Originally known as Clark Griffith Park, the facility was renamed Jim Crockett Memorial Park in June 1977 following the purchase of the Orioles' Southern League franchise by the Crockett family and the relocation of the club from Asheville to Charlotte for the 1976 season. The Charlotte O's served as the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles and helped return professional baseball to Charlotte after a four-year absence.

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Cal Ripken Jr. appeared in parts of the 1979 season and all of the 1980 season with the Charlotte O's. During his full 1980 campaign, Ripken batted .276 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI while earning Southern League All-Star honors and helping lead Charlotte to the 1980 Southern League Championship. The Charlotte O's would win a second consecutive Southern League title in 1981.

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Frances Crockett oversaw baseball operations for the family business and served as president of the Charlotte O's. She later became commissioner of the Southern League, making her one of the most influential figures in minor league baseball during that era.

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Built in 1940, Crockett Park seated more than 5,000 fans and hosted not only baseball but also numerous Mid-Atlantic Wrestling events promoted by the Crockett family. The facility became a landmark for both baseball and wrestling fans throughout the Carolinas before tragedy struck on March 16, 1985, when a fire destroyed the historic wooden grandstand.

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As of 2026, a luxury residential development known as Olmsted Park occupies the former site of Jim Crockett Memorial Park. Homes and apartments now stand where the grandstands and playing field once existed.

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For Ripken collectors, Crockett Park is perhaps the most significant of all his minor league homes. The facility served as the backdrop for the 1980 WBTV Charlotte O's card, the 1980 Charlotte O's Police issue, numerous photographs, team programs, and other memorabilia from one of the most important periods of Ripken's development.

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Ripken in the Minors would like to thank Dick Bourne and Mid-Atlantic Gateway for their assistance in preserving the history of Jim Crockett Memorial Park and the Charlotte O's. Special thanks also to Eric and Wendy Pastore for generously sharing photographs of the facility. Their efforts have helped preserve the memory of one of the most important ballparks in Cal Ripken Jr.'s minor league career and one of the most significant locations in the history of Ripken in the Minors.