Western Carolinas League (1965-1966)
Tombstone
Born: December 22, 1964 – The Statesville Colts relocate to Thomasville, NC1Ballard, Garry. “Local Baseball Club Goes To Thomasville”. The Record & Landmark (Statesville, NC). December 23, 1964
Lost Affiliation: October 1966
Folded: January 14, 1967
First Game: April 21, 1965 (L 8-7 @ Shelby Rebels)
Last Game:
Western Carolina League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 1965-1966: Fleete McCurdy
- 1966: High Point-Thomasville Baseball Committee (John Carter, et al.)
Major League Affiliation: Minnesota Twins
Attendance
Background
The 1965-1966 Hi-Toms of the Western Carolinas League were one of a series of professional baseball clubs to make their home at Finch Field in the small North Carolina furniture-making city of Thomasville (pop. 15,190 in the 1960 census) between 1937 and 1969.
Thomasville’s teams played under various names (Chair Makers, Tommies, Dodgers, Royals) over the years, but “Hi-Toms” was the most popular local moniker, used by three separate clubs between 1948 and 1968. Future Major League stars Eddie Mathews and Curt Flood both spent time in Thomasville on their way to the Big Leagues.
In Competition
The Hi-Toms were a Class A farm club of the Minnesota Twins in 1965 and 1966. The team was strong on the field both summers. In 1965, the Hi-Toms led the WCL with 73 wins, but were left out of the championship playoff by failing to finish in first place in either half of the league’s split season schedule.
The 1966 Hi-Toms were another strong club (71-52), but were left in the dust by a juggernaut Spartanburg Phillies team (91-35) that was later named one of the Top 100 Minor League teams of all-time. 22-year old Starting 3rd baseman Luis Lagunas established new Western Carolinas League records for home runs (35) and RBI (106) while hitting .311.2ASSOCIATED PRESS. “Lagunas Breaks WCL Standards For Slugging”. The Observer (Charlotte NC). August 24, 1966
In spite of their winning ways, the Twins-era Hi-Toms had little success developing Major League prospects. Only two players, both pitchers from the 1966 squad, ever made it to The Show. Charlie Walters appeared in six games for Minnesota in 1969. Dick Woodson had the most success, spending five seasons in the Majors between 1969 and 1974, including a 14-win season for the Twins in 1972.
Demise & Aftermath
Midway through the club’s second season in the Western Carolinas League, team owner Fleete McCurdy of Gastonia abandoned the Hi-Toms amidst rumors of bankruptcy.3Phillips, Benny. “‘Toms To Stay At Finch Field”. The Enterprise (High Point, NC). June 30, 1966 A few days later, the team’s bus was re-possessed, forcing the rival Lexington Giants to dispatch their own bus to fetch the Hi-Toms for a late June game in Lexington. A committee of local businessmen led by dry cleaner John Carter assumed control of the floundering Hi-Toms to steer the club through to the conclusion of the schedule.
In October 1966 the Minnesota Twins terminated their working agreement with Thomasville, effectively sinking the Western Carolinas League franchise. In January 1967, WCL President John Henry Moss announced the league’s 1967 schedule with Thomasville left off due to lack of a Major League tie-up.4ASSOCIATED PRESS. “6-Team Loop Set For WCL In 1st Half”. The Greenville News (Greenville SC). January 15, 1967
A new (third) version of the Hi-Toms took up residence at Finch Field in 1968, playing without Major League affiliation in the Class A Carolina League. The following year, the team landed a working agreement with the Kansas City Royals and changed their name to the High-Point Thomasville Royals for the 1969 season. Kansas City pulled out after one season in late 1969, bringing about the end of the pro baseball era in Thomasville.
85-year old Finch Field still stands and plays host to the modern-day incarnation of the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms, a collegiate wooden bat league team that has played in the amateur Coastal Plain League since 1999.
Nearby High Point, 10 miles to the north, broke ground on a $36 million ballpark in 2018. That city now hosts a professional independent team, the High Point Rockers, that debuted in 2019.
Trivia
The Hi-Toms home opener, in front of an estimated 6,000 fans5ASSOCIATED PRESS. “Thomasville Happy With Baseball Back”. The Item (Sumter, SC). April 23, 1965 on April 22, 1965 marked the return of pro ball to the city after a seven-year absence. Thomasville Mayor James Johnson marked the occasion by beaning the reigning Miss North Carolina, Sharon Finch, in the neck with an errant ceremonial first pitch.6OBSERVER WIRE REPORTS. “Black Hawks Win; Miss N.C. ‘Loses'”. The Observer (Charlotte, NC). April 23, 1965
Links
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