Hickory Crawdads
Minor League Baseball team based in Hickory, North Carolina.
The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in the Carolina League, serving as the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Based in Hickory, North Carolina, they host games at L. P. Frans Stadium, which opened in 1993 and seats about 4,000 fans. The franchise began in 1993 as a member of the South Atlantic League (SAL), and over the years has claimed three SAL championships—in 2002, 2004, and 2015. Their parent clubs have included the Chicago White Sox (through 1998), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1999–2008), and the Texas Rangers (since 2009). The team’s name was chosen from fan submissions, beating out finalists like “Woodchucks” and “River Rats,” because crawdads are tough and common in local streams. The Crawdads were shifted to the High-A East in 2021, which was renamed the South Atlantic League in 2022, before moving to the Carolina League in 2025. Their mascot, Conrad the Crawdad, has been around since the start, and he married his wife Candy in an on-field ceremony in 2018.
- established
- 1993
- league
- Carolina League (Single-A)
- home_stadium
- L. P. Frans Stadium
- stadium_capacity
- roughly 4,000 fixed seats
- affiliate
- Texas Rangers (since 2009)
- championships
- 3 (2002, 2004, 2015)
Lore & Background
The Hickory Crawdads were established in 1993 after local businessman Don Beaver purchased the Gastonia Rangers and relocated them from Gastonia, North Carolina, to Hickory. Fans submitted name suggestions, and 'Crawdads' was chosen for the animals' strength and presence in local waterways. The team played its first season as the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in the South Atlantic League, a six-year affiliation that ended after 1998 with a 374–464 record.
From 1999 to 2008, the Crawdads were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, reaching the postseason five times and winning SAL championships in 2002 and 2004. The team became a Texas Rangers affiliate in 2009, winning a third SAL championship in 2015. Following the 2017 season, the Rangers purchased the team from Beaver. In 2021, the Crawdads were moved to the High-A East, renamed the South Atlantic League in 2022, and then demoted to Single-A and joined the Carolina League in 2025.
Reader's Guide
The Hickory Crawdads represent a consistent presence in Minor League Baseball since 1993, with a history of affiliation changes and championship success. Their three South Atlantic League titles (2002, 2004, 2015) highlight periods of competitive strength, particularly during their ten-year partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates and subsequent long-term affiliation with the Texas Rangers. The team's relocation from Gastonia and fan-driven naming process reflect local community engagement. The Crawdads' move to the Carolina League in 2025 as a Single-A affiliate marks a recent structural change in MiLB. Their mascot, Conrad the Crawdad, has been a fixture since 1993, adding to the team's identity. The franchise's significance lies in its role as a developmental affiliate for multiple MLB organizations and its sustained operation in Hickory, North Carolina.
Did You Know?
- The team name 'Crawdads' was chosen from fan submissions, beating finalists including 'Woodchucks', 'River Rats', 'Valley Cats', and 'Hound Dogs'.
- Conrad the Crawdad, the official mascot since 1993, married his wife Candy in an on-field ceremony on June 24, 2018.
- The Crawdads won South Atlantic League championships in 2002, 2004, and 2015.
- The Texas Rangers purchased the team from local businessman Don Beaver after the 2017 season.
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