Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team. They belong to the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The team is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and plays at Truist Field. The stadium opened in 2014 and is in Uptown Charlotte.
The team started in 1976 as a Double-A team called the Charlotte Orioles or Charlotte O's. They were affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. During this time, they won the Southern League championship in 1980 and 1984. In 1988, the team changed its name to the Charlotte Knights.
When Major League Baseball expanded in 1993, the Charlotte Knights became a Triple-A team in the International League. The team kept the history of the earlier Double-A team. After some changes in Minor League Baseball, the league was called Triple-A East in 2021 and then renamed the International League in 2022. The Knights have won the International League championship two times: once in 1993 while affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, and again in 1999 as the affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
History
Prior professional baseball in Charlotte
Charlotte had its first professional baseball team, the Charlotte Hornets, in the early 1900s. They played for many years in different leagues. In 1937, a new park called Clark Griffith Park was built, and it became the home for Charlotte baseball for many years.
Southern League (1976–1992)
In 1976, the team became the Charlotte Orioles and joined the Southern League. They played in a renamed park and later moved to new stadiums. In 1988, the team was renamed the Charlotte Knights and changed their major league partner to the Chicago Cubs. They played in Knights Stadium until 2013.
International League (1993–2020)
In 1993, Charlotte got a new Triple-A team and joined the International League. They won their first championship that year. Over the years, they changed partners a few times, finally becoming affiliated with the Chicago White Sox in 1999. In 2014, they moved to a new stadium called Truist Field in downtown Charlotte.
Triple-A East / International League (2021–present)
After 2020, the league was reorganized, and Charlotte became part of the Triple-A East. In 2022, it returned to being called the International League. The Knights updated their logos and uniforms before the 2023 season.
Season-by-season records
| League | The team's final position in the league standings |
|---|---|
| Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings |
| GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season |
| ‡ | Class champions (1998–present) |
| † | League champions (1976–present) |
| * | Division champions (1976–2022) |
| ^ | Postseason berth (1976–present) |
| Season | League | Regular-season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | |||
| 1976 ^ | SL | 74–66 | .529 | 3rd | 2nd | 1+1⁄2 | 0–1 | .000 | Won First-Half Eastern Division title Lost Eastern Division title vs. Orlando Twins, 1–0 | |
| 1977 | SL | 69–71 | .493 | 5th | 4th | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1978 | SL | 66–78 | .458 | 8th | 5th | 16+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1979 ^ | SL | 73–69 | .514 | 5th | 2nd | 10+1⁄2 | 0–2 | .000 | Won First-Half Eastern Division title Lost Eastern Division title vs. Columbus Astros, 2–0 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1980 ^ * † | SL | 72–72 | .500 | 5th | 3rd | 5 | 6–1 | .857 | Won First-Half Eastern Division title Won Eastern Division title vs. Savannah Braves, 3–0 Won SL championship vs. Memphis Chicks, 3–1 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1981 | SL | 74–69 | .517 | 4th | 2nd | 5+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1982 | SL | 66–77 | .462 | 9th | 5th | 16+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1983 | SL | 69–77 | .473 | 6th | 3rd | 12+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1984 ^ * † | SL | 75–72 | .510 | 4th | 4th | 8 | 6–1 | .857 | Won Second-Half Eastern Division title Won Eastern Division title vs. Greenville Braves, 3–1 Won SL championship vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–0 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1985 ^ * | SL | 78–65 | .545 | 3rd | 2nd | 1⁄2 | 5–4 | .556 | Won Second-Half Eastern Division title Won Eastern Division title vs. Columbus Astros, 3–1 Lost SL championship vs. Huntsville Stars, 3–2 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1986 | SL | 71–73 | .493 | 6th | 4th | 4+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1987 ^ * | SL | 85–60 | .586 | 2nd | 2nd | 1⁄2 | 4–5 | .444 | Won First-Half Eastern Division title Won Eastern Division title vs. Jacksonville Expos, 3–2 Lost SL championship vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–1 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1988 | SL | 69–75 | .479 | 7th | 4th | 18 | — | — | — | Baltimore Orioles |
| 1989 | SL | 70–73 | .490 | 6th | 4th | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago Cubs |
| 1990 | SL | 65–79 | .451 | 9th | 4th | 20 | — | — | — | Chicago Cubs |
| 1991 | SL | 74–70 | .514 | 5th | 4th | 14 | — | — | — | Chicago Cubs |
| 1992 ^ | SL | 70–73 | .490 | 5th | 2nd | 30 | 0–3 | .000 | Lost Eastern Division title vs. Greenville Braves, 3–0 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1993 * † | IL | 86–55 | .610 | 1st | 1st | — | 6–3 | .667 | Won Western Division title Won semifinals vs. Richmond Braves, 3–1 Won IL championship vs. Rochester Red Wings, 3–2 | Cleveland Indians |
| 1994 ^ | IL | 77–65 | .542 | 3rd | 2nd | 3+1⁄2 | 1–3 | .250 | Lost semifinals vs. Richmond Braves, 3–1 | Cleveland Indians |
| 1995 | IL | 59–81 | .421 | 9th | 5th | 26 | — | — | — | Florida Marlins |
| 1996 | IL | 62–79 | .440 | 8th (tie) | 8th (tie) | 22+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Florida Marlins |
| 1997 ^ | IL | 76–65 | .539 | 4th | 2nd | 2+1⁄2 | 1–3 | .250 | Lost semifinals vs. Columbus Clippers, 3–1 | Florida Marlins |
