01-2-07  reprint from South Charlotte Sports Report:

Controversy surrounds the history Cameron Yards. A lot of history has been passed along thru the generations but several themes and stories seem to remain as constants. Few historical artifacts remain but as the Venue has morphed

over the years, sometimes expanding and sometimes condensing, The field remains an integral part ofCharlottes sports history. The field was once

Considered to be so rural it was inaccessible to Charlotte Streetcars and often considered more of Pineville facility as opposed to Charlotte. The Stadium seemed to

take shape as Pineville’s once large raceway that was located where Southland Industrial Parkway now Stands, was losing its popularity as racing seem to shift more towards the area where Charlotte Motor Speedway now stands. As parcels of land were bought an developed near Pineville different owners of the Stadium had considered selling the land where the Stadium lay to developers. Today the stadium remains surrounding by a lower middle class development and section eight housing referred to as “Cameron Wood” In the 30s a Charlotte Historical commission attempted to name the site as an historical property as so no more development could take place. When Mayan Ruins were discovered

Near the North Gate where Boogs Brats now stands, it become almost a certainty that the Stadium would remain in Tact. In 1969 during the expansion at the south gate of “Willies Whacky Waving Inflatable Flailing Arm Men” the remains of an “Oh Henry” bar were discovered and it was widely known that Millard Fillmore was enjoying one at a game he attended in 1875, and the concessions didn’t sell “Oh Henry” bars at that juncture. Today “Oh Henry” bars are known for the delicious combination of chocolate nougat, milk chocolate and fresh Pecans. “Oh Henrys’ are available at your Favorite Store” Many changes have taken place to the structure over the years including the addition and removal of an upper deck,; the addition of a subterranean batting cage, The demolition of the AT&CY (Atchison, Topeka, and Cameron Yards Railway) depot and station behind the east side of the Stadium; the discovery and ensuing Monument of Slugger “Hack Creeleys” fossilized Chaw from the late 30s:.

Other milestones remain static and emblazoned in Cameron Yards storied and fabled history:

* Millard Fillmore caught a game but White House spokesman said he left early because he was under the weather but legend has it he was offended when he overheard a patron whispering that he thought the president smelled like Sea bass.

* Cameron yards hosted the 1938 Little League World Series,. Floyd Higgenbottom, who later went onto the big leagues, Hit .576 in 5 games and was remembered for his fondness for bile and Farber Beans.

* The teams that occupied the Stadium were parked in different levels of minor league ball over the years, including the Class D Tarheel League

To the class B Carolina League and the double AA, as it was known later, Tobbaco State League. The team, the Crimson Mules, now reside in the Coastal Plains League.

*The Mound That lies adjacent to what is now Cameron Yards Stadium was the farthermost east Mound built by the Native American Mound builders of Missouri. The area was later captured and settled by Capt. Horatio “Hollers Alot”  Birnen during the Brief Canadian-Bolivian conflict that was fought in the areas that now comprise Cameron Wood. Despite many successes in Battle, Birnen was know to have alienated his troops by uttering the terms “eegad!” and “Yowsa!” in the heat of Battle.    Birnen later  settled in the area and opened a  successful Canned Ham distributorship in the area that is now Pineville

*In 1959 When The Class AA southern League moved the Team to Dulth, the field was used as temporary storage facilty for Trans-fatty acids.

*Astronaut Gordon Cooper commented from space on national television that from 22 miles up that Cameron Yards Field looked like Bernie Macs head.

*During a 1951 Renovation a Rare “number 3” pencil was uncovered and now lies in the “museum of the New South” in Charlotte.”

*Slugger “Snooks Hoyt” sued the facility claiming he acquired “SRAPV” while playing 3 years here. He claimed he picked up SRAPV, or “sudden right angle projectile vomiting” from the pre-emergent applied to the field. The suit was settled out of court. Hoyt died in 1994 from Acute Lollygagging.

*In 1974 one of the more memorable melees broke out in the crowd when

An argument escalated from a simple disagreement to a riot over who was a

Better “Darren” on “Bewitched”, Dick Sargeant or Dick York.

*Circa 1910 “Turf Manager” Thaddeus Clark fell into the outhouse hole and wasn’t rescued for 48 hours. He was never the same.

*In 1949 two guys both named “Dirk” had tickets waiting for them at the Will-call window. It Was rumored several chuckled as a result.

*in 1943 Triple Crown Winner “Steuban Fricks” was abruptly released at the behest of his Teammates when he wouldn’t stop “that sniffing thing”

* Bert Wordsworth -Three time GOLD GLOVE WINNER    Played 4 seasons at Cameron Yards In Mid 60s. Always a Fan favorite for his habit of using reflexive Pronouns in conjunction with dangling Participles.

* In 1961 The largest Small Mouth Perch Ever caught in NC was pulled from what is now Cameron Wood Pond by young Gustaf Everhart, a coltish Chap with a pert, upturned nose and  glint of mischief in his eye. The fish went on to live in what later became “Cameron Wood” and served in the Homeowners Association”

*In 1958 a double header was called off after “Nickel Beer night” and “Free Mini Bat Night” proved to be ill-advised.

In 1991 “Twiki” (buck Rodgers) honored Cameron Yards by throwing out the first pitch to the delight of fans.   “Twiki” , three years removed from The Betty Ford Center for substance abuse, can now be seen on the CBS show “The Surreal Life” on television and is currently on tour promoting his current book “The Coming Iridium Crisis” now available at your favorite bookstores.

*in 1858 The ailing widow of Stonewall Jackson threw out the first pitch but her arm came with it much to the delight of the fans.

*in 1931 batboy Little “Bobby Dockery” happened across a severed Gibbons monkey head in a shipment of baseballs. Bobby Took the 1932 season off.

*On a steamy June Night In 1943 President Roosevelt Threw out the first pitch but the game was delayed 25 minutes as result of his wheelchair getting stuck on the pitching rubber. Later on that night controversy came about when a reporter insists he overheard FDR admitting to an aide that he faked his paralysis solely to avoid intimate relations with his wife, Eleanor. The President denied any such conversation took place.

*Fructose was discovered on the stadium ground in the lates and mined there till it was depleted in the early 50s.

*In 1956 Gamma Rays killed the entire crowd of 2,192 fans. Rebates, rain checks, and free ballcaps were issued to surviving families.

*Between 1959 and 1970 Disney Movies used the field to field several scenes for several different movies where a Street fruit cart vendor was knocked in the air by runaway whacky car.

*In 1979 Gordon Jump, aka “Mr. Carlson in WKRP from Cincinnati” threw out the first pitch”

*The Name “Crimson Mules” was originated in the 1940s when local farmers noticed the Mules emmited red glow.

Local livestock emitted a “reddish Hue” which was later determined to be from the Iridium that was mined at the site.

*Paramount used the Field to shoot two scenes from “Here comes General Burkhalter!” , a short lived prime time spin off from Hogans Heroes canceled after 7 Episodes.

*in 1966 at a post game concert The “Lanced Boils” performed a concert. They later went on to bigger fame as “Paul Revere and the Raiders”

The Mound That lies adjacent to what is now Cameron Yards Stadium was the farthermost east Mound built by the Native American Mound builders of Missouri. The area was later captured and settled by Capt. Horatio “Hollers Alot”  Birnen during the Brief Canadian-Bolivian conflict that was fought in the areas that now comprise Cameron Wood. Despite many successes in Battle, Birnen was know to have alienated his troops by uttering the terms “eegad!” and “Yowser!” in the heat of Battle.    Birnen later  settled in the area and opened a  successful Canned Ham distributorship in the area that is now Pineville..