{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}}<!-- Infobox begins --> {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name = Cape Fear Crocs | firstseason = 1997 | lastseason = 2000 | allyears = | city = Fayetteville, NC | logo = CapeFearCrocsLogo.png
| class level = Class-A (1997-2000) | league = South Atlantic League (1997-2000) | conference = | division = Northern Division | past league = | majorleague = Montreal Expos (1997-2000) | nickname = Cape Fear Crocs (1997-2000) | ballpark = J. P. Riddle Stadium (1997-2000) | classchamps = | leaguechamps = None | conferencechamps = | secondhalfchamps = 1999 | mascot = Dundie the Crocodile |colors = Black, teal, white, green, gold, tan<ref>{{cite web |title=South Atlantic League Official Colors (1980 through present) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/south-atlantic-league-official-colors-1980-through-present/ |website=TruColor.net |access-date=25 October 2025}}</ref><br>{{colorbox|#010101}} {{colorbox|#00677F}} {{colorbox|#FFFFFF}} {{colorbox|#009739}} {{colorbox|#89764B}} {{colorbox|#B36924}} }}<!-- Infobox ends --> The '''Cape Fear Crocs''' were a minor league baseball team in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
They were a low Class-A baseball team which played in the South Atlantic League, and were a farm team of the Montreal Expos for the franchise's entire tenure as the Cape Fear Crocs.
They played all of their home games at J. P. Riddle Stadium and were previously known as the Fayetteville Generals.
Even though the Crocs were a perennial playoff team during their time in the SAL, poor attendance figures and problems having their existing stadium renovated and updated to league standards or even a new downtown stadium built, all proved too much to bear for the ownership of the struggling franchise.
Prior to the 2001 season, the Crocs were sold and moved to New Jersey, where they officially became the Lakewood BlueClaws, and dropped their affiliation with the Expos in favor of becoming an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/145356/|title=Fayetteville Strikes Out With the Cape Fear Crocs :: WRAL.com|date=24 June 1999 }}</ref>
The name 'Crocs' was chosen in a name-the-team contest, beating out entries such as Kings, Force, and Highlanders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crocs New In Fayetteville |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hickory-daily-record-crocs-new-in-fayett/186873159/ |access-date=15 December 2025 |work=Hickory Daily Record |date=8 April 1997 |page=38}}</ref> Their mascot was the Dundie the Crocodile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/public_info/news_releases/2000/March/Easter%20Fun%20for%20Free__032900.html|title=Easter Fun for Free at Cumberland County's Arnette Park|access-date=2008-06-02|archive-date=2011-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608214414/http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/public_info/news_releases/2000/March/Easter%20Fun%20for%20Free__032900.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==List of Cape Fear Crocs players in the MLB== All players are listed in alphabetical order by their surname, with the year(s) they played for Cape Fear in parentheses. *Matt Blank (1998) *Milton Bradley (1998) *Nate Field (1999) *Bryan Hebson (1998–1999) *Jorge Julio (1998) *Yovanny Lara (1998) *Cliff Lee (2000) *Henry Mateo (1998) *Guillermo Mota (1997) *Talmadge Nunnari (1997–1998) *Christian Parker (1997) *Valentino Pascucci (2000) *Brandon Phillips (2000) *Simon Pond (1997) *Wilkin Ruan (1999–2000) *Brian Schneider (1997–1998) *Jim Serrano (1998) *J.D. Smart (1998) *Scott Strickland (1997–1998) *Andy Tracy (1997) *Wilson Valdéz (2000) *Tim Young (1997)
==Year-by-year record== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Manager !! Playoffs |- | 1997 || 66–74 || 9th || Phil Stephenson || Lost in South Atlantic League Quarterfinals <br /> to the Charleston Alley Cats, 2–0 |- | 1998 || 80–61 || 4th || Luis Dorante || Lost in South Atlantic League Quarterfinals <br /> to the Greensboro Bats, 2–0 |- | 1999 || 75–65 || 5th || Frank Kremblas || Won South Atlantic League Quarterfinals <br /> over the Hagerstown Suns, 2–0 <br /> Won South Atlantic League Semifinals <br /> over the Capital City Bombers, 2–1 <br/> Lost in South Atlantic League Finals <br /> to the Augusta Greenjackets, 2–1 |- | 2000 || 64–74 || 10th || Bill Masse || |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Defunct South Atlantic League teams Category:Montreal Expos minor league affiliates Category:Sports in Fayetteville, North Carolina Category:Professional baseball teams in North Carolina Category:1997 establishments in North Carolina Category:2000 disestablishments in North Carolina Category:Baseball teams established in 1997 Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2000 Category:Defunct baseball teams in North Carolina
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