The Raleigh Capitals was a name used by various minor league baseball teams that were based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Most of these teams played at Devereaux Meadow. There have been minor league baseball teams in the past that played in Raleigh using the name Capitals. Some of these Raleigh teams also used names such as Senators, Red Birds, Nats, Mets, Cardinals, and Pirates. The last Raleigh franchise existed from 1958–1967 and played in Carolina League. This team merged into the Durham, North Carolina based Durham Bulls in 1968 who also played in the Carolina League (now playing in the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

History of baseball in Raleigh

Raleigh's first professional baseball franchise dates back to 1900 in the form of the Raleigh Senators of the North Carolina Association. The Senators moved to the

Virginia–North Carolina League The Virginia–North Carolina League was a minor league baseball league that played in the 1901 and 1905 seasons, folding before the end of the season in both years. The Virginia-North Carolina League played as a six–team Class C level leagu ...

in 1901. The team then switched leagues again to the North Carolina League and changed their name to the Raleigh Red Birds. The team folded after the 1902 season.Holaday, Chris (2016). Professional Baseball in North Carolina: An Illustrated City-by-city History, 1901-1996. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. {{ISBN, 978-0786425532. In 1908, a new franchise was formed and began playing in the Eastern Carolina League. This franchise took up the name Red Birds. The second Red Birds franchise folded after the 1910 season. In 1913, another franchise formed and began playing in the North Carolina State League. This team took up the name Raleigh Capitals (first Raleigh team called Capitals). The team folded after the 1917 season. In 1920, a new franchise called the Raleigh Nats formed and began playing in the Piedmont League. The team was renamed Red Birds (third Raleigh team to be called Red Birds) in 1921 and was renamed Capitals, reusing the Capitals moniker. This team operated from 1920–1928. The team then folded after that. The last Raleigh franchise which also was the last team to take up the Capitals name was formed in 1958 and began playing in the Carolina League as the Capitals from 1958–1962, Mets in 1963, Cardinals in 1964 and 1965, and finally Pirates in 1966 and 1967. The rival Durham, North Carolina based Durham Bulls franchise who also played in the Carolina League and were a New York Mets affiliate acquired the Raleigh franchise. The Raleigh team then merged into the Durham Bulls. The result was that the Durham Bulls continued as the same franchise while maintaining their affiliation with the Mets and the Raleigh team ceased operations. Despite the Durham Bulls continued as the same franchise, the Bulls were renamed Raleigh-Durham Mets and split their home games between their home stadium

Durham Athletic Park Durham Athletic Park, nicknamed "The DAP", is a former minor league baseball stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The stadium was home to the Durham Bulls from 1926 through 1994, and is currently home to the North Carolina Central Eagles and th ...

in Durham and at Devereaux Meadow in Raleigh for the 1968 season. The team then played as the Phillies as a

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

affiliate in 1969 and Triangles for the 1970 and 1971 seasons and disbanded in 1972. The Durham franchise reformed in 1980 under their original name "Durham Bulls" and returned to the Carolina League as an

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in B ...

affiliate. The Bulls now play in the

at the Triple-A level as a Tampa Bay Rays affiliate.

Today

Despite Raleigh not having a professional baseball team since 1972, the area still has professional baseball. The Zebulon, North Carolina based Carolina Mudcats and the Durham, North Carolina based Durham Bulls are the current minor league baseball teams in the area. The Durham Bulls were one of the rival clubs that played against Raleigh baseball teams between the years of 1913–1967.

Notable Raleigh alumni

Hall of Fame alumni * Hank Greenberg (1930) Inducted, 1956 * Enos Slaughter (1961, MGR) Inducted, 1985 * Carl Yastrzemski (1959) Inducted, 1989 Other notable alumni *

Jim Bibby James Blair Bibby (October 29, 1944 – February 16, 2010)Morris, Chri"Former Major League pitcher Jim Bibby dies at 65" ''The News & Advance'' (Lynchburg, Virginia), Wednesday, February 17, 2010 was an American Major League Baseball right-han ...

(1968) MLB All-Star * Bob Boone (1969) 4 x MLB All-Star *

Gene Clines Eugene Anthony Clines (October 6, 1946 – January 27, 2022) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1970 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Pittsburgh P ...

(1967) * Galen Cisco (1958-1959) * Crash Davis (1949-1952) *

Rawly Eastwick Rawlins Jackson "Rawly" Eastwick (born October 24, 1950), is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, ...

(1971) 2 × NL saves leader (1975, 1976) * Gene Garber (1966-1967) * Cliff Johnson (1970) * Cleon Jones (1963) MLB All-Star * Greg Luzinski (1969) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1975 NL RBI leader * Jon Matlack (1968) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1972 NL Rookie of the Year * Bob Moose (1966) * Jerry Morales (1968) MLB All-Star * Al Oliver (1966) 7 x MLB All-Star * Dick Radatz (1959-1960) 2 x MLB All-Star * Manny Sanguillén (1966) 3 x MLB All-Star *

Ken Singleton Kenneth Wayne Singleton (born June 10, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and designated hitter from to , most prominently as a member ...

(1968) 3 x MLB All-Star * Mike Torrez (1965) MLB All-Star * Wilbur Wood (1960) 3 x MLB All-Star

References

External links

Raleigh, North Carolina Minor League City Encyclopedia for Baseball
Baseball teams established in 1900 Baseball teams disestablished in 1967 Sports in Raleigh, North Carolina Professional baseball teams in North Carolina Defunct Carolina League teams Boston Braves minor league affiliates Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates New York Mets minor league affiliates Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates Washington Senators minor league affiliates 1900 establishments in North Carolina 1967 disestablishments in North Carolina Defunct baseball teams in North Carolina Piedmont League teams