Wilmington's Frawley Stadium
The Joseph Frederick & Sons leadership team members in their younger days: sons Ken and Bob; dad Joseph; and grandsons and current day owners Robbie and Brian.
The original Wilmington Blue Rocks started in 1940 as a Class B Interstate League affiliate of the Philadelphia A's. Hall-of-famer Connie Mack owned the Blue Rocks for their first four years of existence, and another hall-of-famer, Chief Bender, served as the Blue Rocks' first manager.
The nickname "Blue Rocks" was created by 73-year-old Robert Miller during a name-the-team contest. Miller lived in the Henry Clay section of the city, famed for the blue granite found along the Brandywine River.
Throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, the Blue Rocks played in Wilmington Park, a $185,000 facility at 30th Street and Governor Printz Boulevard. At the time, it was considered one of the finest minor league parks in the country.
After setting many records for attendance, the Blue Rocks' fan support dwindled, making 1952 their final season in the Interstate League.
In 1993, the Blue Rocks returned to professional baseball as the Class-A Carolina League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The new stadium, then called Legends Stadium, was built by the construction company of Blue Rocks president, Matt Minker. Legends Stadium was later changed to Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Click for more on the history or Frawley Stadium.
Click for more information about the Blue Rocks.