An estimated 1,200 fans attended the opening game for the Paintsville Yankees as they played the Pikeville Brewers in June 1982. Paintsville had a team in the minor league Appalachian League from 1979 through 1984. Click here to read about how the league was started and how it came to an end. Pikeville had a team in the same rookie league from 1982 through 1984. Paintsville’s home field shown here belonged to Johnson Central High School. Several future Major League Baseball players came through the teams. Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux was with Pikeville in 1984 and Reds star Jose Rijo played for Paintsville at age 17. Photo by David Perry | staff