The team played in the Cape Fear League and league members included the Masonboro Clam Diggers, the Winter Park Rangers, and teams from Seagate, Hampstead and Surf City, among others.

Greenfield originally played its games on the road because it is did not have a home field. Elwood Lee, who owned a store at Second and Greenfield Streets, eventually built a field, with the help of his players, where Capps Industrial Supply is now located.

The Clam Diggers played on a field where Parsley Elementary School is located on Masonboro Loop.

Hampstead played at old Hampstead High, while Winter Park’s home field was at the current Winter Park Baptist Church on Wrightsville Avenue.

Steve Wardenfelt, who played for the Tigers, said Seagate was the premier team in the league because notable players, such as Johnnie Edens, were former minor leaguers.

Wardenfelt was a batboy for the Wilmington Pirates minor league team.

“I had more fun and learned more being a batboy than I did most anywhere,’’ Wardenfelt said. “Of course, I learned from my coaches, but also from the pros.’’

He and his best friend from second grade before his death, Richard Hobbs, were Greenfield teammates.

Greenfield’s best pitcher, Freddy Townsend, was a former Pirate. His catcher was a future local baseball umpire legend, the late Tinkie Rogers.

“It was a pretty good league for a while,’’ Wardenfelt said.

He does not remember when the league disbanded and is not sure if it lasted much beyond the late 1950s. Games were generally played on Sundays.

“There were guys who played in college who came back in the summer,’’ he continued. “It was fun playing on Sundays. After you get married and have children, you didn’t have enough time for that.’’

Date posted: November 20, 2009

User-contributed question by:
Nancy