Explore Salem's Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark
Welcome to Salem's Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark, where the mountain views are panoramic and the region's baseball roots can be traced all the way back to the 1880s. While Salem's parent club is nearly 700 miles away, there are plenty of Red Sox fans in the area to make up for it.
Salem Red Sox (Single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox since 2009)
Established: 1955
Ballpark: Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark (opened 1995)
League: Carolina League
Championships: 1955, 1965, 1972, 1974, 1987, 2001, 2013
Notable Alumni: Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts, Yoan Moncada, Larry Walker, Tim Wakefield, Moises Alou, Matt Holliday, Juan Uribe, Hunter Pence, Ben Zobrist
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The Salem Red Sox are located in Salem, Va., nestled in the Shenandoah Valley at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Owned Diamond Baseball Holdings, the franchise began in 1955 as the Salem Rebels, a Pittsburgh affiliate, and took home the Appalachian League title its very first year. The club shuffled through affiliations (as well as several name changes) with San Francisco, San Diego, Texas, Colorado and Houston before teaming up with Boston in 2009. In the years since, the franchise has seen a good amount of success, winning five division titles and one league title.
The ballpark was built in 1993 when the ownership of the then-Salem Buccaneers planned to sell the franchise because the existing Municipal Stadium wasn't up to franchise standards. The park name was chosen to honor Salem's veterans, while the current naming rights belong to local healthcare organization Carilion Clinic. The Roanoke College baseball team (Division III) often uses the stadium as a second home field.
While the ballpark does not pay tribute to the famed Green Monster -- mainly to show off the mountain views -- there is a nearby stadium that does. Behind the stadium on the third-base side is a kids' dream -- a Wiffle ball field that mimics Fenway Park, appropriately dubbed "Mini-Fenway," complete with a mini Green Monster in left. Also around the corner from Mini Fenway is the Kids' Zone, which features several inflatable rides.
Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark
Ballpark location (via Google Maps)
Red Sox Roster
Red Sox Schedule
1004 Texas Street
Salem, VA 24153
540-389-3333
Capacity: 6,300
Dimensions: left field, 325 feet; center field, 401 feet; right field, 325 feet
Park factors (2021-22)
100 = league average
Runs: 104 | Homers: 67 | Hits: 107
Carolina League environment: 5.10 runs per team per game (fourth-highest among 11 full-season leagues)
The Single-A Red Sox are located in one of the most beautiful parts of Virginia. The mountain views are panoramic and there¡¯s no shortage of outdoor activities to indulge in, whether it¡¯s an intensive hike or a scenic drive.
Salem is an independent city just 15 minutes outside of Roanoke, the largest city in Virginia west of Richmond. The region tends to identify under the unifying Roanoke Valley umbrella, which encompasses the two cities as well as other small communities in the area. Baseball in the region can be traced back to 1887, proving that fans in the valley are passionate about the sport. Salem's first team was organized in 1937 before fielding its first professional franchise in the mid 1950s.
Due to its ample parking, convenient location off several major highways and state routes, as well as a plethora of baseball-hungry fans in the region, the Salem franchise fares well with attendance.
The ballpark is part of a sports complex that includes Salem Stadium -- a football field that seats a little over 7,100 -- and the Salem Civic Center. From the spacious parking lot, fans walk across the street to a grand main entrance that leads right to the concourse behind home plate.
After passing under a structure that contains suite seats, club seats and the press box, fans can proceed either left or right to continue along the concourse. The stadium doesn't feature any outfield seating, which helps to further accentuate the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.
The ballpark features some very unique grandstands. There are 10 sections to choose from at a lower price than field level, but you'll get the same sweeping views either way. There are also two tiers of field-level seating available. At the far end of the concourse on either side, there is bar-style seating with tables and a railing. There are also picnic areas in right and left field that are available for reservation.
Mascot
Mugsy is a St. Bernard with quite the lifespan -- he's been with the franchise since 1997, when they were the Rockies-affiliated Salem Avalanche. Mugsy has brown fur, long brown ears, a tan face and a big white circle on his chest that can't often be seen because of his jersey. He's got a cute red nose and bright blue eyes, and you'll never catch him without his Salem cap on.
