ZEBULON — A large piece of Rocky Mount's baseball history will be honored Monday night at Five County Stadium.

More than 1,500 locals will be on hand for the celebration when the Carolina Mudcats and the Frederick E. Turnage American Red Cross hold Rocky Mount/Nash County Community Night at 7:15 p.m.

The Mudcats will take the field against the Jacksonville Suns, donning jerseys and hats of the Rocky Mount Leafs. The Leafs were a minor league team that existed in 1941 and 1947-1952 in the Coastal Plain League. The Leafs played in the Carolina League from 1962 to '63 and 1965 to '72, serving as minor-league affiliates for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers.

The Leafs are one of Rocky Mount's 14 minor-league organizations. The first Rocky Mount team, the Railroaders, began play in 1910.

The Leafs captured the Carolina League title in 1966.

Carolina manager Matt Raleigh said he is looking forward to wearing the Leafs jerseys. The tops are white with yellow lettering and black numbers. The Mudcats will wear black hats with the silver RM letters. Players will wear their usual Mudcats pants, but Raleigh said he expects to see some old-school flavor in the way his team dresses Monday.

"I wore my socks high when I played a little bit," Raleigh said. "I imagine when we go old-time, we're all going to wear them high. That's the way the game was played, and we're giving some recognition to the people that played before us. We are wearing them in respect for where we are today and where the game's come."

All of the game-used jerseys will be auctioned during a night that spotlights Rocky Mount and Nash County. Former Rocky Mount High three-sport standout Danny Talbott will throw out one of two ceremonial first pitches.

Local Little Leaguers will take the field with Mudcats players prior to the national anthem, which will be performed by the Tar River Children's Chorus. Between innings, notable Rocky Mount athletes of the past will be featured in a slideshow on the scoreboard.

Mudcats Director of Fundraising Macy Dykema said the organization approached Rocky Mount because of its rich baseball history. Dykema said more than 1,500 tickets have been sold for the night.

"It's snowballed into a pretty big event for the night," Dykema said. "It's been amazing."

Carolina general manager Joe Kremer said it makes sense for the organization to have such a night because of the minor-league connection between the Leafs and the Mudcats.

"Our true goal is to make this Rocky Mount's day in showcasing the town of Rocky Mount so that people in Wake County can see what they have to offer," Kremer said.

Although the game will still be decided between the lines, the throwback jerseys are the most visible sign of Rocky Mount's presence.

Kevin Bryant, who has served as the Mudcats' clubhouse manager for 13 seasons, said players do not usually mind the uniform change as long as they are comfortable. The Leafs jerseys are 100 percent polyester, but will be lighter than the Mudcats' home uniform tops.

Raleigh said he is thankful his players were not given wool uniforms.

"It's supposed to be 101 on Monday," Raleigh said. "That would be a warm day."

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9951 or jhnunery@coxnc.com