It is the home ballpark for the Down East Bird Dawgs, who competes in the Frontier League, as well as the annual Freedom Classic between Navy and Air Force.

The original structure was built by architect John J. Rowland in 1949 at a cost of US$170,000 inclusive of everything except the land.

In honor of his accomplishments, the team established an annual award in his name to be given to the individual who has done the most to "preserve and enhance" professional baseball in Kinston.

[6] Grainger Stadium has a seating capacity of 4,100 which includes a covered grandstand of eight sections partially protected by netting, uncovered metal bleachers down the third base line, and several rows of uncovered seating along the first base line.

The box seats are squared off sections bordered by metal railing with plastic folding chairs and have waitresses assigned to them.

In September 1979, the USSSA (slow-pitch softball) World Series was held in Grainger Stadium.

[9] Two devoted fans who met at a Kinston Indians game decided to get married at the ballpark.

East Carolina University in nearby Greenville hosted an NCAA super regional in 2001 and an NCAA regional in 2004 at Kinston because the Pirates' on-campus facility, Clark-LeClair Stadium, was not up to Division I standards to host postseason tournaments at the time.

Grainger Stadium has been renovated often through the years to maintain the facility and to try to keep it up to the standards of professional baseball.

[12] In January 2007, the Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority approved $75,000 to help fund a new scoreboard and video board.