Archive photos: Remembering the Knoxville Smokies at Bill Meyer Stadium through the years

K-Jays general manager Dan Rajkowski directs the left is one of the new jerseys with the new name Smokies and to the right is a blownup example of one of the possible new logos for the team. 9/2/1992.

Polly Bergen throws out the first ball to open the Knoxville Smokies season April 21, 1960, at Bill Meyer Stadium. "There's not a Sally League pitcher around who has -- or likely will have -- as many curves as Knoxville's opening day ball tosser" reported the News Sentinel. (NEWS SENTINEL ARCHIVE)

Knoxville Smokies pitcher Scott Rivette signs autographs for Randall Gorden, 11, center, and Zachary Green, right, prior to their last home season opener at Bill Meyer Stadium Friday. 4/16/1999.

Knoxville Smokies second baseman Ron Samford, first baseman Johnny Olson, and left fielder Al Neil, left to right, pose together in this photograph from 1950.

Smokies celebrate their championship with a champagne party in the locker room after their 9-8 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts at Bill Meyer Stadium. 9/7/1998.

Smokies Pitching Staff: Paul Harrison, Joe Asbill, Robert Callahan, Dino Cugolani, JIm Conafable, Jim Zazzalo. Knoxville Smokies 1952

Bob Shoemaker, head groundskeeper, of the Smokies, removes the tarp covering home plate Monday night. The Smokies vs. Memphis game started late due to rain. 4/15/1996.

Copy shot of stadium. 11/10/1998.

From left to right: Earl Willis, 3B; Vince LaSala, 2B; Hugh Hamil, CF; Al Rivenbark, 1B; Bob Hallman, LF; Frank Szekula, RF; Joe Galen, SS; Gene Reynolds, C; Stan Grossman, C; Jim Mazzola, P; and Jimmy Constable, P. Knoxville Smokies, 1952

Knoxville Smokies Chris Romano signs autographs during DARE day at Bill Meyers Stadium Wednesday morning. Over 4,000 kids from Knox County Schools took part of the event which encourages children to stay drug free. 5/8/1996.

Knoxville Smokies designated hitter Andy Thompson, right, is congratulated by teammate Kevin Witt after his game-winning hit Wednesday in the bottom of the ninth inning. Thompson's single gave the Smokies a 3-2 win over Memphis. 6/25/1997.

060603stadium6.mc J. Miles Cary The Knoxville News Sentinel staff -- metro -- The Demolation of Bill Meyer Stadium is proceeding at a measured pace without fans or umpires. Crews from Total Deolation Services tore down two main light towers and part of the steel girders for the roof. One of the last things to go will be the concrete grandstand where fans sat and watched minor league and local baseball teams play. Phil Hatcher Jr. Superintendent of Athletic fields for th city of Knoxville is one of the few witnesses to the demolation of the stadium. When Hatcher walks around Neal Ridley Field he rembers the games he got to play at Bill Myer Stadium as a pitcher and first baseman for the Central High School Bob Cats in the mid 1980s. Demolation is scheduled to be completed in the next four to six weeks.

Smokies pitcher Chris Carpenter throws the ball to Huntsville batter Demond Smith during Wednesday's game at Bill Meyer Stadium. 5/22/96.

060603stadium5.mc J. Miles Cary The Knoxville News Sentinel staff -- metro -- Two demolation workers pump water from a hole around a valve for the irigation system for the ball field at Bill Meyer Stadium. The Demolation of Bill Meyer Stadium is proceeding at a measured pace without fans or umpires. Crews from Total Deolation Services tore down two main light towers and part of the steel girders for the roof. One of the last things to go will be the concrete grandstand where fans sat and watched minor league and local baseball teams play. Phil Hatcher Jr. Superintendent of Athletic fields for th city of Knoxville is one of the few witnesses to the demolation of the stadium. When Hatcher walks around Neal Ridley Field he rembers the games he got to play at Bill Myer Stadium as a pitcher and first baseman for the Central High School Bob Cats in the mid 1980s. Demolation is scheduled to be completed in the next four to six weeks.

Knoxville Smokies general manager Dan Rajkowski, center, along with Mayor Victor Ashe (right) and members of City Council and K-Trans officials, announce the start of the Knoxville Smokies Express Trolley. The trolley will provide free service from the Civic Coliseum Parking garage to Bill Meyer Stadium. The trolley will also make pickups in the old city. The service will start one hour before all home games and will run continuously until the game is over and all passengers have been returned to their cars. 5/26/1994.

Smokies celebrate their championship on the field after their 9-8 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts at Bill Meyer Stadium. 9/7/1998.

Smokies equipment manager Brian Webster gets the teams uniforms in their right lockers as the team gets prepared to play it's home opener Friday. 4/15/1999.

