Directions to War Memorial Stadium

World War Memorial Stadium was originally supposed to be U-shaped. But when it was completed in 1926, it more closely resembled a backward J. However, there was little else backward about it.

In its heyday, the stadium next to Bagley Street in Greensboro was the envy of every city in North Carolina, The 8,000 concrete cast seats provided a lavish home for professional and college baseball in the summer, high school and college football in the fall and various levels of track and field in the spring. The community also had access to tennis courts and picnic facilities located beyond the outfield fence.

In May of 2007, Pride baseball parents generously assisted in creating an attractive locker room at War Memorial Stadium for GC baseball players. To view more photos of the locker room, please see http://www.gborocollege.edu/athletics/sports/baseball/2008/index.htm

World War Memorial Stadium - dedicated as a living memorial to the 138 Guilford County men who died in World War 1 - has become as much a part of the city's landscape as the clock atop the Jefferson Pilot building, the statue of Nathaniel Greene at Guilford Battleground and the Greensboro Coliseum, which was build later to commemorate the dead of World War II.

The aging stadium celebrated its 90th birthday in 2006. And although its best days are long gone, the facility continues to serve the community's sporting events. The Greensboro Bats (now Grasshoppers), the city's entry in the Class A South Atlantic League, played at the venue until nearby First Horizon Park was completed in 2005. Yet Greensboro College and North Carolina A&T continue to make use of the venerable facility as their home field. 

Indeed, the stadium is in almost constant use during the spring and summer months. 

Historic War Memorial Stadium hosted the Greensboro Bats (New York Yankees/Florida Marlins) and the Greensboro College Pride.

The origin of baseball at the stadium began with the Greensboro Patriots. The Patriots were initially reluctant to move into the stadium because of its unique dimensions. The distances to the left and right field fences were very short, especially in right, where the foul pole was no more than 248 feet from home plate.

In 1930, the diamond was rearranged so the left field line ran almost parallel to the left field stands. The foul pole and power alley in right field were a little short, confined for the most part by a creek that ran adjacent to the fence. But the outfield was considerably more spacious than before.

The lights were turned on for the first time on July 28, 1930. A crowd of 6,500 showed up to see the Patriots lose to the Raleigh Caps 22-6. Box seats were $1, reserved seats $.75 and general admission $.50. Among the players in that game was future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, playing for the Caps. Before the season ended one other future Hall of Famer would make his debut with the Patriots - Johnny Mize. 

For the next 90 years, Memorial Stadium would play host to many of baseball's greats

Johnny VanderMeer played here when he was with the Durham Bulls. During World War II, Ted Williams hit a towering ninth-inning home run into the trees in right field when he was playing for the Carolina Pre-Flight of Chapel Hill.

Jackie Robinson's Brooklyn Dodgers played an exhibition game in 1950 that attracted 8,500 sports fans. Carl Erskine threw a one-hitter and the Dodgers won 23-0. The New York Yankees with manager Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris played there in the late 60's.

The Pride, and many luminaries, have played at Greensboro's War Memorial Stadium.

Carl Yastremski also roamed the Memorial Stadium outfield when he was in the Carolina League. Other names like Jim Bouton, Mel Stottlemyre, Bobby Mercer and Don Mattingly were regulars at the ballpark. Even comedian Bob Hope staged a benefit here. 

As time has past and as all things change, so has War Memorial Stadium. Today the dimensions are 327 feet to the right field foul pole, 337 in the power alley to right, 402 to center field, 387 to the power alley in left and 327 at the left field foul pole. To date, War Memorial Stadium is the oldest active minor league ballpark in America.