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Tim McCarver Stadium

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Coordinates: 35°07′25″N 89°58′48″W / 35.12361°N 89.98000°W / 35.12361; -89.98000
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McCarver Stadium
Timmy Mac
Map
Interactive map of McCarver Stadium
Full nameTim McCarver Stadium
Former namesFairgrounds Diamond #3 (1963–1967)

Blues Stadium (1968–1977)

Tim McCarver Stadium (1978–1997)
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
United States
Coordinates35°07′25″N 89°58′48″W / 35.12361°N 89.98000°W / 35.12361; -89.98000
Capacity8,800
SurfaceAstroTurf (infield)
Grass (outfield)
Construction
Opened1963 (Fairgrounds #3)
April 16, 1968 (stadium)
Renovated1967–1968
ClosedSeptember 6, 1999
Demolished2005
Construction cost$135,000
($1.3 million in 2025 dollars[1])
General contractorHoward G. Lewis Construction Co.
Tenants
Memphis Blues (TL/IL) 1968–1976
Memphis Chicks (SL) 1978–1997
Memphis Redbirds (PCL) 1998–1999

Tim McCarver Stadium was a Minor League Baseball stadium situated in Memphis, Tennessee, on the grounds of the Mid-South Fairgrounds. It was primarily used for baseball and was the home ballpark of the Memphis Blues (1968–1976), Memphis Chicks (1978–1997), and Memphis Redbirds (1998–1999). The stadium opened as a replacement for Russwood Park, which hosted the city's former minor league teams. The facility closed at the end of the 1999 baseball season and remained deserted for over six years until its demolition in 2005.[citation needed]

Originally known as Fairgrounds Diamond #3, it served as an American Legion field for United States Veterans beginning in 1963.[2] In 1967, the diamond was converted into a stadium to accommodate the Memphis Blues.[3] The franchise began play in the Texas League in 1968 but moved to the International League in 1974. Named Blues Stadium,[4] the ballpark hosted to the team through the 1976 season, after which the franchise moved to Charleston, West Virginia, as the Charleston Charlies.[5] After a season without a team, the Memphis Chicks were established as members of the Southern League in 1978. In October 1977, the franchise changed the name of the ballpark to Tim McCarver Stadium after Memphis native Tim McCarver.[6] Nicknamed Timmy Mac and Chicks Park,[7][8] the stadium hosted the Chicks from their inaugural season until moving to Jackson and becoming the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in 1998.[9] After the Chicks' departure, the Memphis Redbirds played in the aging ballpark for two seasons while a new stadium was constructed.[10] The Redbirds left after the 1999 season for the new AutoZone Park.[11][12]

Amidst the stadium' 36-season run, McCarver saw occasional use as a venue for college baseball, Under-18 baseball tournaments, and softball events. It was the site of two minor league all-star games and eleven no-hitters.

Notable events

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No-hitters

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Baseball player Ryan Franklin
Baseball player David Holdridge
Ryan Franklin (left) and David Holdridge (right) were two of the three pitchers in a combined no-hit effort in a 4–0 victory on April 14, 1997.

Tim McCarver Stadium was the setting for eleven no-hitters. The first took place on May 24, 1968, when Bob Watkins of the visiting Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs, pitched a nine-inning no-hitter, winning 2–0 against the Blues.[13] In a rare occurrence, the second no-hitter occurred two days later when the Spurs' Luis Peñalver recorded a 3–0 win over the Blues on May 26.[14] The third, a 1–0 win over the Albuquerque Dodgers, was thrown by Memphis' Steve Renko on July 21, 1968.[15] On April 20, 1969, Les Rohr pitched a no-hitter against the San Antonio Missions in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader, winning 8–0.[16] On May 13, 1972, Bob Forsch no-hit the Blues in seven innings as the Arkansas Travelers defeated Memphis, 4–0.[17] On May 30, 1976, Charleston Charlies' pitcher Rick Langford threw a nine-inning no-hitter, winning 11–0.[18] Many believed Langford had lost his no-hit bid in the sixth inning due to a play involving Charles shortstop Craig Reynolds hurrying his throw that pulled the first baseman off the bag. Although it was first ruled a hit, the box score showed it recorded as an error.[18]

On August 20, 1978, the Chicks' Mike Finlayson pitched a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against the Montgomery Rebels.[19][20] On July 2, 1986, Mitch McKelvey no-hit the Columbus Astros in a 16–0 Memphis win.[20][21] On August 8, 1993, Rodney Myers pitched a no-hitter in a 3–0 win against the Knoxville Smokies.[20][22] On August 8, 1995, Luis Andújar threw a nine-inning no-hitter against Memphis, as the Birmingham Barons defeated the Chicks, 1–0.[20][23] The final no-hitter at the ballpark occurred on April 14, 1997, when Ryan Franklin, Scott Simmons, and David Holdridge combined to no-hit the Chattanooga Lookouts in a 4–0 win.[20][24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Cavagnaro, Charlie (August 3, 1963). "Speros Wins Legion Baseball Crown". The Commercial Appeal. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Thillen, Vince (July 3, 1967). "City to get Pro Team Next Season". The Commercial Appeal. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "City Polished Off Diamond No. 3". The Commercial Appeal. January 5, 1968. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Jordan, Memphis (November 9, 1976). "IL Revokes Blues' Franchise". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Stadium Named for Phils' McCarver". The Daily Intelligencer. Memphis: The Associated Press. October 21, 1977. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Wade, Don (September 6, 1999). "So Long, Timmy Mac". The Commercial Appeal. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Haney, Grey (April 4, 1981). "'Duke' to Attend Chicks-Expos Tilt". The Commercial Appeal. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Memphis Wins Season Finale". The Jackson Sun. Jackson. September 2, 1997. p. 2C. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Wade, Don (December 25, 1999). "New Park a Gift That Keeps on Giving". The Commercial Appeal. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Memphis, Tennessee Register History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Avallone, Michael. "Explore AutoZone Park home of the Memphis Redbirds". MLB.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  13. ^ E. Burk, Bill (May 25, 1968). "No-Hitter Fashioned After Fresh Haircut". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Thillen, Vincent (May 27, 1968). "Blues Can't Buy a Base Hit Again but Still Manage to get a Split". The Commercial Appeal. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Renko Fires No-Hit Game". The Amarillo Globe-Times. Amarillo. July 22, 1968. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Memphis' Rohr No-Hits Padres in TL Contest". The Marshall News. Marshall. April 21, 1969. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Bell, Jim (May 14, 1972). "No-hitter Gives Travs Split". The Commercial Appeal. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b "No-Hitter Powers Charlies by Blues". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. May 31, 1976. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Rebels are No-Hit Again". Alabama Journal. Montgomery. August 21, 1978. p. 14. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b c d e "Southern League No-Hitters (1964–2018)". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 21, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  21. ^ "Jackson is Held in Check Again". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery. July 3, 1986. p. 2C. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Harding, Thomas (August 9, 1993). "Chick Throws No-Hitter". The Commercial Appeal. p. 21. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Andujar No-Hits Chicks". The Birmingham News. Memphis. August 9, 1995. p. 49 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Three Chicks Pitchers Throw No-Hit Victory". The Jackson Sun. Jackson. April 15, 1997. p. 1C. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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