Charlotte Hornets (baseball)
Encyclopedia
The Charlotte Hornets was the name of an American
minor league
baseball
franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina
. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history. From 1937-42 and 1946-72, the Hornets were a farm system affiliate of the original Washington Senators
franchise and its post-1960 successor, the Minnesota Twins.
South Atlantic League for one season. Later in 1900, the Charlotte "Presbyterians" played a 27-game season in the North Carolina Association. Under the name Hornets, a professional baseball team played in 1901 and 1902 in the Virginia-North Carolina League and the North Carolina League respectively, both Class C leagues. In 1905 the Hornets again played in the Virginia-North Carolina League (then a Class D operation).
In 1908, the Hornets were a founding member of the Carolina Association (Class D) through 1913, when they moved to the North Carolina State League
, another Class D League. The team remained with the North Carolina State League until 1917 when the team folded because of World War I
. In 1919, the Hornets moved to the South Atlantic League
(Class C 1919–1920, Class B after 1921) where they remained through the 1930 season. From 1931–1942, with the exception of 1936, the team operated in the Piedmont League
, a Class B league, except for 1931 when it was Class C.
, the adopted son of Senators owner Clark Griffith
. In 1940, Calvin Griffith built a 3,200-seat park in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood on Magnolia Avenue and named it Clark Griffith Park. It would be the home of Charlotte baseball for nearly a half-century.
Following a three-year break during World War II
, the Hornets returned to competition now in the Tri-State League
(Class B) through the 1953 season when it rejoined the Class-A South Atlantic League. It remained in the league, which was upgraded to Class AA in 1963 and renamed the Southern League
the following year, through 1972. (In 1971 the Hornets played in the Dixie Association, a merger of the Texas
and Southern leagues). In 1972, the Twins also placed a Class A Western Carolinas League
franchise, the Charlotte Twins, alongside the Double-A Hornets' franchise; it lasted only only one season. Through the years, the Hornets won championships in the North Carolina League (1902, 1916 and 1923), Piedmont League (1931 and 1938) Tri-State League (1946, 1947 and 1952) and Southern League (1971).
The mainstay of the Hornets through the years was Phillip "Phil" Howser, who became Charlotte General Manager in 1935 and except for three years in the early 1940s when he worked in the Washington Senator's front office, he ran the Charlotte operation until 1970. Sometimes he served both as president and general manager of the club. Howser worked his entire 39-year baseball career for the Griffith family, beginning in 1935 in Chattanooga. From 1971 until his death in 1974 he was southern scouting supervisor for the Twins.
Howser loved youngsters and often let them into the ballpark without charge when he found them looking through holes in the fence. He prided himself on the upkeep and maintenance of Clark Griffith Park, which for years was covered with large -- six to eight foot long and four to six foot high -- photographs of old Hornet teams and players from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. In 1962 Howser was named "King of Baseball," By the National Association
In 1951 the Hornets also won 100 games, while losing 40 with a .714 winning percentage record. The team took first place in the league on May 15 and remained there for the rest of the season, finishing 15 games ahead of Asheville. However, Charlotte was eliminated in the opening round of the league playoffs, losing three games to one to Spartanburg, which had finished 27 games behind the Hornets in regular league play. The Hornets were managed by 27-year-old Cal Ermer
, who also hit. 297 and led the league's second basemen in fielding (.971) in his last season as an active player. Later he served for nearly two years (1967 and 1968) as manager of the Minnesota Twin.
The Hornets' Francisco "Frank" Campos
led the league in batting (.368) with only 20 strike outs in 566 plate appearances. Catcher Bob Oldis
and outfield Bruce Barmes
also were standouts. Oldis played parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues as a catcher, and later was a longtime MLB coach
and scout.
A host of major league stars played for the Charlotte Hornets including Van Lingle Mungo
(1929), Early Wynn
(1939), Harmon Killebrew
(1956), Tony Oliva
(1962) and Graig Nettles
(1967). Another player, Archibald "Moonlight" Graham
, appeared as a right fielder in a single major league game on June 29, 1905, but he never had an at bat
, nor a fielding play. His unusual story came to the attention of author W. P. Kinsella
and was popularized by his novel Shoeless Joe and the subsequent 1988 film Field of Dreams
. Graham's character was played by Burt Lancaster
and Frank Whaley as older and younger Graham.
In 2001 as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of Minor League Baseball, Bill Weiss and Marshall Write, two veteran chroniclers of minor league teams, researched and rated the best Minor League teams of the Twentieth Century. The 1951 Charlotte Hornets ranked 36th and the 1931 Hornets 56th.
