Western Carolinas League (1972)
Tombstone
Born: 1972 – Affiliation change from Anderson Senators
Affiliation Change: 1973 (Anderson Tigers)
First Game: April 14, 1972 (L 6-0 @ Greenwood Braves)
Last Game: August 28, 1972 (W 2-0 vs. Charlotte Twins)
Western Carolina League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Community Sports, Inc. (Jimmy Stathakis, Bobby Kerr, et al.)
Major League Affiliation: Co-Op
Attendance
Background
The Anderson Giants were part of a procession of short-lived Western Carolinas League baseball clubs that cycled through this South Carolina city between 1970 and 1975. The Giants (1972) followed the Anderson Senators (1970-1971) and preceded the Tigers (1973), Mets (1974) and Rangers (1975).
Anderson nearly lost its ball club following the 1971 season. Previous owner Ed Grasso fell into heavy debt and was forced to relinquish the club. Meanwhile, Anderson’s parent club, the Washington Senators, departed for greener pastures. The ball club was saved when Bobby Kerr, the former driver and owner of the Anderson Senators’ team bus, stepped forward to re-organize Anderson’s Western Carolinas League entry for the 1972 season.
Name & Co-Op Designation
Despite their name, the Anderson Giants were not formally part of the San Francisco Giants farm system. Rather, the team was saddled with the dreaded “co-op” status. The now-extinct co-op designation was conferred upon minor league clubs that were unwanted by Major League organizations. In order to remain in existence, they accepted low-level prospects loaned out by multiple Major League organizations, sometimes supplemented by free agents signed off the streets. Anderson ultimately took on players from eight different Major League organizations in 1972. Since the San Francisco Giants sent the largest delegation (8 players), Anderson officials decided to take on the ‘Giants’ name as well.1Rollins, Glenn. “Anderson Giants Keeping Parent Clubs Happy”. The Observer (Charlotte, NC). April 30, 1972
The Giants followed the familiar path tread by most co-op teams during the 1970’s and 1980’s. They were outgunned and over-matched in competition and finished last place in the 6-team WCL with a 51-81 record.
Two members of the 1972 Anderson Giants, both pitchers, eventually made it to the Major Leagues. 20-year old Luis Santana, on loan from San Francisco, made 22 appearances for the California Angels in 1974 and 1975. 21-year old Jim Wright, sent by Boston, made it to Fenway Park six years later, pitching 35 games for the Red Sox in 1978 and 1979.
After the 1972 season, the Detroit Tigers took over as Anderson’s parent club and the club was known as the Anderson Tigers in 1973.
Anderson Giants Shop
Links
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