A crack of the bat, and the crowd erupts with cheers around you as the baseball soars toward Charlotte’s glittering cityscape and into the stands. A pinstripe-clad Knight rounds the bases bringing honor to the Queen City on a warm summer evening. Your ticket to see the Charlotte Knights transports you to a Triple-A Minor League Baseball game at its best, set in the modern BB&T Ballpark conveniently located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Settle into your seat with a beer and a hotdog or try one of the many other concession options, such as nachos or funnel cakes. You can also enjoy an old school baseball experience by laying down a picnic blanket on the grassy hillside seating area—a perfect spot to let squirmy kids run and tumble while you watch the game. Locals pack the stands to watch White Sox prospects hone their skills before moving up to play in Chicago. With a history of championships, league titles, and a Triple-A World Series appearance in 1999, the Knights consistently perform at the top of their game.
Professional baseball in Charlotte started in 1892 with the creation of the Hornets. Since its inaugural season, Queen City baseball teams have produced 15 championships, 31 postseason berths, and a Las Vegas Triple-A World Series appearance. From 1976–1988 the team was affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles and was known as the Charlotte O’s. Star Charlotte players have advanced to play for other affiliates over the years, such as the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, and today the Chicago White Sox. In 1985, tragedy occurred on St. Patrick’s Day as a fire burned the wooden stadium of Crockett Park to the ground. Due to this act of arson, the team played in a temporary facility until 1987 when George Shinn purchased the Charlotte franchise. The O’s rose from the ashes to become the newly dubbed Knights thanks to a naming contest, and they also switched their affiliation from the Baltimore Orioles to the Chicago Cubs. Knight’s ticket sales soared once again as fans flocked to watch their favorite team. The Knights shifted their castle to BB&T Ballpark in 2014 and upgraded their wardrobe from navy blue and dark green to a shining silver-and-gold palette with a knight’s helm logo instead of the old horse head.
Notable Knights include Lucas Giolito who pitched a no-hitter for Charlotte in 2017, centerfielder Steve Finley who won the 2001 World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and shortstop Édgar Rentería who won the 2010 World Series MVP Award with the San Francisco Giants. Several members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame played for Charlotte and include “The Iron Man” Cal Ripken Jr., who was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, as well as first baseman and designated hitter “Steady Eddie” Eddie Murray. Who will be the next Sox superstar to hail from Charlotte? Get your ticket to a Knight’s game and find out.
