Olde Kinston Gazette: Kinston's Special Place in Professional Baseball History

By B.J. Murphy

Originally published: April 1988

Retyped by: Norma-Jean Miller

Special to the Olde Kinston Gazette

The smell of fresh-cut grass, the sound of birds chirping, and the sight of a warm, breezy day in the middle of spring in Kinston, NC make everything else seem undesirable, except the invitation to play baseball. Baseball is not only America’s favorite past-time. It’s Kinston’s too.

Professional baseball originated baseball originated in Kinston in the early 1920s in the Class B Virginia League. Owners of the team allowed the City of Kinston to vote on the team’s nickname, and the people chose the “Eagles.” The nickname “Eagles” would remain with the Kinston program for more than fifty years.

To cut cost, the Kinston Eagles moved to the Class D Eastern Carolina League in 1928. The league itself had a pen name of its own, the “Bright Leaf Belt.'“ Teams from Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Wilmington participated in this league. After the Great Depression took its toll on the ECL, the league disbanded - only a year after Kinston had joined.

An absence of professional baseball here lasted until Kinston entered the Coastal Plain’s League in 1937. A short time after, a St. Louis Cardinal’s scout, Clifford (Pat) Rankin Crawford, recommended to the Cardinals that they should invest in the Kinston franchise. The deal between Crawford, the Cardinals, and Kinston sent seven players, a manager, and $1600 to the Kinston team. Crawford, A.K.A. “Cap’n Pat,” had been a member of the Cardinal’s during the time that their 19334 “Gashouse Gang” that won the World Series.

Many Kinstonians remember Crawford as a kind, generous man. We hold dear to our hearts memories of his engaging smile, which prompter a college friend to give him the nickname “Pat.” He was head of the Recreation Department and was involved with many community activities. Baseball in Kinston owes the late Crawford many “thank you’s” for his undying love for the game. Because of Crawford’s efforts to keep baseball alive in Kinston, they named the annual award for the most valuable player after “cap’n Pat” Crawford.

In 1939, the Cardinals left Kinston. The Kinston Eagles, managed by Fred “Snake” Henry, operated as an independent and attained a spot in the playoffs. The underdog Eagles defeated Greenville in the first round, but lost to Williamston in the championship series. That 1939 championship series was a first for a professional baseball team in Kinston.

The Coastal Plains League got caught in a financial pickle in the early 1950s and dispersed. Again, Kinston had an absence of professional baseball. In 1956, the owner of the Burlington franchise, L.C. “red” Fowler, associated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, moved to Kinston because of a lack in attendance. This move place Kinston in the Class B Carolina League, which meant Kinston was two classes higher than before in a five-team farm system. After battles with the Pirates and another poor attendance showing, Fowler left Kinston.

Not until 1962, when Kinston latched on with the Pirates again, did Kinston have a team. This time, under the management of Harding “Pete” Peterson, the program was back on its feet. A record, which lasted thirty-seven years, of 4,537 people showed up at a game between the Durham Bulls and Kinston on June 11th, 1962. The Eagles showed their desire to win and defeated Durham in a seven-game championship series.

Peterson later left Kinston to pursue the general manager position in Pittsburgh but did not leave empty-handed. From 1962-1964, Peterson advanced fifteen players from Kinston to the majors. He also averaged an attendance of 2,000 fans each game.

The world-famous New York Yankees and Kinston signed a working agreement in 1968. Kinston’s manager, Gene Hassell, won the Carolina League Manager of the Year award in both 1971 and 1972. The franchise played under a joint contract with the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves in 1973. On the team that year was Terry Whitfield, who won the league’s most valuable player.

A major change in the club came in 194 when Kinston agreed with the terms of the Montreal Expos and changed its name from “Eagles” to “Expos.” The franchise witnessed its lowest ebb in the history of Kinston baseball. The team compiled a record low of thirty-eight wins. Only 30,000 fans showed up to watch the Kinston team play, compared with that of twelve years before of 141,000. After a year of disastrous baseball, Kinston was without professional ball for four years.

Finally a couple from Virginia named Ray and Ruth Kuhlman saved the day for Kinston’s favorite pastime. Kinston operated as an independent in 1978 and changed its name back to “Eagles".” Leo Mazzone managed the club and despite some fantastic baseball the team finished below .500.

In 1979, the newest expansion team, the Toronto Blue Jays, signed a seven-year contract with Kinston. The team ended the year with its best season since 1973. An exciting and popular player for Kinston was Ralph “Rocket” Wheeler. They had compared his skill and talents with those of Pete Rose. Jesse Barfield, the talented outfielder, was a great defensive player in his time.

Manager by John McLaren, who later coached in Toronto, the Eagles soared to the first-half pennant, the first pennant by any team associated with Toronto. In 1982, the team changed its name to “Blue Jays.” The Kuhlmans sold the franchise after the 1983 season, but the team remained associated with Toronto. Kinston ended the first half of the 1985 in last place of the Southern Division, but Manager Grady Little would not let his team give up. Kinston won the second half title , but lost to Winston-Salem in the playoffs. The only Blue Jay named to the league’s all-star team was outfielder Eric Yielding. Little won the manager of the year award.

After an argument with Toronto officials, Toronto moved the Blue Jays to Dunedin, Florida. The Kinston franchise operated as an independent the following season. Again, the popular “Eagles” were back in business. Despite the team’s fifth place finish, Dave Trembley, Kinston’s manager, had been considered for manager age the Pittsburgh Pirates’ AA team in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

In 187, the Kinston Eagles latched on with the Cleveland Indians and changed its name to “Indians".” The past decade of baseball in Kinston has been some of the best seen since the 20’s and 30’s. The 1988 ball team won the league championship, the first since 1962. Each year the Indians have improved.

Kinston and the Indians have gone through great lengths to ensure a good quality baseball organization. Grainger Stadium, home of the Indians, has received major renovation in the past few years. Grainger Stadium now has more box seats, more concession stands, and a new parking lot. The clubhouse has been remodeled to look more professional.

The Olde Kinston Gazette, the City of Kinston, the Kinston Indians, and the lovers of America’s favorite pastime want to invite anyone with an interest in baseball and its tradition to come watch the Indians in another exciting year of baseball. Hey, we don’t know when we’ll see the next Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, or Mickey Mantle, but guess where they got their start?

Editor’s note: Neuse News is reprinting selected articles from the archives of the Olde Kinston Gazette. Some light edits have been made from the original reports.