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Elizabethton River Riders

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Elizabethton River Riders
Information
LeagueAppalachian League
LocationElizabethton, Tennessee
BallparkNortheast Community Credit Union Ballpark
Founded2021
ColorsNavy, light blue, gold, green, white
         
OwnershipBoyd Sports, LLC
General ManagerKiva Fuller[1]
WebsiteOfficial website

The Elizabethton River Riders are a summer collegiate baseball team of the Appalachian League. They are located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and play their home games at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.

History

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Previous Elizabethton teams

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Professional baseball was first played in Elizabethton, Tennessee, by the Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox in the Appalachian League in 1937.[2] They remained in the league through 1942.[2] The city's Appalachian League entry from 1945 to 1948 was called the Elizabethton Betsy Cubs.[2] They were followed by the Elizabethton Betsy Local from 1949 to 1950 and the Elizabethton Phils in 1951.[2] Thirty-six years later, the Minnesota Twins placed the Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League as a Rookie-level affiliate in 1974.[2][3]

Collegiate summer team

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In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Elizabethton Twins were replaced by a new franchise in the revamped league designed for rising college freshmen and sophomores.[4] The new team became known as the Elizabethton River Riders.[5] The nickname is in reference to the Watauga River, which runs just behind their stadium, Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Elizabethton Front Office". Elizabethton River Riders. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Elizabethton, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "1974 Appalachian League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  4. ^ "MLB, USA Baseball Announce New Format for Appalachian League". Major League Baseball. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "New for 2021: Elizabethton River Riders". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  6. ^ Avento, Joe (February 3, 2021). "River Riders New Appy League Team in Elizabethton". Johnson City Press. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
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