Where to Stay
Headed to the stadium and looking for a hotel nearby? Your Wyndham is waiting. As the Official Hotel of Minor League Baseball, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts welcomes baseball fans with a portfolio of 24 trusted brands. Find Hotels by Wyndham closest to the ballpark below and book now at wyndhamhotels.com.
? Super 8 by Wyndham Salem VA
? Days Inn by Wyndham Salem
? La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Roanoke Salem
? Baymont by Wyndham Salem Roanoke Area
? TRAVELODGE BY WYNDHAM ROANOKE
Local Attractions
The Salem Farmers Market is right in the heart of downtown and is open Monday-Saturday during the season. The historic downtown is full of free parking and is easy to get around on foot, making it perfect to fill an entire day with shopping and eating.
Of course, the area is also notable for its abundance of outdoor activities. About 20 minutes northeast there is parking for the Appalachian Trail, which leads to McAfee Knob, one of the most famous sites along the trail. If you¡¯re looking for a much shorter hike, Read Mountain Preserve offers summit views in a more secluded area that you can complete in a couple of hours. For more relaxed exercise, you can walk, run or bike on the Roanoke River Greenway.
Head 20 minutes east and you¡¯ll be at Mill Mountain, which offers a short hiking trail, a small garden, a road to reach the summit and even a zoo. At the top, one can enjoy sweeping views of the Roanoke valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Also at the summit is the Mill Mountain Star, a regional icon and the largest free-standing man-made illuminated star in the world.
If you want to stay in your car, there¡¯s an entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway -- a long scenic road with plenty of lookout spots that stretches up through Virginia and down into North Carolina -- about 20 minutes south. Of course, there¡¯s also Shenandoah National Park to the north, with over 200,000 acres of land to explore either on foot or via the famed Skyline Drive.
It's a bit of a drive, but hop on I-81 North for about 40 minutes and you can visit Natural Bridge State Park. There is a small entrance fee, but it's worth it to see the stunning 215-foot natural bridge carved naturally into the rocks -- the deposit is estimated to be between 470-500 million years old. There are also caves to explore and waterfalls to admire along the paths in the park.
If you¡¯re looking to take home some souvenirs from a unique local staple, visit the acclaimed Black Dog Salvage, a huge warehouse full of antiques, local art and restored furniture. The site was featured in the reality series "Salvage Dawgs," which depicts the team traveling the country to repurpose architectural salvage.
Food and Drink
If you like craft beer, you¡¯re in luck. In Salem, Parkway Brewing Company and Olde Salem Brewing Company offer a variety of craft beers, with the latter providing food trucks and live music in the summer. In Roanoke, Big Lick Brewing Company is a 10-minute drive and has an expansive family-and-dog-friendly outdoor space with firepits. Mac and Bob's in Salem also features a selection of beers on tap to go with traditional American fare.
As for food, Viet Sub in Roanoke specializes in Vietnamese banh mi in a casual atmosphere, while Tacos Coronado in Salem is a great hole-in-the-wall place -- in fact, if you like Mexican food, there is no shortage of places to visit in the area. If the humidity gets to be too much in the summertime, head over to Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. to enjoy homemade treats at the foot of Mill Mountain.
Moving On
While there are five Minor League teams in Virginia, they're pretty spread out. The next closest franchise is in Lynchburg, a little over an hour away to the east. Drive two hours down to North Carolina, though, and there's more than enough baseball to choose from, starting in Greensboro, which is a straight shot south down Route 220.
The Road to Boston
Red Sox affiliates span up and down the East Coast. Salem lands right in the middle of the High-A Greenville Drive in South Carolina and the Triple-A WooSox in Massachusetts. Between those stops are the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in Maine. Boston¡¯s prospects will begin their journey in the South and finish it in New England.
Single-A: Salem Red Sox
High-A: Greenville Drive
Double-A: Portland Sea Dogs
Triple-A: Worcester Red Sox
