Sims Legion Park
Encyclopedia
| Sims Legion Park | |
| Facility statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gastonia, North Carolina Gastonia, North Carolina Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,... |
| Broke ground | |
| Opened | 1950 (Sims Legion Park I) 1977 (Sims Legion Park II) |
| Closed | Open |
| Demolished | Open |
| Owner | |
| Operator | ? |
| Surface | Natural Grass |
| Construction cost | ? |
| Architect | ? |
| Former names | |
| Tenants | |
| Local American Legion Baseball (1972-) Gastonia Cardinals (1977–1992) Gastonia Expos (1983–1984) Gastonia Jets (1985) Gastonia Tigers (1986) Gastonia Rangers (1987–1992) Gaston County King Cougars Atlantic Coast League (1995) The Atlantic Coast League , based in Gastonia, North Carolina, was a professional, independent baseball league located in the Southeastern United States. It operated in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and was not affiliated with either. Founded in 1994, the league would... (1995) Carolina Diamonds/National Pro Fastpitch National Pro Fastpitch National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago... (1997–98) Gastonia Grizzlies (2002-) |
|
| Seating capacity | |
| 3,000 (expandable to 4,500) | |
| Dimensions | |
| Left Field: 335 Left-Center: 360 Center Field: 380 Right-Center: 360 Right Field: 335 | |
Sims Legion Park is a 3,000-seat baseball stadium
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
located in Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
, it serves as home to the Gastonia Grizzlies 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...
.
The stadium underwent a total rebuilt in the 1970s in order to attract a Minor League Baseball
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...
team. Since then the stadium has seen many tenants come and go. Sims Legion Park is home to American Legion baseball in Gastonia.
Such greats to call Sim Legion Park home : Andy Van Slyke
Andy Van Slyke
Andrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:...
(Cardinals, Pirates), Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
(Rangers, White Sox, Cubs, Orioles), Juan González (Rangers, Tigers, Indians, Royals), Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
(Rangers, Marlins, Tigers), and former Major Leaguer Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
(Mets, Phillies) pitched one game for the Rangers in 1989.