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Coordinates: 35°12′13″N 80°51′32″W / 35.20361°N 80.85889°W / 35.20361; -80.85889
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{{Infobox venue
{{coord|35|12|N|80|51|W|display=title}}
| name = Clark Griffith Park
'''Clark Griffith Park''' or better known as '''Griffith Park''' was a [[stadium]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], located at 400 Magnolia Avenue in the Dilworth section of town. The park opened in 1941 and held as many as 5,000 people in a covered grandstand which extended from first base to third base. It was primarily used for [[baseball]], and served as the home field for the [[Charlotte Hornets (baseball)|Charlotte Hornets]], the farm team for the [[History of the Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] from 1937 to 1961, and [[Minnesota Twins]] from 1961 to 1972, and the [[Charlotte Knights|Charlotte Orioles]], a AA Southern League farm team of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] from 1976 to 1987. After a renovation of the park in 1976 for the O's, it was ready to host orioles minor league baseball. The park was renamed '''Jim Crockett Memorial Park''' in 1977 (but was mostly called '''Crockett Park'''), both in honor of [[Jim Crockett Sr.|the promoter who brought the team]], and to distance themselves from the former owners. The park was almost completely burned down on March 16, 1985. Investigators determined the fire was set by juveniles.
| nickname = Griffith Park
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| former names = Jim Crockett Memorial Park (1977-1987); Knights Park (1988)
| address = 400 Magnolia Ave
| city = Charlotte, North Carolina
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| dimensions = ''(1940)''<br />'''Left Field''' – 289&nbsp;ft<br />'''Center Field''' – 410&nbsp;ft<br />'''Right Field''' – 308&nbsp;ft<br />{{pb}}''(1987)''<br />'''Left Field''' – 320&nbsp;ft<br />'''Center Field''' – 390&nbsp;ft<br />'''Right Field''' – 320&nbsp;ft
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'''Clark Griffith Park''' or better known as '''Griffith Park''' was a [[stadium]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], located at 400 Magnolia Avenue (the south corner of Magnolia and Lyndhurst Avenue) in the Dilworth section of town. It replaced '''[[Wearn Field|Hayman Park]]''', which was located at South Graham Street and West Bland Street, and was originally called '''Wearn Field''' when it opened in 1908.
⚫
The Crockett family built a 3,000-seat makeshift stadium soon after the fire. However, it was completely exposed to the elements. The O's attendance fell off over the next 2 seasons, 1986, and 1987, because there was no protection for the fans. When the Charlotte O's last season was over [[George Shinn]] bought the team, and the stadium, and renamed it Knights Park. The team was renamed Knights out of a naming contest to distance the similarity between the major league affiliate. The new Charlotte "Knights" only played there for their first season in 1988, and in 1989, the team switched affiliates to the [[Chicago Cubs]] , and moved to the new and much bigger ballpark in Fort Mill SC, the "Castle" or [[Knights Stadium]].

Clark Griffith Park opened in 1941 and held as many as 5,000 people in a covered grandstand which extended from first base to third base. It was primarily used for [[baseball]], and served as the home field for the [[Charlotte Hornets (baseball)|Charlotte Hornets]], an affiliate of the [[History of the Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]]/ [[Minnesota Twins]] from 1937 to 1972 in various leagues ranging from Class B (equivalent to Class A today) to Class AA, and the [[Charlotte Knights|Charlotte Orioles]], a Class AA [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] farm team of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] from 1976 to 1987.

The Negro American League Raleigh Tigers played at the ballpark on May 14, 1961.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lowry |first=Philip J.|author-link= |date=2006 |title=Green Cathedrals|url= |location=New York, New York|publisher=Walker & Company |page=46|isbn=0-8027-1608-3}}</ref>

After a renovation of the park in 1976 for the O's, the park was renamed '''Jim Crockett Memorial Park''' in 1977 (but was mostly called '''Crockett Park'''), both in honor of [[Jim Crockett Sr.|the promoter who brought the team]], and to distance themselves from the former owners. The park was almost completely burned down on March 16, 1985. Investigators determined the fire was set by juveniles.

⚫
The Crockett family built a 3,000-seat makeshift stadium soon after the fire. However, it was completely exposed to the elements. The O's attendance fell off over the next 2 seasons, 1986, and 1987, because there was no protection for the fans. When the Charlotte O's last season was over [[George Shinn]] bought the team, and the stadium, and renamed it Knights Park. The team was renamed Knights out of a naming contest to distance the similarity between the major league affiliate.<ref>Gault, Earl. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rzktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RL4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2815,3688836&dq=knights+park&hl=en Some win, some lose if Knights move to S. C.] [[The Herald (Rock Hill)|The Herald]], 1988-05-22.</ref> The new Charlotte "Knights" only played there for their first season in 1988, and in 1989, the team switched affiliations to the [[Chicago White Sox]], and moved to a new and much bigger ballpark in [[Fort Mill, South Carolina]], [[Knights Stadium|Knights Castle]].

