Category: Western Carolinas League

Greensboro Hornets Baseball

Greensboro Hornets

The Greensboro Hornets were a popular Class A minor league baseball team that played from 1979 through 1993. The Hornets led the Western Carolinas League and its successor, the South Atlantic League, in attendance for fourteen consecutive seasons between 1979 and 1992. While serving as a New York Yankees farm team during the early 1980’s, the Hornets would three consecutive South Atlantic League championships in 1980, 1981 and 1982. The franchise remains in Greensboro to this day, but gave up the Hornets name in favor of the ‘Bats’ in 1994 and changed names again in 2005, becoming the ‘Grasshoppers’.

Read More »
1964 Rock Hill Cardinals baseball program from the Western Carolinas League

Rock Hill Cardinals

The Rock Hill Cardinals were a South Carolina-based Class A farm club of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1964 through 1966. Despite their relatively short three-year existence, the Cards can lay claim two future Hall-of-Famers with pitcher Steve Carlton (Rock Hill ’64) and manager Sparky Anderson (Rock Hill ’65).

Read More »
Spartanburg Phillies Baseball

Spartanburg Phillies

Western Carolinas League (1963-1979) South Atlantic League (1986-1994) Born: 1963 – Western Carolinas League expansion franchise Moved: 1995 (Piedmont Phillies) Western Carolinas League Champions: 1966, 1967, 1972,

Read More »
1973 Gastonia Rangers baseball program from the Western Carolinas League

Gastonia Rangers

Western Carolinas League (1973-1974) Born: Affiliation change from Gastonia Pirates Moved: 1975 (Anderson Rangers) First Game: April 13, 1973 (W 7-2 @ Spartanburg Phillies) Last

Read More »

Sumter Indians

The Sumter Indians were a South Carolina minor league baseball team that played for only one season in the Western Carolinas League during the summer of 1970. The Indians were the first pro ball club to call Sumter home since the Sumter Chicks of 1949-1950. Notable players included 18-year old third baseman Buddy Bell and 21-year old pitcher Jim Kern.  Both became Major League All-Stars for the Cleveland Indians and later for the Texas Rangers.

Read More »