The history of the Mobile BayBears can be traced back to the 1970s in Charlotte, where the team was known as the Charlotte Knights between 1976 and 1992. The Southern League club relocated to Nashville, where it was known as the Xpress during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. The team’s next stop was Port City, where it took the name of the Roosters in 1995 and 1996. The team arrived in Mobile prior to the 1997 Southern League season. The BayBears have been affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2007; before then, the club had affiliations with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins.Ballpark
The BayBears play the home games on their schedule at Hank Aaron Stadium, which honors the longtime home run king, who was born in Mobile. The park opened in 1997 and has an official capacity of 6,000. It’s the second-smallest park in the Southern League, tied with The Ballpark at Jackson, home of the Jackson Generals. Hank Aaron Stadium’s features include field-level suites and a plaque honoring Baseball Hall of Fame members from the city.
Multiple Southern League Championships
The BayBears have given Mobile residents plenty to cheer about in recent seasons, with back-to-back Southern League championships in 2011 and 2012. The club shared the Southern League title with the Tennessee Smokies in 2004, after Hurricane Ivan forced a cancellation of the championship series. The team also won a title in 1998, in just its second season in Mobile.
Mobile BayBears Roster
Notable players to appear on the BayBears roster include Justin Upton, Max Scherzer, Craig Breslow, Emilio Bonifacio and Jake Peavy. Peavy is a member of the BayBears Hall of Fame.
Spring Training
During Spring Training, members of the BayBears share Salt River Fields at Talking Stick with other players from the Arizona Diamondbacks system. The park opened in 2011 and has an official capacity of 11,000. It’s also the Spring Training home of the Colorado Rockies and is commonly regarded as one of the best Cactus League facilities.
The Ballpark Guide hasn’t visited the Mobile BayBears yet, but hopes to in the near future. If you’re excited to read a fan guide to the Hank Aaron Stadium, check out the many ways you can support The Ballpark Guide on future baseball road trips.