On March 17, 1985, Crockett Park (mostly wood-framed) was destroyed by a massive fire after a high school baseball game. An investigation revealed that the cause of the fire was arson. The Crockett family built a 5,500-seat makeshift stadium immediately afterward, which served as the O's home for three years. In 1987, George Shinn, founder of the NBA Charlotte Hornets, bought the team from the Crockett family. Later in the year, he renamed the team the Knights and switched the team's affiliation to the Chicago Cubs.[1] The team was affiliated with the Cleveland Insians, 1993-1995, Florida Marlins, 1996-1997 and since 1998 have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox.
For the 1988 season the team was moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina, although it was still called the Charlotte Knights. The team still plays in York County, South Carolina.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history. From 1937-42 and 1946-72, the Hornets were a farm system affiliate of the original Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
franchise and its post-1960 successor, the Minnesota Twins.
Early history (1892–1936)
The earliest "Hornet" team was apparently in 1892, according to Minor League Baseball records. The team played in the 19th century19th century
The 19th century was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Holy Roman and Mughal empires...
South Atlantic League for one season. Later in 1900, the Charlotte "Presbyterians" played a 27-game season in the North Carolina Association. Under the name Hornets, a professional baseball team played in 1901 and 1902 in the Virginia-North Carolina League and the North Carolina League respectively, both Class C leagues. In 1905 the Hornets again played in the Virginia-North Carolina League (then a Class D operation).
In 1908, the Hornets were a founding member of the Carolina Association (Class D) through 1913, when they moved to the North Carolina State League
North Carolina State League
The North Carolina State League was a "Class D" league in Minor League Baseball. The original version of the league existed from 1913-1917 as the successor to the Carolina Association...
, another Class D League. The team remained with the North Carolina State League until 1917 when the team folded because of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1919, the Hornets moved to the South Atlantic League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
(Class C 1919–1920, Class B after 1921) where they remained through the 1930 season. From 1931–1942, with the exception of 1936, the team operated in the Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
, a Class B league, except for 1931 when it was Class C.
Affiliation with the Senators/Twins (1937–1972)
The team was purchased by the Washington Senators in 1937. The club would remain affiliated with the Senators/Twins franchise for 35 years. In 1938 the team was managed by Calvin GriffithCalvin Griffith
Calvin Robertson Griffith , born Calvin Robertson in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was a Major League Baseball team owner...
, the adopted son of Senators owner Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
. In 1940, Calvin Griffith built a 3,200-seat park in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood on Magnolia Avenue and named it Clark Griffith Park. It would be the home of Charlotte baseball for nearly a half-century.
Following a three-year break during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Hornets returned to competition now in the Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
(Class B) through the 1953 season when it rejoined the Class-A South Atlantic League. It remained in the league, which was upgraded to Class AA in 1963 and renamed the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
the following year, through 1972. (In 1971 the Hornets played in the Dixie Association, a merger of the Texas
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
and Southern leagues). In 1972, the Twins also placed a Class A Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
franchise, the Charlotte Twins, alongside the Double-A Hornets' franchise; it lasted only only one season. Through the years, the Hornets won championships in the North Carolina League (1902, 1916 and 1923), Piedmont League (1931 and 1938) Tri-State League (1946, 1947 and 1952) and Southern League (1971).
The mainstay of the Hornets through the years was Phillip "Phil" Howser, who became Charlotte General Manager in 1935 and except for three years in the early 1940s when he worked in the Washington Senator's front office, he ran the Charlotte operation until 1970. Sometimes he served both as president and general manager of the club. Howser worked his entire 39-year baseball career for the Griffith family, beginning in 1935 in Chattanooga. From 1971 until his death in 1974 he was southern scouting supervisor for the Twins.
Howser loved youngsters and often let them into the ballpark without charge when he found them looking through holes in the fence. He prided himself on the upkeep and maintenance of Clark Griffith Park, which for years was covered with large -- six to eight foot long and four to six foot high -- photographs of old Hornet teams and players from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. In 1962 Howser was named "King of Baseball," By the National Association
Memorable teams and players
Two Hornet teams are remembered for their proficiency. The 1931 team won 100 games and lost 37 with a winning percentage of .730. The club was managed by 33-year old player/manager Oceola Guy Lacy of Cleveland, Tenn., whose playing career spanned a quarter-century, 1916-1941. The Hornets finished 13 1/2 games ahead of the second place Raleigh, which was beaten four games to two in the championship series. The team had several .300 hitters, including Frank "What-A-Man" Packard (.366 with 21 home runs and 123 RBIs); Vern Brandes (.335 with 144 RBIs and a league high 44 stolen bases) and George Rhinehardt (.325). Jimmy Hudgens batted (.290) and was the only one of the group to play in the major leagues. The team's top pitcher was right-hander Charles "Struttin' Bud" Shaney, who led the league with a 24-10 record. Shaney never played in the majors, but won 230 games during his lengthy minor league career. In 1954 at age 54 he played in his annual Tri-State Leaguye game with the Asheville Tourists and was still good enough to pitch five innings of four-hit shutout ball for a victory.In 1951 the Hornets also won 100 games, while losing 40 with a .714 winning percentage record. The team took first place in the league on May 15 and remained there for the rest of the season, finishing 15 games ahead of Asheville. However, Charlotte was eliminated in the opening round of the league playoffs, losing three games to one to Spartanburg, which had finished 27 games behind the Hornets in regular league play. The Hornets were managed by 27-year-old Cal Ermer
Cal Ermer
Calvin Coolidge Ermer was an American second baseman, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II...
