Durham Bulls

Durham Bulls
Minor league affiliations
Class
  • Triple-A (1998–present)
  • Class A-Advanced (1990–1997)
  • Class A (1980–1989)
League
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
Class titles (4)
  • 2009
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2022
League titles (8)
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2009
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2021
  • 2022
Division titles (20)
  • 1980
  • 1982
  • 1984
  • 1989
  • 1998
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2021
  • 2022
Team data
NameDurham Bulls (1980–present)
ColorsBlue, burnt orange, black, white
       
Ballpark
  • Durham Bulls Athletic Park (1995–present)
  • Durham Athletic Park (1980–1994)

The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team from Durham, North Carolina.[1] They play baseball at the Triple-A (AAA) level, the most difficult level before Major League Baseball, against other baseball teams in the International League (a group of 20 baseball teams at the same level).[1] The Bulls are partnered with the Tampa Bay Rays, a Major League Baseball team. When a player shows that he plays well at this level, he may be moved up to play for the Rays.

The team started playing baseball in 1980. Other teams with the same name played in Durham before them.[2] They are called the "Bulls" because a brand of tobacco, called "Bull Durham," was made in the area and used a bull as its mascot.[3]

The Bulls played at a stadium called Durham Athletic Park from 1980 to 1994. In 1995, the Bulls began to play at a new stadium called Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The 1988 film Bull Durham, starring Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, and Susan Sarandon, was about baseball players on the team. Much of the movie was made at their stadium.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Durham, North Carolina Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Durham Bulls History". Durham Bulls. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  3. Kickler, Troy L. "Bull Durham Tobacco & the Durham Bulls". North Carolina History Project. John Locke Foundation. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

Other websites