There have now been 3 different versions of Finch Field in existance but this Finch
Field was the original. This was also where all professional Minor League Baseball
at Finch Field was played (the other two have hosted the CPL Summer Collegiate
League). Finch Field "I" was built in 1935 and replaced Willis Park where
the Hi-Point Pointers had been playing from 1928-1932 for the Piedmont League.
This relatively huge stadium took over for all professional baseball in this
southern section of North Carolina's triad. The first professional ball team to
move in |
after its completion was the Thomasville Chair Makers. The Chair Markers of course
were paying homage to Thomasville's famed furniture builders which are very much
still the heart and soul of this region today. The Chair Makers were part of
the Class D North Carolina State League, which began in 1937 with 8 teams in
Salisbury (Newman Park @ Catawba College), Cooleemee (Cooleemee Ballpark), Newton-Conover
(Newton Park), Shelby (Cleveland Cloth Mills Park-High School Stadium),
Lexington (Wennonah Field), Landis (Landis Park), Mooresville (Mooresville
Park) and of course here at Finch Field. *Gord Brown - SABR Ontario. 1937 proved
to be a fruitful year for the new Thomasville Chair Makers, who were playing
in the league without the benefit of a Major League affiliation. The Chair Makers
played excellent baseball going 63-48 (.568) behind the play of future Cincinnati
Reds pitcher Wes Livengood (12-12, 4.58), Dennis Paige (13-3, league leading
1.96 ERA), Edward Parker (13-6, 3.24), future St. Louis Cardinals OF Walter
Sessi (.293), Roy Pinkston (40 2B, 10 3B, 7 HR), William Ragsdale (30 2B, team
leading 13 HR, .300) and Baxter Moose (16 2B, .359). With this colorful cast of
characters, the Chair Makers finished in 2nd place and took on the Shelby Cardinals
in the first round of the playoffs. In a 5 game series, Shelby and Thomasville
went into the final game all tied up at 4, but Shelby hung on for the win
ending Thomasville's chances. In 1938, Thomasville changed their name to the
Thomasville Orioles (no affiliation... the Orioles were still the St. Louis Browns),
though many listings still have the team serving as the Chair Makers. The
team was outstanding but it was the two stars of the previous season... Paige
Dennis and Roy Pinkston that were simply magical. In 1938 Paige Dennis had the
best season of perhaps any pitcher in the history of affiliated Minor League Baseball,
when he went 28-2 with a 1.33 ERA! Paige led the league in everything except
strikeouts which belonged to teammate Ray Lindsay (19-9, 2.72, 247 Ks). Roy
Pinkston meanwhile hit 31 doubles, a team leading 15 HR and batted .356. Dar
Shealy hit a massive 52 doubles along with 8 HRs and beat Pinkston by 1 point
to lead the league in hitting at .357. James Canty led the league in hits with
156 (31 2B, 8 HR, .331) and Roland Harrington also contributed in a big way with
26 2B, 8 3B, 10 HR and a .338 batting average. Together this team went straight
to 1st place, with an amazing 75-36 (.676) record. There they swept the Lexington
Indians in the first round to take on Mooresville who had also swept Gastonia
(Shelby moved there mid-season). The battle that ensued between Mooresville
was so tight and so intense that by game 6, Thomasville and Mooresville were
locked in a 3-3 tie with a final death match game that erupted into total chaos.
Before the game could even be completed the fans had worked themselves into such
a frenzy that a riot ensued between the fans of the rival cities and got completely
out of control. Fearing for the safety of the players and the fans, the
North Carolina State League called the game and refused to play another bloody
rematch, instead declaring both Thomasville and Mooresville co-champions. |