, who also hit. 297 and led the league's second basemen in fielding (.971) in his last season as an active player. Later he served for nearly two years (1967 and 1968) as manager of the Minnesota Twin.
The Hornets' Francisco "Frank" Campos
Frank Campos
Francisco José Campos Lopéz was a Cuban-born professional baseball player, an outfielder who appeared in 71 games played over three Major League seasons with the Washington Senators between –. He threw and batted left-handed, stood tall and weighed .Born in Havana, Campos played in organized...
led the league in batting (.368) with only 20 strike outs in 566 plate appearances. Catcher Bob Oldis
Bob Oldis
Robert Carl Oldis is a scout for the Miami Marlins of American Major League Baseball and a former professional baseball player....
and outfield Bruce Barmes
Bruce Barmes
Bruce Raymond Barmes is a retired American professional baseball player. An outfielder, Barmes had an outstanding minor league career, notching a .318 career batting average and 1,627 hits in 1,439 games played over eleven full seasons , but he appeared in only five Major League Baseball games...
also were standouts. Oldis played parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues as a catcher, and later was a longtime MLB coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and scout.
A host of major league stars played for the Charlotte Hornets including Van Lingle Mungo
Van Lingle Mungo
Van Lingle Mungo was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher known for his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mungo played for the Dodgers from to . At the end of his baseball career, he played with the New York Giants....
(1929), Early Wynn
Early Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. , nicknamed "Gus", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 25-year baseball career, he pitched for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
(1939), Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew , nicknamed "Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball , he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and...
(1956), Tony Oliva
Tony Oliva
Tony Pedro Oliva is a former Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. He played his entire 15-year baseball career for the Minnesota Twins . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
(1962) and Graig Nettles
Graig Nettles
Graig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best...
(1967). Another player, Archibald "Moonlight" Graham
Moonlight Graham
Archibald Wright "Moonlight" Graham was an American professional baseball player who appeared as a right fielder in a single major league game for the New York Giants on June 29, 1905. His story was popularized by Shoeless Joe, a novel by W. P...
, appeared as a right fielder in a single major league game on June 29, 1905, but he never had an at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, nor a fielding play. His unusual story came to the attention of author W. P. Kinsella
W. P. Kinsella
William Patrick Kinsella, OC, OBC is a Canadian novelist and short story writer who is well-known for his novel Shoeless Joe , which was adapted into the movie Field of Dreams in 1989...
and was popularized by his novel Shoeless Joe and the subsequent 1988 film Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson and is from the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella...
. Graham's character was played by Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
and Frank Whaley as older and younger Graham.
In 2001 as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of Minor League Baseball, Bill Weiss and Marshall Write, two veteran chroniclers of minor league teams, researched and rated the best Minor League teams of the Twentieth Century. The 1951 Charlotte Hornets ranked 36th and the 1931 Hornets 56th.
History since 1976
The current incarnation of Charlotte baseball began in 1976 after three no baseball years. Wrestling promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. bought the Asheville Orioles, the AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and renamed them the Charlotte Orioles. Griffith Park was fixed up and renamed Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Park (popularly known as Crockett Park). The team, popularly known as the O's, won Southern League titles in 1980 and 1984. Eventual major-league superstars Eddie Murray (the O's original first baseman in 1976), Cal Ripken (1980) and Curt Schilling (mid-1980s) played for the O's.On March 17, 1985, Crockett Park (mostly wood-framed) was destroyed by a massive fire after a high school baseball game. An investigation revealed that the cause of the fire was arson. The Crockett family built a 5,500-seat makeshift stadium immediately afterward, which served as the O's home for three years. In 1987, George Shinn, founder of the NBA Charlotte Hornets, bought the team from the Crockett family. Later in the year, he renamed the team the Knights and switched the team's affiliation to the Chicago Cubs.[1] The team was affiliated with the Cleveland Insians, 1993-1995, Florida Marlins, 1996-1997 and since 1998 have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox.
For the 1988 season the team was moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina, although it was still called the Charlotte Knights. The team still plays in York County, South Carolina.