Tombstone
Born: 1974 – Re-branded from Kinston Eagles
Folded: Postseason 1974
First Game: April 12, 1974 (L 6-4 vs. Rocky Mount Phillies)
Last Game: August 28, 1974 (L 15-9 @ Winston-Salem Red Sox)
Carolina League Championships: None
Stadium
Grainger Stadium
Opened: 1949
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
Major League Affiliation: Montreal Expos
Attendance
Background
The Kinston Expos were minor league affiliate of the Montreal Expos during the summer of 1974. The team finished last place in the six-team Carolina League with a miserable 38-93 record in their only season of operation.
From 1925 to 1972, a series of Kinston, North Carolina teams were known as the ‘Kinston Eagles’. The 1974 Expos were the first team to play in the city under a different name.
On The Field
Six Kinston Expos ultimately made it to the Major Leagues:
- Pitcher Hal Dues made 37 appearances for Montreal between 1977 and 1980
- Outfielder Don Hopkins became a pinch running specialist for the Oakland A’s in 1975 and 1976. Despite appearing in 85 games stealing 21 bases, he had just 8 Major League plate appearances.
- Reliever Joe Kerrigan saw time with the Expos and Baltimore Orioles from 1977 to 1980
- Craig Minetto pitched sporadically for the Oakland A’s from 1978 to 1981
- Shane Rawley won 111 Major League games and was a National League All-Star in 1986
Second Baseman Tony Bernazard was the last active player from the 1974 Kinston Expos squad, retirining in 1991 following 13 years in the Majors and in Japan.
The End
Montreal withdrew its support following the 1974 season. Unable to find another Major League sponsor, the Kinston club folded.
Carolina League baseball returned to Kinston in 1978 with the formation a new version of the Kinston Eagles.
Links
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