In March 2014, the [[Charlotte Knights]] unveiled four murals at its [[Truist Field]] along the S Graham Street side to commemorate the former Charlotte-area homes of professional baseball including Griffith Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-70207802 | title=Knights Pay Tribute to Charlotte Baseball Past, Present & Future
|last= |first= |date=March 27, 2014 |website=milb.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media|access-date=2022-11-25 |quote=}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
*[http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/Resource_Center/venues/crockettpark/crockett_park.htm Classic Venues for Jim Crockett Promotions: Crockett Park]

*Gault, Earl. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rzktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RL4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2815,3688836&dq=knights+park&hl=en Some win, some lose if Knights move to S. C.] [[The Herald (Rock Hill)|The Herald]], 1988-05-22.
==External links==
*[https://charlottesports.omeka.net/items/show/23 Postcard view of Clark Griffith Park]
*[http://digitalballparks.com/Southern/Crockett1.html Some photos]
*[https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3904cm.g3904cm_g06391195101/?sp=114 Sanborn map showing a portion of Griffith Park, 1951]
*[https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3904cm.g3904cm_g06391192902/?sp=100 Sanborn map showing Wearn Field, Griffith Park's immediate predecessor, 1929]

{{Charlotte 49ers baseball navbox}}


[[Category:Sports venues in Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Defunct minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Defunct minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Defunct baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Defunct sports venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Defunct sports venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1941 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1941]]

Latest revision as of 07:41, 11 August 2024

Clark Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Map
Former namesJim Crockett Memorial Park (1977-1987); Knights Park (1988)
Address400 Magnolia Ave
Charlotte, North Carolina
Coordinates35°12′13″N 80°51′32″W / 35.20361°N 80.85889°W / 35.20361; -80.85889
OwnerWashington Senators
Capacity3,200 (1940); 6,500 (1960); 5,500 (1985); 3,000 (1988)
Field size(1940)
Left Field – 289 ft
Center Field – 410 ft
Right Field – 308 ft
(1987)
Left Field – 320 ft
Center Field – 390 ft
Right Field – 320 ft
Construction
Built1940
Opened1941
Renovated1985
Closed1987

Clark Griffith Park or better known as Griffith Park was a stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, located at 400 Magnolia Avenue (the south corner of Magnolia and Lyndhurst Avenue) in the Dilworth section of town. It replaced Hayman Park, which was located at South Graham Street and West Bland Street, and was originally called Wearn Field when it opened in 1908.

Clark Griffith Park opened in 1941 and held as many as 5,000 people in a covered grandstand which extended from first base to third base. It was primarily used for baseball, and served as the home field for the Charlotte Hornets, an affiliate of the Washington Senators/ Minnesota Twins from 1937 to 1972 in various leagues ranging from Class B (equivalent to Class A today) to Class AA, and the Charlotte Orioles, a Class AA Southern League farm team of the Baltimore Orioles from 1976 to 1987.

The Negro American League Raleigh Tigers played at the ballpark on May 14, 1961.[1]

After a renovation of the park in 1976 for the O's, the park was renamed Jim Crockett Memorial Park in 1977 (but was mostly called Crockett Park), both in honor of the promoter who brought the team, and to distance themselves from the former owners. The park was almost completely burned down on March 16, 1985. Investigators determined the fire was set by juveniles.

The Crockett family built a 3,000-seat makeshift stadium soon after the fire. However, it was completely exposed to the elements. The O's attendance fell off over the next 2 seasons, 1986, and 1987, because there was no protection for the fans. When the Charlotte O's last season was over George Shinn bought the team, and the stadium, and renamed it Knights Park. The team was renamed Knights out of a naming contest to distance the similarity between the major league affiliate.[2] The new Charlotte "Knights" only played there for their first season in 1988, and in 1989, the team switched affiliations to the Chicago White Sox, and moved to a new and much bigger ballpark in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Knights Castle.

In March 2014, the Charlotte Knights unveiled four murals at its Truist Field along the S Graham Street side to commemorate the former Charlotte-area homes of professional baseball including Griffith Park.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lowry, Philip J. (2006). Green Cathedrals. New York, New York: Walker & Company. p. 46. ISBN 0-8027-1608-3.
  2. ^ Gault, Earl. Some win, some lose if Knights move to S. C. The Herald, 1988-05-22.
  3. ^ "Knights Pay Tribute to Charlotte Baseball Past, Present & Future". milb.com. MLB Advanced Media. March 27, 2014. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
[edit]
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