South Atlantic League (1983-1984)
Tombstone
Born: 1985 – Affiliation change from Gastonia Cardinals
Re-Branded: 1985 (Gastonia Jets)
First Game:
Last Game:
South Atlantic League Champions: 1983
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Jack Farnsworth
Major League Affiliation: Montreal Expos
Attendance
Background
Gastonia, North Carolina hosted a Class A farm club of the Montreal Expos for two summers during the mid-1980’s. The Expos replaced the departing St. Louis Cardinals as the sponsor of the Gastonia franchise following the 1982 season.
The 1983 Gastonia Expos won the North Division of the South Atlantic League with an 84-59 record. In the playoffs, Gastonia defeated the Columbia Mets 3 games to 2 to capture the championship. However, not a single member of the 1983 Sally League championship squad every made it to the Major Leagues.
The 1984 Gastonia Expos would send three players on to the Major Leagues, all of them pitchers: Tim Barrett, Brian Holman and Cliff Young.
Following the 1984 season, Montreal withdrew its affiliation with Gastonia. Long-time Gastonia team owner Jack Farnsworth forged on without a Major League player development contract in 1985 and the team became known as the Gastonia Jets.
Gastonia Expos Shop
In Memoriam
Pitcher Cliff Young (Gastonia ’84) died in a single car traffic accident on November 4th, 1993 at age 29. Young had pitched in the Major Leagues for the Cleveland Indians during the 1993 season. Los Angeles Times coverage.
Team owner Jack Farnsworth died on March 6, 1998 at age 81. After re-establishing baseball in Gastonia with the Cardinals in 1977, Farnsworth owned the local franchise until 1988.
Links
##
