Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Lore & Background

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans franchise originated as the Durham Bulls, the team featured in the 1988 film Bull Durham. After the 1997 season, the Carolina League franchise relocated when Triple-A baseball expanded into Durham. The team spent 1998 in Danville, Virginia, as the Danville 97s while awaiting completion of Coastal Federal Field (later renamed Pelicans Ballpark) in Myrtle Beach. Their first home game was on April 12, 1999, against the Potomac Cannons, with 5,521 in attendance. In that game, Pelicans pitcher Luis Rivera struck out Cannons hitter Esix Snead looking, and the first two hits were home runs—one by Potomac's Andy Bevins and one by Myrtle Beach's Ryan Lehr.

The Pelicans have been members of the Carolina League since 1999. In the 2021 reorganization of Minor League Baseball, they became the Cubs' Low-A affiliate in the Low-A East, which was renamed the Carolina League and reclassified as Single-A in 2022. The team's ballpark has been rated highly by Baseball America and Stadium Journey, and some games are televised on Marquee Sports Network, though that network is not available in South Carolina.

Reader's Guide

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans represent a key link in the Chicago Cubs' player development system, serving as a Single-A affiliate since 2015. The franchise's history includes a notable relocation from Durham, North Carolina, where it was the Durham Bulls, and a one-year stop in Danville, Virginia, before settling in Myrtle Beach. The Pelicans have won three Carolina League championships (2000, 2015, 2016) and were co-champions in 1999 after the championship series was cancelled due to Hurricane Floyd. Notable former players include Jason Heyward, who played over half the 2009 season in Myrtle Beach en route to being named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year. The team has also seen front office milestones, including the promotion of Kristin Call as the first female general manager in team history in 2021. Pelicans Ballpark has been recognized as a top stadium experience, and the team has been ranked among the best attractions in Myrtle Beach by TripAdvisor.

Did You Know?

• The Pelicans were co-champions in 1999 after the championship series was cancelled due to Hurricane Floyd.
• Jason Heyward played over half the 2009 season in Myrtle Beach and was named Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year.
• Kristin Call became the first female general manager in team history on December 2, 2021.
• The franchise previously operated as the Durham Bulls, the team featured in the 1988 film Bull Durham.