The Fayetteville Generals were a minor league baseball team located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The last minor league baseball team to play before the Generals were the Fayetteville Highlanders of the Carolina League, they ceased play after the 1956 season.
In 1986, Charles Padgett, a Don Koonce and Jimmy O. Bunce paid $500,000 for the franchise. The team struggled financially until the 1989 season and posted several positive years financially and with attendance through the early 1990s.
The team was featured in the classic 1988 baseball film Bull Durham.
They were part of the South Atlantic League between 1986 and 1996. They were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers throughout their entire existence. Prior to the 1997 season, the Generals were renamed the Cape Fear Crocs.
In 1996, playing with the Generals, Gabe Kapler led the South Atlantic League in hits, doubles, and triples (45; 2nd in the minor leagues), extra-base hits (71), and total bases (280).
Year-by-year record Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs 1987 65–74 9th Johnny Lipon 1988 62–73 10th Leon Roberts 1989 70–69 6th Gene Roof 1990 82–61 2nd (t) Gene Roof Lost in 1st round 1991 58–79 13th Gerry Groninger 1992 74–67 5th Gerry Groninger 1993 75–66 5th Mark Wagner Lost in 1st round 1994 62–75 10th Dwight Lowry 1995 86–55 1st Dwight Lowry 1996 76–63 5th Dwight Lowry Lost in 1st round
Notable former players
Gabe Kapler, outfielder Travis Fryman, infielder Frank Catalanotto, infielder Juan Encarnación, outfielder
References