ASHEVILLE TOURISTS
McCormick Field
Architecture & History
McCormick Field opened in 1924 and is one of the oldest operating professional baseball stadiums in America. The original concrete grandstand — now over 100 years old — still hosts affiliated baseball in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The list of players who played at McCormick Field reads like a Hall of Fame ballot: Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Ty Cobb, Willie Stargell, Tony La Russa, and many more. The park has witnessed over a century of baseball history.
Build specs
- OPENED
- 1924
- CAPACITY
- 4,000
- ELEVATION
- 2,134 feet above sea level
- DIMENSIONS
- LF 326 · CF 386 · RF 297
Statues & Exterior
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Historic 1924 Grandstand
Main seating bowl
One of the oldest operating professional baseball stadiums in the US. The original 1924 concrete grandstand is still in use. Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Ty Cobb all played here.
Blue Ridge Mountain Backdrop
Beyond center field
The Blue Ridge Mountains frame the outfield in every direction — widely considered the most dramatic natural backdrop in all of minor league baseball.
Names & History
1924–present
McCormick Field
Named after Zebulon Vance McCormick, the Asheville businessman who donated land for the original stadium in 1924. One of the oldest continuously used stadium names in affiliated baseball.
Also known as
The Food
Western NC Pulled Pork Sandwich
Pit BBQ Stand
Asheville sits at the intersection of Western NC mountain culture and Eastern NC BBQ tradition. The pulled pork at McCormick Field leans toward a tomato-and-vinegar hybrid sauce — distinct from both Eastern NC and Lexington Piedmont styles.
Asheville Craft Hot Dog
Featured Stand
A premium hot dog topped with locally sourced Asheville craft ingredients — beer mustard, caramelized onions, and pickled jalapeños — reflecting the city's nationally recognized food scene.
Mountain Apple Slaw
Side Stand
Asheville is surrounded by apple orchards. The apple slaw — shredded apples, cabbage, cider vinegar, and honey — is a western NC condiment tradition served as a side.
Tourists Dog
Throughout ballpark
Classic all-beef frank with a condiment bar that includes local mustard options.
The Beer
Burial Beer Co. Skillet Donut Stout
Burial Beer Co. · Asheville, NC
Burial Beer is one of Asheville's most acclaimed craft breweries, located in the South Slope brewing district. The Skillet Donut Stout is their signature dark beer.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Torpedo Extra IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing · Mills River, NC
Sierra Nevada operates a major East Coast brewery in Mills River, just south of Asheville. The Torpedo is their most locally appropriate pour — brewed minutes from McCormick Field.
New Belgium Brewing Voodoo Ranger American Haze IPA
New Belgium Brewing · Asheville, NC
New Belgium's Asheville brewery is another South Slope anchor. The Voodoo Ranger is their most widely distributed IPA.
Bud Light
Anheuser-Busch
Standard volume pour.
Sun & Weather Guide
Blue Ridge Mountain air cools Asheville evenings
Asheville's 2,134-foot elevation makes it one of the cooler Carolina League venues. Summer evening games rarely exceed 78°F.
Mountain spring and fall are exceptional
April, May, and September in Asheville are near-perfect baseball weather — mild temperatures and the Blue Ridge foliage in peak condition.
Even Asheville has a few hot days
The occasional July afternoon at McCormick Field can reach 85°F. The covered grandstand provides meaningful shade.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Arrive early and walk the grandstand. The 1924 concrete structure is one of the oldest in professional baseball — run your hands on the original ironwork. Babe Ruth stood in this dugout.
The Backdrop
Sit in any upper row behind home plate and look past the outfield. The Blue Ridge Mountains — some of the oldest mountains on Earth — frame every inning. On a clear summer evening this is one of the most beautiful views in minor league baseball.
Best Approach
Asheville has a world-class food and craft beer scene in the River Arts District and downtown. Spend the afternoon in town, then walk to McCormick Field for a 7PM game.
Getting There
McCormick Field is on the east side of downtown Asheville, a 15-minute walk from Pack Square. Limited parking adjacent — arrive early or use the city garage on Amboy Road.
Pilgrim Stops Near Asheville
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
The Giant Peachoid Water Tower
A million-gallon water tower shaped like a giant peach on the South Carolina border along I-85. Featured in House of Cards. Debated endlessly for resembling something other than a peach.
Mystery Hill
Where water flows uphill and people stand at impossible angles. North Carolina's classic gravity-defying roadside attraction has been confusing visitors since the 1940s. Science or magic — you decide.
Biltmore Estate
The largest private home ever built in the United States — 178,926 square feet, 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, built by the Vanderbilts in 1895.
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Asheville and beyond.
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