| 1998 | IL | 70–73 | .490 | 8th | 3rd | 9+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Florida Marlins |
| 1999 ^ † | IL | 82–62 | .569 | 3rd | 2nd | 1+1⁄2 | 8–6 | .571 | Won wild card berth Won semifinals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, 3–2 Won IL championship vs. Durham Bulls, 3–1 Lost Triple-A World Series vs. Vancouver Canadians, 3–2 | Chicago White Sox |
| 2000 | IL | 78–65 | .545 | 6th | 2nd | 3 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2001 | IL | 67–77 | .465 | 10th | 4th | 19 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2002 | IL | 55–88 | .385 | 13th | 4th | 24+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2003 | IL | 74–70 | .514 | 6th | 2nd | 1 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2004 | IL | 68–74 | .479 | 9th | 4th | 11+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2005 | IL | 57–87 | .396 | 13th | 3rd | 22 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2006 * | IL | 79–62 | .560 | 2nd | 1st | — | 1–3 | .250 | Won Southern Division title Lost semifinals vs. Toledo Mud Hens, 3–1 | Chicago White Sox |
| 2007 | IL | 63–80 | .441 | 13th | 4th | 17 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2008 | IL | 63–78 | .447 | 12th (tie) | 3rd (tie) | 9+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2009 | IL | 67–76 | .469 | 11th | 4th | 15+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2010 | IL | 67–77 | .465 | 10th (tie) | 3rd (tie) | 21+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2011 | IL | 69–74 | .483 | 9th | 3rd | 11+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2012 * | IL | 83–61 | .576 | 3rd | 1st | — | 3–4 | .429 | Won Southern Division title Won semifinals vs. Indianapolis Indians, 3–1 Lost IL championship vs. Pawtucket Red Sox, 3–0 | Chicago White Sox |
| 2013 | IL | 65–78 | .455 | 12th | 3rd | 21+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2014 | IL | 63–81 | .438 | 14th | 4th | 12 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2015 | IL | 74–70 | .514 | 7th (tie) | 3rd (tie) | 4 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2016 | IL | 65–79 | .451 | 11th | 2nd | 1⁄2 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2017 | IL | 61–81 | .430 | 12th | 4th | 25 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2018 | IL | 64–75 | .460 | 10th | 4th | 15 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2019 | IL | 75–64 | .540 | 3rd (tie) | 2nd (tie) | 5 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2020 | IL | Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Chicago White Sox | |||||||
| 2021 | AAAE | 45–75 | .375 | 20th | 7th | 32 | 2–6 | .250 | Lost series vs. Norfolk Tides, 3–2 Lost series vs. Memphis Redbirds, 3–0 Placed 20th (tie) in the Triple-A Final Stretch | Chicago White Sox |
| 2022 | IL | 58–92 | .387 | 20th | 10th | 28 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2023 | IL | 53–96 | .356 | 20th | 10th | 37 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2024 | IL | 68–79 | .463 | 15th (tie) | 8th | 20 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 2025 | IL | 65–85 | .433 | 14th | 7th | 24 | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| Totals | — | 3,378–3,623 | .483 | — | — | — | 43–45 | .489 | — | — |
Radio and television
Matt Swierad has been the announcer for Knights radio games since 1998. You can hear live games on the team's website or the MiLB First Pitch app. You can also watch games on MiLB.TV, a subscription service on the Minor League Baseball website. The TV broadcast uses the same audio as the radio broadcast.
Roster
The Charlotte Knights are a baseball team. They play in the International League and are connected to the Chicago White Sox team. The Knights play their home games at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. The stadium opened in 2014. Before that, they played at other places such as Knights Park, Knights Castle, and Knights Stadium.
Awards
Eleven players, one manager, and three executives have won league awards for their good work with the Charlotte Knights.
| Award | Recipient | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Tom Dodd | 1987 |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Dave Ford | 1976 |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Ken Dixon | 1984 |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Laddie Renfroe | 1989 |
| Executive of the Year | Frances Crockett | 1980 |
| Executive of the Year | Frances Crockett | 1985 |
| Executive of the Year | Bill Lavelle | 1991 |
| Award | Recipient | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Jim Thome | 1993 |
| Most Valuable Pitcher | Jon Garland | 2000 |
| Most Valuable Pitcher | Heath Phillips | 2006 |
| Most Valuable Pitcher | Erik Johnson | 2015 |
| Rookie of the Year | Billy McMillon | 1996 |
| Rookie of the Year | Aaron Miles | 2003 |
| Rookie of the Year | Josh Fields | 2006 |
| Manager of the Year | Tom Spencer | 1999 |
| Executive of the Year | Dan Rajkowski | 2014 |
Managers
Charlotte has had 27 managers since they began playing in 1976.
| Manager | Season(s) |
|---|---|
| Jim Schaffer | 1976–1977 |
| Lance Nichols | 1978 |
| Jimmy Williams | 1979–1980 |
| Mark Wiley | 1981–1982 |
| Grady Little | 1983–1984 |
| John Hart | 1984–1985 |
| Greg Biagini | 1986–1988 |
| Jim Essian | 1989 |
| Tommy Helms | 1990 |
| Jay Loviglio | 1990–1991 |
| Marv Foley | 1992 |
| Charlie Manuel | 1993 |
| Brian Graham | 1994 |
| Sal Rende | 1995–1996 |
| Carlos Tosca | 1997 |
| Fredi González | 1998 |
| Tom Spencer | 1999 |
| Nick Leyva | 2000–2005 |
| Manny Trillo | 2005 |
| Razor Shines | 2006 |
| Marc Bombard | 2007–2008 |
| Chris Chambliss | 2009–2010 |
| Joe McEwing | 2011 |
| Joel Skinner | 2012–2015 |
| Julio Vinas | 2016 |
| Mark Grudzielanek | 2017–2019 |
| Wes Helms | 2020–present |
Pictures
Keep exploring
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