The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from June to August. The league is part of Major League Baseball and USA Baseball's Prospect Development Pipeline.
The Bluefield Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. The team played their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a historic stadium in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, was operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, one of the Quad Cities.
The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field, which opened in 2014 and is located in Uptown Charlotte. The Knights previously played at Knights Park (1976–1988), Knights Castle (1989), and Knights Stadium (1990–2013).
The Pulaski Yankees were a minor league baseball team based in Pulaski, Virginia, United States. They were an Advanced Rookie League team in the Appalachian League. The team played its home games at Calfee Park. They were affiliated with several Major League Baseball teams, including the New York Yankees in their final season.
The Burlington Royals were a minor league baseball team in Burlington, North Carolina, United States. They were a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians from 1986 to 2006 as the Burlington Indians. They were known as the Royals during an affiliation with the Kansas City Royals from 2007 to 2020. The Royals played their home games at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Opened in 1960, Burlington Athletic Stadium held 3,500 fans.
The Danville Braves were a Minor League Baseball team in Danville, Virginia. They were an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and were a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have played home games at American Legion Post 325 Field. Opened in 1993, Legion Field held 2,588 fans. Before coming to Danville, they played at Calfee Park in Pulaski, Virginia.
The Elizabethton Twins were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They were located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and were named for their major league affiliate. The team played its home games at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark, which opened in 1974.
Modern Woodmen Park is a minor league baseball venue located in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is home to the Quad Cities River Bandits, a A-Advance affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Since 1987, St. Ambrose University plays all of its home baseball games there as well. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, in the shadow of the Centennial Bridge, home run balls to right field often land in the river.
Harold Delano "Butch" Wynegar, Jr. is an American former professional baseball player and the current hitting coach for the Bradenton Marauders Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and California Angels, and was a two-time All Star.
The Johnson City Cardinals were a Minor League Baseball team based in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Cardinals were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in their final season and played in the Rookie Appalachian League. The team won ten league championships, most recently in 2019. They played their home games at TVA Credit Union Ballpark.
Double-A is the second highest level of play in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) in the United States after Triple-A. There are thirty Double-A teams in three leagues at this classification: the Eastern League, Southern League, and Texas League. The modern Double-A classification was created in 1946 with the renaming of Class A1, which then contained the Texas League and the Southern Association. After the Southern Association disbanded in 1961, the Eastern League and the original South Atlantic "Sally" League were bumped up to Double-A in the 1963 minor league reorganization. The Sally League changed its name to the Southern League in 1964.
The Greenville Drive are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greenville, South Carolina. They are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and a member of the Carolina League. Prior to the 2021 season, the team competed at the Class A level in the South Atlantic League. They play their home games at Fluor Field at the West End, and their mascot is a frog named Reedy Rip'it.
The Elizabethton Phils were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Appalachian League from 1937 to 1942 and 1945 to 1951. They were located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and played their home games at Cherokee Park.
LaMonte Aaron Wade Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins.
Trevor John Ikaikaloa Larnach is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Minnesota Twins organization.
The Fredericksburg Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team that is the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and play their home games at New Fredericksburg Ballpark, with a capacity of 5,000 people.
The New River Rebels were a minor league baseball team representing Narrows, Virginia and Pearisburg, Virginia from 1946–1950. The New River Rebels were a member of the Class D Appalachian League from 1946–1950. The Rebels captured Appalachian League Championships in 1946 and 1947.
The Elizabethton River Riders are a summer collegiate baseball team of the Appalachian League. They are located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and play their home games at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.
The Burlington Sock Puppets are a summer collegiate baseball team of the Appalachian League. They are located in Burlington, North Carolina, and play their home games at Burlington Athletic Stadium.
