Tri-State Coal Cats

The Tri-State Coal Cats are a summer collegiate baseball team of the Appalachian League. They are located in Huntington, West Virginia, and play their home games at Jack Cook Field on the campus of Marshall University.^[2]

On October 11, 2023, the Appalachian League announced that the Princeton WhistlePigs would be ceasing operations, effective immediately, leaving an open spot in the 10 team league.^[3] On November 16, the league announced that Marshall University would host an Appalachian League team beginning with the 2024 season, marking the first time Huntington hosted Appalachian League baseball since 1994, when the Huntington Cubs played at St. Cloud Commons.^[4] On February 1 and 8 of 2024, it was announced that former MLB player Tommy Gregg and former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Salomón Torres were hired as the manager and pitching coach respectively. On February 15, the team name was announced as the Tri-State Coal Cats, honoring the tri-state area of Huntington, West Virginia, Southern Ohio and Northeast Kentucky, with their color scheme identical to the Marshall Thundering Herd.^[5]

Huntington, West Virginia has a long history with professional baseball, dating back to the early 20th century. The city fielded teams in several minor leagues, including the Virginia Valley League (1910), Mountain States League (1911–1912, 1937–1942), Ohio State League (1913–1916), and the Middle Atlantic League (1931–1936).

In the 1990s, Huntington became home to an Appalachian League franchise for six seasons. From 1990 to 1994, the Huntington Cubs served as the Chicago Cubs’ Rookie-level affiliate, playing their home games at St. Cloud Commons. In 1995, following the Cubs’ departure, Huntington fielded a co-op team known as the River City Rumblers, which was composed of players from the remaining nine MLB organizations.

One notable figure to pass through Huntington was future NFL defensive back Jason Sehorn. Signed by the Chicago Cubs out of American Legion baseball at age 19, Sehorn played for the inaugural Huntington Cubs team in 1990. While he showcased impressive speed—going 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts—he struggled offensively, finishing with a .184 batting average, one home run, 10 RBIs, and 52 strikeouts in 141 plate appearances. After his brief baseball career, Sehorn transitioned to football, playing at junior college and then USC. He went on to enjoy a 10-year NFL career with the New York Giants (1994–2002) and St. Louis Rams (2003), and played in Super Bowl XXXV as a cornerback for the Giants.^[6]

In 2025, the Tri-State Coal Cats adopted an alternate identity for every Saturday home game, playing as the Huntington Slaw Dogs. Under this alias, they debut a neon green version of their uniform and a new logo featuring a West Virginia-style hot dog.^[7]

The following players appeared for the Huntington Cubs or River City Rumblers and later played in Major League Baseball:

^[8]

• Official website