1918 North Carolina State League — Preseason
Let’s meet the Western Carolina League
A little background on the six new-look D-League franchises
In real life, the Western Carolina League was a Class D League that operated from 1948-52 before combining with the North Carolina State League to form the Tar Heel League in 1953. A second Western Carolina League began play in 1960 and lasted for three years before changing its name to Western Carolinas League (using teams from both North and South Carolina).
I moved up the creation of our Western Carolina League several decades to fit the storyline (wanted somewhere to put the NCSL‘s “minor league“ teams. The team names below are all taken from real minor league teams that existed in North Carolina’s past. Most of them came to life in the 1930s, including some when the North Carolina State League was reborn in 1937. Others came to life in the 1940s.
Here is a look at each new team, their logo and uniform, and some basic historical information:
1. Cooleemee Weavers (Greensboro Patriots)
Stadium: Mill Village Park, capacity 885
Notes: Cooleemee is located in Davie County, and was built as a cotton mill village in 1898 on the shoals of the South Yadkin River. It’s 25 miles from Winston-Salem.
The origin of the cool sounding name: Richmond Pearson, a plantation owner in this area, borrowed the name from the Kulami tribe of Creek Indians in Alabama. "Kulami" is said to mean "place where the white oaks grow."
In real life, the Cooleemee Weavers played for two years in the North Carolina State League in the 1930s. Our Cooleemee club inherits the most successful D-League team in the four-year history of the league. As the Greensboro Junior Patriots, the Weavers have won the last three D-League titles. Lots of great talent should help fill their humble stadium.
2. Hickory Rebels (Asheville Tourists)
Stadium: The Ballpark at Hickory, capacity 1,005
Notes: In 2009, if you get on I-40 in Asheville and go east about 70 miles, coming down the mountain, you’ll get to Hickory. Not sure how those two cities connected back in 1918 but during the trip you may have had to cross the Bunker Hill covered bridge, built in 1894.
Hickory has a long baseball heritage, first with a team known as the Rebels. These days, the Hickory Crawdads have a solid following.
3. Lexington Indians (Durham Bulls)
Stadium: Lexington Grounds, capacity 1,010
Notes: In the early 1900s, much of Lexington’s economy was based on textiles and manufacturing (like a lot of North Carolina’s small communities). I learned only recently that there was also a silver mine just a few miles outside of town that was opened in the early 1800s, one of the earliest operating silver mines in the country.
Lexington these days bills itself as the Barbecue Capital of the World. The unique Lexington style, which we’re sure will be served at the Indians ballpark for the upcoming season, uses a vinegar-based "red" sauce that is seasoned with ketchup, vinegar, and pepper, along with other spices that vary from recipe to recipe.
4. Mooresville Moors (Charlotte Hornets)
Stadium: Mooresville Municipal Park, capacity 995
Notes: Charlotte fans won’t have to travel to far to see their up-and-coming prospects. Mooresville is only about 25 miles away from the Queen City.
Known today as Race City USA, Mooresville houses more than 60 NASCAR race teams and race-affiliated businesses. Of course NASCAR doesn’t exist in 1918, so baseball should take center stage among sports fans.
The big baseball question going into 1918? Will stud pitcher Tim “T-Rex” Johnston stay in Charlotte or begin the season with the Moors a few miles up the road.
5. Mount Airy Graniteers (Winston-Salem Twins)
Stadium: The Quarry, capacity 1,245
Notes: In about eight years from 1918, Mount Airy will become the birth place of Andy Griffith. In about 50 years from 1918, Griffith will bring Mayberry to life on TV screens nationwide when the Andy Griffith Show debuts. Mount Airy is considered the real-life inspiration for Mayberry.
The world’s largest opened-face quarry is located near Mount Airy, hence the baseball team’s nickname. Stone has been extracted from the Mount Airy White Quarry since 1754 -- and should continue to be harvested there for hundreds and hundreds of years more.
If you look at a map of North Carolina, this is the one team that kind of doesn’t fit in the WCL. The other five clubs are pretty close to one another, but since Mount Airy has been a part of my life for most of my 38 years, I couldn’t resist putting them into the Western Carolina League now.
6. Statesville Owls (Raleigh Capitals)
Stadium: Senior High Stadium, capacity 1,100
Notes: I figured Statesville to be a good fit for Raleigh’s franchise after reading that Statesville had served as the temporary capital of North Carolina during the final months of the Civil War, when Union troops occupied Raleigh and forced Gov. Zebulon Vance to relocate the confederate state government.
I found a pretty good photo of the Statesville Owls from 1961, and that served as the model for my uniform for them. I wasn’t sure of the color, so I stuck with red to compliment the Raleigh Caps. Here’s a peek:
OK, let’s play some baseball!! On to the sixth year of the North Carolina State League and the debut season of the Western Carolina League!