Pikeville Cubs

	Pikeville Cubs; 1982–1984; Pikeville, Kentucky
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Rookie (1982–1984)
Previous leagues	Appalachian League (1982–1984)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Milwaukee Brewers (1982); Chicago Cubs (1983–1984)
Minor league titles
League titles	None
Team data
Previous names	Pikeville Brewers (1982); Pikeville Cubs (1983–1984)
Previous parks	Pikeville Athletic Field (1982–1984)

The Pikeville Cubs were a minor league baseball team based in Pikeville, Kentucky in 1983–1984. Pikeville played as a member of the Rookie level Appalachian League from 1982–1984. They were preceded by the 1982 Pikeville Brewers.

Pikeville was an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (1982) and Chicago Cubs (1983–1984).

Baseball Hall of Fame member Greg Maddux played for the 1984 Pikeville Cubs in his first professional season.

History

Minor league baseball began in Pikeville, Kentucky when the Pikeville Brewers joined the eight–team Appalachian League in 1982. Pikeville finished in 25–42 in the 1982 Appalachian League, along with league members Bluefield Orioles (47–22), Bristol Tigers (28–36), Elizabethton Twins (32–36), Johnson City Cardinals (32–35), Kingsport Mets (28–40), Paintsville Yankees (43–27) and Pulaski Braves (36–33).[1][2][3]

The 1982 Pikeville Brewers were an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, finishing in 4th place (last) in the North Division of the Appalachian League. Playing under Manager Tim Nordbrook, Pikeville drew 13.3441 fans for the 1982 season, an average of 401 per home contest.[2][4]

Remaining in the Appalachian League in 1983, the Pikeville team became known as the Pikeville Cubs, becoming an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The 1983 Pikeville Cubs finished 33–37 (4th) under Manager Jim Fairey. The season attendance was 4,998 an average of 143, last in the league.[5][6]

The 1984 season was Pikeville's final season in the Appalachian League. The 1984 Pikeville Cubs finished 34–34, 3rd in the North Division (5th overall). The team was again last in the league in attendance, with 5,511 for the season. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Greg Maddux pitched for Pikeville in 1984, with 6–2 record and a 2.63 ERA in his first professional season.[7][8][9]

Pikeville folded after the 1984 season, with the Cubs franchise moving the team to Wytheville, Virginia to become the 1985 Wytheville Cubs.[10][3]

Greg Maddux was inducted into the Appalachian League Hall of Fame in 2019, as part of the inaugural class of the league's hall of fame.[11]

Pikeville was without a minor league team until the Kentucky Rifles of the 1993 Frontier League succeeded the Pikeville Cubs.[12]

The ballpark

Pikeville teams played at Pikeville Athletic Field. The ballpark was also known as "W. C. Hambley Field." The ballpark was located at Hambley Boulevard (US 460 & US 23), Pikeville, Kentucky. The site is still in use by Pikeville High School and University of Pikeville athletic teams.[13][14][15][16]