Rocky Mount Pines
One-season minor league team with the worst record in Carolina League history.
The Rocky Mount Pines were a minor league baseball team that played just one season, 1980, in the Class A Carolina League. Based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, they were the 42nd and last club to represent the city in 20th-century minor league ball, a history stretching back to 1909. The Pines operated without any Major League affiliation, playing their home games at Municipal Stadium. Owner Lou Haneles and manager Mal Fichman brought professional baseball back to Rocky Mount after the Rocky Mount Phillies left in 1975.
The 1980 season was a disaster. The Pines finished with a record of 24 wins and 114 losses, the worst in Carolina League history. They endured losing streaks of 18, 14, 13, and 11 games. The low point came on August 29, when Durham Bulls pitcher Rick Behenna no-hit them in an 8-0 defeat. Total attendance for the season was just 26,702 fans. The franchise moved to Hagerstown, Maryland the following year, becoming the Hagerstown Suns (now the Frederick Keys).
Rocky Mount had fielded minor league teams in several leagues since 1909, including the Carolina League, Coastal Plain League, Bi-State League, Piedmont League, Eastern Carolina League, and Virginia League. Previous team names included the Rocky Mount Phillies, Senators, Rocks, Red Sox, Buccaneers, Broncos, Tar Heels, Carolinians, and Railroaders. Over the years, these clubs were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Rocky Mount teams won six league championships: 1915, 1929, 1942, 1946, 1966, and 1975.
Municipal Stadium, also known as Briles Field, Tar Heel Park, or Briles Park at various times, hosted the Pines. Its capacity shifted over the decades—4,500 in 1920, 2,800 in 1923, 3,200 in 1936, 3,500 in 1950, and back to 4,500 in 1971. Field dimensions also changed: 350-430-350 in 1923, 300-430-350 in 1936, and 350-350-346 in 1971. The ballpark, located at South Howell Street and O'Berry Street in Rocky Mount, is still in use for youth baseball. The 1980 Pines also played several games at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, North Carolina.
- League
- Carolina League (Class A)
- Season
- 1980
- Record
- 24–114
- Manager
- Mal Fichman
- Owner
- Lou Haneles
- Home Field
- Municipal Stadium, Rocky Mount, NC
- Fate
- Relocated to Hagerstown, Maryland as the Hagerstown Suns
Lore & Background
The Rocky Mount Pines were formed by owner Lou Haneles and managed by Mal Fichman, bringing professional baseball back to Rocky Mount after the departure of the Rocky Mount Phillies in 1975. The team played its home games at Municipal Stadium, a ballpark that had hosted Rocky Mount teams under various names since 1915. The Pines also played several games in Wilson, North Carolina at Fleming Stadium.
Reader's Guide
The Rocky Mount Pines are notable primarily for their disastrous 1980 season, in which they posted a record of 24 wins and 114 losses—the worst mark in Carolina League history. The team endured losing streaks of 18, 14, 13, and 11 games, and drew only 26,702 fans for the entire season. The low point came on August 29, when Durham Bulls pitcher Rick Behenna no-hit the Pines in an 8-0 victory. Despite being unaffiliated with any Major League organization, the Pines represented the final chapter of Rocky Mount's long minor league history, which began in 1909. After the season, the franchise relocated to Hagerstown, Maryland, becoming the Hagerstown Suns (now the Frederick Keys). The Pines remain a cautionary tale of a single-season team that set a standard for futility.
Did You Know?
- The Rocky Mount Pines were the 42nd and final team to represent Rocky Mount in minor league baseball during the 20th century.
- The Pines finished with a record of 24 wins and 114 losses, the worst mark in Carolina League history.
- On August 29, 1980, Durham Bulls pitcher Rick Behenna no-hit the Pines in an 8-0 victory.
- The franchise relocated to Hagerstown, Maryland after the 1980 season and became the Hagerstown Suns.
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