Calvin Falwell Passes Away

The Hillcats are saddened to hear that Calvin Falwell, Chairman of the Board of the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation, passed away in Lynchburg last night. Mr. Falwell brought Carolina League Baseball to Lynchburg in 1966 when he formed and became president of the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation. He was 90 years old.

In addition to creating the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation, Mr. Falwell served as a senior member of the Carolina League Board of Directors and on the league's Executive Committee. He was honored by Minor league Baseball as the 1998 winner of the John H. Johnson President's Trophy.

In 2004, the baseball field at Lynchburg City Stadium was officially named Calvin Falwell Field in his honor. He was also named "King of Baseball" in 2005 at the Baseball Winter Meetings, which were held in Dallas, Texas.

The Hillcats have already received an out-pour of kind thoughts and prayers from the Lynchburg community.

Hillcats' General Manager Paul Sunwall shared his thoughts, "Calvin will be long remembered as Mr. Baseball. He'll be sorely missed, not just for what he did to bring baseball to Lynchburg and keep it here, but the little things as well. He was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand, whether it was maintenance that needed to be done at the stadium or sending over members of his crew to help with a tarp pull. We could always count on Calvin to help in any way he could. He was a true gentleman. He was always a first class gentleman"

Mr. Falwell is survived by his wife of 69 years, Doris, their three sons, Charles, Terry, and David, along with nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

The Hillcats will have a moment of silence in his memory before Sunday night's game against the Frederick Keys at Lynchburg City Stadium. The flag in center field will also be flown at half-mast for the remainder of the 2011 season.