Historic Hicks Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hicks Field
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of Freemason and Woodard Sts., NE corner, Edenton, North Carolina |
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| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Works Progress Administration |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001050 |
| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1995 |
Historic Hicks Field is a special baseball stadium. It is also a national historic district in Edenton, North Carolina. This means it is an important place from the past. The stadium is home to the John A. Holmes High School Aces. It also hosts the Edenton Steamers baseball team.
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Building Hicks Field
Hicks Field was built in 1939. It was a project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program. It helped create jobs during the Great Depression. The stadium is located at the corner of East Freemason and Woodward streets. It is right next to John A. Holmes High School. Hicks Field was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This list includes important historic places.
A Look at the Stadium
The main part of Hicks Field is a wooden grandstand. It has a roof and can hold over 500 people. This grandstand is the oldest wooden one of its kind. It is still standing in the state of North Carolina.
Over the years, Hicks Field has hosted many baseball teams. These include minor league and semi-pro teams. The Edenton Colonials played here in 1951. The original Coastal Plain League also played here in 1952.
The Albemarle League
The semi-pro Albemarle League also played at Hicks Field. This league was famous for great baseball. It featured top local players and college stars. Teams from nearby towns also played in this league. These towns included Elizabeth City, Hertford, and Windsor.
Spring Training Home
Hicks Field was also a spring training site. Many minor league teams trained here in the 1940s. Teams from Binghamton, New York, and Reading, Pennsylvania, used the field.
Famous Players and Games
Many famous players have played at Hicks Field. These include baseball legends like Bob Feller. In 1946, a very special game took place. An Albemarle League all-star team played against major league stars. These major league players came from teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees. About 4,500 fans watched this exciting game.
Renovations and Today
In 1997, Hicks Field got a big makeover. The main grandstand was fully updated. Two new grandstands were added. One was along the first base line. The other was along the third base line. New bathrooms were also built. A manual wooden scoreboard was put in right field. The outfield fence in left field was made taller. This gave Hicks Field a feel like "Fenway Park." After these changes, the stadium could seat 1,200 people.
In 1998, the Edenton Steamers team was formed. They play in the new Coastal Plain League. Hicks Field is still their home field. It also hosts high school baseball games. Many other tournaments happen there in the summer. In 2004, Baseball America magazine called Hicks Field a top summer college baseball venue.
