Sims Legion Park
Sims Legion Park is a 3,000-seat baseball stadium located in Gastonia, North Carolina. It hosts the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League, as well as American Legion baseball.
Location | Gastonia, North Carolina |
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Coordinates | 35.279810°N 81.183813°W |
Capacity | 3,000 (expandable to 4,500) |
Field size | Left Field: 335 Left-Center: 360 Center Field: 380 Right-Center: 360 Right Field: 335 |
Surface | Natural Grass |
Opened | 1950 (Sims Legion Park I) 1977 (Sims Legion Park II) |
Tenants | |
Local American Legion Baseball, 1972– Gastonia Pirates (WCL) 1966–1968 Gastonia Cardinals (WCL, SAL) 1977–1982 Gastonia Expos (SAL) 1983–1984 Gastonia Jets (SAL) 1985 Gastonia Tigers (SAL) 1986 Gastonia Rangers (SAL) 1987–1992 Gaston County King Cougars (ACL) 1995 Carolina Diamonds (NPF) 1997–98 Gastonia Grizzlies (CPL) 2002– |
The stadium underwent a total rebuild in the 1970s in order to attract a Minor League Baseball team. Since then the stadium has seen many tenants come and go. There is an ongoing effort to build a new ballpark in Gastonia, but it is not guaranteed to be a new home for the Grizzlies.[1][2] City officials are favoring a potential partnership which would put an Atlantic League expansion team in the new ballpark.[3] Grizzlies ownership have said they would not share the stadium.[3]
Players who've played here include Andy Van Slyke (Cardinals, Pirates), Sammy Sosa (Rangers, White Sox, Cubs, Orioles), Juan González (Rangers, Tigers, Indians, Royals), Iván Rodríguez (Rangers, Marlins, Tigers), and former Major Leaguer Tug McGraw (Mets, Phillies), who pitched one game for the Rangers in 1989.
References
- Barrett, Michael (January 20, 2019). "Many questions remain about what teams will play in FUSE stadium". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- Spedden, Zach (January 23, 2019). "Grizzlies Not Guaranteed Use of Proposed Gastonia Ballpark". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- Spedden, Zach (August 5, 2019). "Atlantic League Could Land in New Gastonia Ballpark". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved August 5, 2019.