Gastonia, NC
Charlotte (Fort Mill, SC)
Parks # 57 & 58
What I Remember
This was the first of three-straight two park days 30 years ago today. We stopped at Knights Stadium (aka Knight’s Castle) first. The stadium was in the Charlotte suburb of Fort Mill, South Carolina and we shot video of the park there and then left before game time to drive about 25 miles west to Gastonia, NC where the Gastonia Rangers were playing. Then, after the first few innings at Sims Legion Park we drove back to Knights Castle to watch the end of Charlotte’s game with Chattanooga.
The Charlotte Knights were not particularly successful on the field that year but they drew well at the gate. There were over 7,000 fans for this Saturday night game and Sue and I sang Take Me out to the Ballgame to them from a soundproof booth in the press box. The big crowds helped Charlotte secure one of the new Triple-A spots opened up by major league expansion and they joined Triple-A two seasons later.
The Games
Gastonia Rangers 3 Sumter Flyers 2
Chattanooga Lookouts 5 Charlotte Knights 3
In League with America 