The Eastern Carolina League was a
minor league baseball affiliation which operated in the Eastern part of
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
. The league had two distinct periods of operation: 1908 to 1910 and a revival of the league in 1928 and 1929. It was classified as a Class D level league.
The most famous person to play in the league was
Jim Thorpe
James Francis Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk): ''Wa-Tho-Huk'', translated as "Bright Path"; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Nativ ...
, considered by some the greatest athlete of the twentieth century. It was his involvement with the Eastern Carolina League that cost him his amateur status and his
1912 Summer Olympics metals.
Eastern Carolina League champions
*1908 –
Wilson Tobacconists †
*1909 –
Wilson Tobacconists
*1910 –
Fayetteville Highlanders
*1928 –
Goldsboro Manufacturers
*1929 –
Rocky Mount Buccaneers
† ''In late August 1908, Eastern North Carolina was hit by what is now known as Tropical Storm #5.
The playoffs were abandoned with
Wilmington leading
Wilson 2 games to 1.''
Cities represented
*
Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the All-America C ...
:
Fayetteville Highlanders 1909–1910
*
Goldsboro, NC:
Goldsboro Giants 1908–1910;
Goldsboro Manufacturers 1928;
Goldsboro Goldbugs 1929
*
Greenville, NC:
Greenville Tobacconists 1928–1929
*
Kinston, NC
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States, with a population of 21,677 as of the 2010 census. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. Kinston is located in the coastal plains region of e ...
:
Kinston 1908;
Kinston Eagles 1928–1929
*
New Bern, NC:
New Bern 1908
*
Raleigh, NC:
Raleigh Red Birds 1908–1910
*
Rocky Mount, NC:
Rocky Mount Railroaders 1909–1910;
Rocky Mount Buccaneers 1928–1929
*
Wilmington, NC:
Wilmington Sailors 1908–1910;
Wilmington Pirates 1928–1929
*
Wilson, NC:
Wilson Tobacconists 1908–1910
Standings & statistics
1908 to 19101908 schedule
New Bern and Kinston withdrew July 15
Playoffs: Abandoned August 27 due to bad weather. Wilmington was leading Wilson 2 games to 1.
1909 schedule
Playoffs: Wilson awarded Championship after ineligible player violations were enacted.
1910 schedule
Playoffs: Fayetteville 4 games, Rocky Mount 1.
1928 to 1929
Playoffs: Goldsboro 4 games, Wilmington 2.
Playoffs: Rocky Mount 4 games, Wilmington 2.
External links
Page about Thorpe
References
{{Authority control
Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
Baseball leagues in North Carolina
Sports leagues established in 1908
Sports leagues disestablished in 1910
Sports leagues established in 1928
Sports leagues disestablished in 1929