Concord Weavers

Minor league baseball first came to Concord, North Carolina in 1936 when the Concord Weavers were charter members of the Independent Carolina League, along with the Charlotte Hornets Hickory Rebels, Kannapolis Towelers, Rutherford County Owls, Salisbury Colonials and Shelby Cee-Cees and Valdese Textiles. The Independent league was nicknamed as an "outlaw" league because of the Independent status. Concord, and most of the other league members, had previously hosted numerous semi-pro teams in the Carolina Textile League, made up of locals and mill workers.[1][2]

In 1936, the Concord Weavers finished with a 66–33 record to place 1st during their initial regular season. In the playoffs, the Weavers defeated the Kannapolis Towelers (3 games to 2) before losing to the Valdese Textiles 4 games to 2 in the league finals. The Weavers drew a season total of 55,426 an average of 1,120 per home game.[3]

The 1937 Concord Weavers finished with a record of 53–44, placing 2nd in the regular season standings. In the playoffs, Concord defeated the Valdese Textiles 3 games to 0. In the finals Concord defeated the Kannapolis Towelers 4 games to 1 to win the 1937 Carolina League Championship. The team drew 70,000 for the season.[4][5]

Concord finished 47–47, placing 4th in 1938, as the Carolina League became a six–team league. The Carolina League folded after the 1938 season, before returning in 1945.[6][7][8]

The 1938 Concord Weavers were controlled by a Board of Directors. The board consisted of local business leaders, school administrators, team personnel and media members.[9]

The Concord Weavers joined the North Carolina State League in 1939, along with the Kannapolis Towelers. Those two teams joined the eight–team North Carolina League to replace the Gastonia Cardinals and Newton-Conover Twins, who both had moved to the new Tar Heel League.[10][11][12]

The Concord Weavers began play in the 1939 North Carolina League, along with members Cooleemee Cools, Kannapolis Towelers, Landis Sens, Lexington Indians, Mooresville Moors, Salisbury Giants and Thomasville Tommies.[13][10]

The Weavers finished 60–50 in 1939, placing 3rd in the final regular season standings. They were defeated by the Mooresville Moors 3 games to 1 in the playoffs. The 1939 Concord Weavers drew 41,458, an average of 754.[14][11]

Continuing play in the North Carolina League, Concord finished 5th in 1940 with a 58–54 record. In 1941, the Weavers finished 5th with a 54–51. Concord missed qualifying for the playoffs in both seasons.[11]

In 1942, the Concord Weavers finished with a 64–34 record and won the North Carolina League pennant. In the playoffs, the Thomasville Tommies defeated Concord 3 games to 1. Because of World War II, the North Carolina State League stopped play after the 1942 season before resuming in 1945.[15][10]

When the North Carolina State League resumed in 1945, the Concord Weavers played the season as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The weavers finished last in the eight–team league at 34–79.[11][16][17]

Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tommy Lasorda made his professional debut for the Concord Weavers in 1945. At age 17, Lasorda pitched and played the field. He finished the 1945 season 3-12, with a 4.09 ERA in 27 games, walking 100 in 121 innings. As a hitter, Lasorda played in 67 games and hit .274 with one home run in 208 at bats.[18]

In 1946, the Weavers went from last to first, finishing 77–34 to win the league pennant. In the playoffs, Concord swept the Thomasville Dodgers in four games. In the Finals, the Mooresville Moors defeated the Weavers 4 games to 2.[10][19]

The Concord Weavers finished 7th in both 1947 (48–63) and 1948 (44–62), missing the playoffs in both seasons. They drew 26,148 in 1948, an average of 493.[11][20]

In 1949, Concord became an affiliate of the Washington Senators. Concord played the 1949–1950 seasons as the Senators' affiliate, changing their name to the Concord Nationals. The Concord Nationals finished 6th (50–72) in 1949 and 7th (44–68) in 1950. In 1950, the Nationals drew 22,558, an average of 403.[21][22][23]

Concord played as the Concord Sports in 1951. The Sports finished 6th (56–70), missing the playoffs. Concord drew 22,236, an average of 353. Concord folded after the 1951 season and the Hickory Rebels moved to the Western Carolina League. The North Carolina League played the 1952 season with six teams and permanently folded after the season. After 1951, Concord has not hosted another minor league team.[24][25][26][10]

Today, Concord hosts a summer collegiate baseball team, who play in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. The team revived the Concord Weavers moniker for a time.[27][28]

Concord played home games at Webb Park. The ballpark is owned by the city of Concord, who purchased it from the local school district. Webb Park is still in use today. The address is 165 Academy Avenue, NW, Concord, North Carolina.[29][30][31][32]

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