Thread by @GoTourists, It looks like we have some new followers this week so [...]

Asheville Tourists

GoTourists

It looks like we have some new followers this week

so we thought it might be fun to give you a little background on who we are.

ALLOW US TO REINTRODUCE OURSELF, a thread:

Pro baseball began in AVL in 1897. B4 the Tourists, the team had names like the Mountaineers and Moonshiners. Why the change to Tourists?

𝘕𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. Can’t take him anywhere.

Pro baseball began in AVL in 1897. B4 the Tourists, the team had names like the Mountaineers and Moonshiners. Why the change to Tourists? 𝘕𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. Can’t take him anywhere.

In 1914, local Asheville sportswriters began referring to the Mountaineer players as tourists because none of them were from Asheville. The nickname stuck and in 1915 it was adopted full-time.

Unique, right? 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴.

This little treasure in the mtns opened in 1924. It’s named after Dr. Lewis McCormick, AVL’s first bacteriologist. The first game ever played @ McCormick Field was an exhibition vs. Ty Cobb’s @tigers . It’s 297 to RF, which stands 36ft high. Right center is 42ft. Sup lefties?

In 1957 a racetrack was built around the diamond & McCormick Field became McCormick Field Speedway. Weekly stock car races & a few NASCAR races were hosted.

Rumor has it Ralph Earnhardt crashed into the first base dugout.

Idk why I said that was a rumor. That actually happened.

Some people that were good at baseball have graced McCormick. Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Eddie Murray, Craig Biggio & Nolan Arenado to name a few.

Also @ciara’s husband played for the T’s. You know, the one that throws the football 4 the @seahawks.. Okok it’s @dangerusswilson

This guy named Crash Davis hit his 247th HR as a T at McCormick, setting the @MiLB record. An honor Crash called “dubious”. Took the @sportingnews until 2018 to write about it, but boy, @ryanfagan wrote an absolute page turner.

Give it a read: https://bit.ly/3nd3fn1

Sporting News What-If: Crash Davis hits record minor-league home run for Asheville Tourists

In the early evening hours on the first day of September, at a ballpark nestled into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a minor-league baseball legend made history.

https://bit.ly/3nd3fn1

Did we mention we have two of the most recognizable mascots in sports? Ted E. & Mr. Moon, at your service.

Sometimes we do space things but we’ll tell you about that when you’re older.