Bill Sherman, Knoxville Smokies player. 1950 Photo by Tod Swalm

Knoxville Smokies players Roger Doman (right) and Chad Brown (center) sign and then give team photographs to Dakota Sands, 6, in his room at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. The players were visiting children after giving the hospital a check for $1,000. The donation is designated for the special services fund which provides assistance to patient families with unique needs. 08/08/1997.

Knoxville Smokies #8- Alex Gonzalez tries to catch Carolina's #38- Rich Aude off guard at second. 5/19/1993.

Smokies first-baseman Kevin Witt examines some bats during Media Day Monday at Bill Meyer Stadium. 4/7/1997.

Brian Cox attaches a banner saying "We're Not on Strike" on the Knoxville Smokies billboard on top of the Bill Meyer Stadium Friday. The Smokies play the Orlando Cubs 7 pm today and Monday and 2 pm Sunday. 8/19/1994.

Some Smokies fans get an early start for the opening day game as they line up outside the gates at Bill Meyer Stadium. The Knoxville Smokies played their home opener against the Huntsville Stars. 4/2/1998.

Andy Thompson and his teammates come out into the stands before the game and signed autographs for some of the 4,000 fourth grade students attending their game. Here Thompson is signing the shirt sleeve of Debbie Tayman from Karns Elementary School. 5/21/1997.

6/1/94- Knoxville Smokie Todd Steverson scores on teammate Rick Holifield's 3rd inning double Wednesday night at Bill Meyer Stadium. Angelo Encarnacion blocks the late throw. The Smokies plated 5 runs in the inning.

Smokies player Ryan Stromsborg gives a high-five to asthma patient Mitchell Wesson, 7, son of Scott and Elizabeth Wesson of Knoxville, as teammates Ryan Freel and Mike Peeples look on during a visit Monday to East Tennessee Children's Hospital. The Smokies helped brighten the day teaming up with Goody's family Clothing to provide complementary tickets to patients and their families. 4/27/1998.

Billy Wilson assistant grounds keeper for the Knoxville Smokies squeegee the excess water off of the tarp covering the infield. 5/25/1998.

Knoxville Smokies outfielder Jonathan Rivers, right, talks with Don Hargroves and his 8-year-old son, Brandon Hargroves, after giving Brandon a signed baseball prior to Tuesday night's game. Rivers bought 75 Smokies tickets and donated them to East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Brandon, the recipient of a ticket, suffers from cystic fibrosis and spends a lot of time in the hospital, said his father. 6/2/1998.

Knoxville Smokies Manager Omar Malave, left, disagrees with Umpire James Thomas, who threw out Smokies pitcher Jason Stevenson (#28) for hitting a Huntsville Stars batter with the ball during Wednesday's game. 7/29/1998.

Snow on Bill Meyer Stadium in Knoxville in February 1960.

Smokies' staff members Justin Ewart, left, and Jeff Shoaf pack up after a press conference Friday announcing the site of the permanent home of the Class AA minor league baseball team. The 6,000 seat, $15 million ballpark will be located at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 66 in Sevierville. 2/5/1998.

Knoxville's Tilson Brito squares to bunt a ball in the Smokies' home opener. 4/14/1994.

The Smokies' Fausto Solano tags out Chattanooga's James Davis during game action at Bill Meyer Stadium Wednesday. 4/9/1998.

Tyrone Woodruff of Carter misses a tag at second during the first inning of the All-Star game held Saturday afternoon at Bill Meyer Stadium May 18, 1991.

Knoxville Smokies Rob Mummau can not get his glove on a hit by Orlando's Joe Mathis during the first inning. 6/01/1998.

Knoxville Smokies outfielder Will Skett takes some batting practice off of the tee Friday. 4/3/1998.

Jake Morris- Pitcher. 1955.

Knoxville Smokies #20-Rich Butler gets high-fives from teammates after scoring the first run of their game against Birmingham Tuesday night. The Smokies have one of the best attendance records in the league. 9/14/1993.

Mildred Stone, left, and her sister Charlotte Stone, both of Knoxville, relax in the comfort of recliners as they watch a Smokies game Wednesday's businessman's special at the Bill Meyer Stadium. Two people are randomly picked each game to sit in the seats and enjoy free food and drink. The Smokies played Huntsville at noon. 5/22/1996.

060603stadium7.mc J. Miles Cary The Knoxville News Sentinel staff -- metro -- The Demolation of Bill Meyer Stadium is proceeding at a measured pace without fans or umpires. Crews from Total Deolation Services tore down two main light towers and part of the steel girders for the roof. One of the last things to go will be the concrete grandstand where fans sat and watched minor league and local baseball teams play. Phil Hatcher Jr. Superintendent of Athletic fields for th city of Knoxville is one of the few witnesses to the demolation of the stadium. When Hatcher walks around Neal Ridley Field he rembers the games he got to play at Bill Myer Stadium as a pitcher and first baseman for the Central High School Bob Cats in the mid 1980s. Demolation is scheduled to be completed in the next four to six weeks.