Wilson Warbirds
Single-A Brewers affiliate in Wilson, North Carolina.
The team replaced the Carolina Mudcats after the franchise relocated from Zebulon, North Carolina, to a new stadium in Wilson.[1][2] The Warbirds name honors the region's aviation history and native son Vollis Simpson, a World War II pilot and sculptor.[1][3]
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2026
- City
- Wilson, North Carolina
- Class level
- Single-A (2026–present)
- Current league
- Carolina League (2026–present)
- Division
- North Division
- Majorleague
- Milwaukee Brewers (2026–present)
- Mascot
- Wilt the Warbird
- Ballpark
- Wilson Ballpark (2026–present)
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
From 1991 onward, the Carolina Mudcats' home games were held at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.[2] Wake County was asked by the Mudcats in 2022 for $15 million to fund stadium upgrades, but only mandatory costs were covered by the county.[2] Wilson announced on December 14, 2023, a $280 million development plan that featured a $70 million ballpark, subsequently called Wilson Ballpark.[2] A 25-year lease agreement was signed by the Brewers through a memorandum of understanding to move the Mudcats to Wilson.[2]
An air show on November 22, 2024, drew roughly 500 people and was used by the Brewers to reveal the Warbirds name.[4] Wilt the Warbird, a red-tailed hawk, serves as the team's mascot; this hawk species is the most prevalent in the area.[5] On April 3, 2026, the Warbirds secured a 2–0 win against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers in their debut game.[6][7] A sold-out crowd of 3,700 attended the inaugural home game on April 14, 2026, where the Warbirds beat the Hill City Howlers 7–5.[7]
What the cited sources add
The brand was created by Rev Pop, a design firm based in Milwaukee, the hometown of the Brewers.[1] Scott Starr of Rev Pop led the process of developing the team name and logos after researching Wilson and the region.[1][3] The Warbirds name refers to vintage military aircraft that continue flying after their service days.[3][1] The Warbirds said the name carries a special connection to Vollis Simpson, a WWII pilot-turned-artist who designed Whirligig sculptures.[3]
Those Whirligig sculptures tower in a park behind what will become left field in the new Wilson downtown stadium.[3] The Brewers announced a $10,000 donation to the Wilson Police Athletic/Activities League at the naming ceremony.[3]
References
- Caputo, "Carolina Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds in 2026", SportsLogos.net, November 23, 2024. facts only, no text reused. news.sportslogos.net
- Wikipedia, "Wilson Warbirds" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Johnson, "Mudcats on the move. Wilson backs new stadium to lure baseball team from Wake County", The News & Observer, December 15, 2023; Johnson, "Mudcats on the move. Wilson backs new stadium to lure baseball team from Wake County", The News & Observer, December 15, 2023; Johnson, "Mudcats on the move. Wilson backs new stadium to lure baseball team from Wake County", The News & Observer, December 15, 2023; Johnson, "Mudcats on the move. Wilson backs new stadium to lure baseball team from Wake County", The News & Observer, December 15, en.wikipedia.org
- Geving, "Wilson Warbirds "taking flight" in Eastern Carolina", WITN, November 22, 2024. facts only, no text reused. witn.com
- Wikipedia, "Wilson Warbirds" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Long, "Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds", The Wilson Times, November 22, 2024; Long, "Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds", The Wilson Times, November 22, 2024; Geving, "Wilson Warbirds "taking flight" in Eastern Carolina", WITN, November 22, 2024; Geving, "Wilson Warbirds "taking flight" in Eastern Carolina", WITN, November 22, 2024; Rosiak, "Goodbye, Carolina Mudcats: Brewers' Class A affiliate will be named Wilson Warbirds", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 22, 2024 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Wilson Warbirds" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hill, "Visit Wilson's Wilson Ballpark", Minor League Baseball, April 1, 2026; Long, "Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds", The Wilson Times, November 22, 2024; Bhargaw, "Carolina Mudcats become Wilson Warbirds in renaming; new stadium set to open in 2026", WNCN, November 22, 2024; Long, "Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds", The Wilson Times, November 22, 2024; Long, "Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds", The Wilson Times, November 22, 2024; Caputo, "Carolina Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds in 2026", SportsLogos.net, Novembe en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Wilson Warbirds" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Warbirds Score Late to Capture Inaugural Victory", Minor League Baseball, April 3, 2026 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Wilson Warbirds" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Gameday: Warbirds 2, Woodpeckers 0 Final Score (04/03/2026)", Minor League Baseball, April 3, 2026; Bae, "Wilson eyes boost as Warbirds prepare for takeoff: 'Pretty exciting'", WTVD, March 31, 2026; "Wilson Warbirds Opening Day Sellout Sets the Tone for Historic Season", MiLB, March 31, 2026; "Gameday: Howlers 5, Warbirds 7 Final Score (04/14/2026)", Minor League Baseball, April 3, 2026 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Wilson Warbirds (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Affiliates
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced