📍 Asheville, North Carolina
⚾ Home of the Asheville Tourists

Nestled in the hills of western North Carolina, Asheville’s McCormick Field is a living testament to the enduring spirit of the minor leagues. This legendary ballpark has been a landmark in the city since it opened in 1924, hosting both Negro League and affiliated baseball throughout the years and, for most of its colorful history, it’s been home to a few beloved iterations of a single-A club called the Asheville Tourists.

The Tourists name dates way back to 1915, when a local sportswriter remarked that none of the players for the minor league Asheville Mountaineers were actually from the area, branding them as “just a bunch of tourists” – and the nickname stuck. Playing under a few different classifications in a smattering of affiliated leagues over the next few decades, the Tourists finally settled in the Low-A South Atlantic League in 1980. Thirty years later, the Tourists – along with the entire league – were promoted to the High-A level. The current team has been affiliated with the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros.

McCormick Field, now over a century old, has cemented itself as a cherished part of the cultural fabric of the city of Asheville and as one of Minor League Baseball’s most charming venues. The third-oldest ballpark in the minors, McCormick Field features a classic brick-clad grandstand and is carved into a steep hillside. This tight footprint has resulted in some quirky dimensions, with the right field fence sitting just 297 feet from home plate and necessitating a 36-foot high wall to help cut down on the amount of possible dingers.

At the top of the hill in the outfield is the adjacent Memorial Stadium, a community use recreational facility used for football and soccer. The top of the stadium’s grandstand offers sweeping vistas of McCormick Field, the city of Asheville and the surrounding hills – certainly one of the more unique vantage points in the minors.

Over its hundred-plus years of existence, McCormick Field has received some extensive renovations to help the venue keep up with the times. After the brief installation of a NASCAR track around the field in the late ’50s, the ballpark received its first major revamp in 1959. A starring role in the iconic 1988 film Bull Durham helped McCormick Field’s popularity soar, resulting in another overhaul in 1992. This time, the primarily wooden structure was replaced with a less-fire prone concrete seating bowl. As of 2024, another major facelift is underway to help modernize the ballpark, featuring improvements such as an expanded playing field, a new suite and clubhouse structure and a larger left field video board.

The sensational concessions at McCormick Field are also of note, including – but not limited to – deep fried Moon Pies, a uniquely Southern offering topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce and chocolate syrup. The stadium is also the original home of the now nationally-known Thirsty Thursdays promotion, a logical by-product of Asheville’s notorious beer scene.

As Asheville has grown into a thriving hub of arts, culture, and outdoor adventure, so too has McCormick Field grown. This timeless treasure is now one of the city’s most popular summer hangouts, featuring not only a rich baseball heritage but also a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and Tourists alike.