Charlotte Hornets (baseball) - History Since 1976

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. The team was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, 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.