary. Stadium repairs begin at the end of the season.