Hickory Crawdads
Encyclopedia
The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball
team in Hickory, North Carolina
, USA
. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League
, and have been a farm team
of the Texas Rangers
since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
. The Crawdads play home games at L.P. Frans Stadium. Opened in 1993, Frans Stadium seats 5,092 fans. The Crawdads mascot is Conrad the Crawdad. Conrad was named in a contest won by Ryan Windam, a native of Hickory, North Carolina. The Crawdads won the South Atlantic League Championship in 2002, and again in 2004. Andrew Buchbinder, formerly a radio announcer for the Bakersfield Condors
of the ECHL
and the Bakersfield Blaze
of the California League
, became the Crawdads radio announcer for the 2009 season.
affiliate of the Texas Rangers
. Conrad, along with his partner Candy Crawdad entertain fans of the team.
Upon purchasing a minor league baseball
team from Gastonia
, North Carolina
, Don Beaver moved the team to his hometown of Hickory
, North Carolina
. Todd Teague named the team "Hickory Crawdads." Shortly after, Beaver launched a contest requesting the community to assist him in naming the team's mascot. Ryan Windam, a native of Hickory
, North Carolina
, won the contest with the name "Conrad." Thus, Conrad the Crawdad was born. Standing at approximately six feet tall, Conrad has not missed a single pitch since the team's inception in 1993.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, and have been a farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. The Crawdads play home games at L.P. Frans Stadium. Opened in 1993, Frans Stadium seats 5,092 fans. The Crawdads mascot is Conrad the Crawdad. Conrad was named in a contest won by Ryan Windam, a native of Hickory, North Carolina. The Crawdads won the South Atlantic League Championship in 2002, and again in 2004. Andrew Buchbinder, formerly a radio announcer for the Bakersfield Condors
Bakersfield Condors
The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
of the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
and the Bakersfield Blaze
Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, became the Crawdads radio announcer for the 2009 season.
Notable alumni
- Joe BeimelJoe BeimelJoseph Ronald Beimel is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
- Matt CappsMatt CappsMatthew Dicus Capps , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is a 2002 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglasville, where he lettered in football, basketball, cross-country and baseball before receiving a scholarship at LSU...
- Joe CredeJoe CredeJoseph Taylor Crede is a Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent. Crede attended high school at Fatima High School in Westphalia, Missouri which he led to 3 district championships and two final four berths as a pitcher...
- Zach DukeZach DukeZachary Thomas Duke is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks...
- Billy MaysBilly MaysWilliam Darrell "Billy" Mays, Jr. was an American television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting OxiClean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products on the Home Shopping Network, and through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc...
- Carlos LeeCarlos LeeCarlos Noriel Lee is a first basemen in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed....
- Nate McLouthNate McLouthNathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
- Nyjer MorganNyjer MorganNyjer Jamid Morgan nicknamed Tony Plush is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers....
- Magglio OrdóñezMagglio OrdóñezMagglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
- Aaron RowandAaron RowandAaron Ryan Rowand is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.-Early life and college career:...
Mascot
Conrad the Crawdad (established in 1993) is the official mascot of the Hickory Crawdads, a Minor League BaseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Conrad, along with his partner Candy Crawdad entertain fans of the team.
Upon purchasing a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team from Gastonia
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Don Beaver moved the team to his hometown of Hickory
Hickory
Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and big nuts...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Todd Teague named the team "Hickory Crawdads." Shortly after, Beaver launched a contest requesting the community to assist him in naming the team's mascot. Ryan Windam, a native of Hickory
Hickory
Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and big nuts...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, won the contest with the name "Conrad." Thus, Conrad the Crawdad was born. Standing at approximately six feet tall, Conrad has not missed a single pitch since the team's inception in 1993.