Charleston's Professional Baseball History

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Charleston's Professional Baseball History
Riverdogs.com
compiled by Noel Blaha

The City of Charleston’s rich professional baseball history dates back to 1886 when the Seagulls took the field as members of the Southern League. Since then, Charleston has hosted 70 seasons of professional baseball, from the Rebels and Rainbows at College Park on Rutledge Avenue, to the present day RiverDogs at “The Joe” on the scenic banks of the Ashley River. From the deadball era of the late 1800s to the blazing base running of B.J. Upton, Charleston and professional baseball have been closely tied together.

Near the turn of the century the Sea Gulls began play at College Park. This initial 20th Century Charleston baseball team was a member of the Class C South Atlantic League. The Sea Gulls, and in 1919 just the Gulls, played from 1904-1919 in Charleston, but did not field teams during the 1910, 1912, and 1918 seasons. The 1907 team captured the South Atlantic League Championship.

In 1920 the Charleston entry in the South Atlantic League was named the Palmettos and the following season saw the nickname shortened to Pals. The Pals, now garnering a more prestigious Class B minor league designation, would become the most successful minor league team in Charleston baseball history. The 1921 team finished with an 83-64 mark and a league pennant but fell to Columbia in the championship series. The 1922 team came back with a strong 80-48 record and brought home the league playoff championship. The Pals were paced by future Hall of Fame outfielder Kiki Cuyler, pitchers George Pipgras and Joe Kiefer, and other future major leaguers who helped the 1922 team also defeat the Wilson Bugs, who were the Virginia League champions that season. Despite the on field success, the Pals left Charleston during the 1923 campaign and became the Macon (GA) Peaches. The city would be without professional baseball for the better part of 17 years.

Baseball returned to Charleston midway through the 1940 season when R.E. Lamonte brought his Class B South Atlantic League franchise to town from Spartanburg and began playing as the Rebels. The 1940 team finished at the bottom of the league with a dismal 44-106 record, the worst in Charleston pro baseball history. The 1941 team again struggled, propelling Lamonte to orchestrate a working agreement with the Nashville Vols of the Southern Association. The arrangement made an immediate impact to the performance of the Rebels.

The 1942 Rebels, managed by second baseman Cecil “Dusty” Rhodes, got hot at the end of the season and took home the league pennant. The Rebels were able to pass Macon in the standings, but fell to the Peaches in the championship playoff series.

With the country in the midst of WWII, the South Atlantic League suspended operations for three seasons beginning in 1943. Play picked back up in 1946 and the league now had a Class-B designation. The Rebels had a mediocre showing that season, but improved in 1947 and took home another league pennant with a 87-65 record in 1948. Again, however, the Rebels couldn’t find post season success and the playoff title went to Greenville. The 1949 Rebels, a White Sox farm team, were the first Charleston team to be affiliated with a major league club. The Rebels 1950 outfit was managed by famed “eephus” pitcher Rip Sewell but following a good showing in 1950 the team declined and left town following the 1953 season. Again, for a stretch of five seasons, the city was without professional baseball.

In 1959 the White Sox again brought pro baseball back to Charleston by stationing their Class-A team in the city. The team would be known as the ChaSox for the first season and the White Sox through the next two seasons. Dismal records and even bleaker attendance figures equated to a brief stay of the franchise in the city. Following the 1961 season the White Sox left town and the final multiple-season drought without pro baseball in Charleston ensued.

After eleven seasons without professional baseball the Pittsburgh Pirates fielded a farm team at College Park for the 1973 season. The team included future Yankee Willie Randolph. The Pirates played in the Western Carolinas league through the 1978 season, then they departed Charleston. The 1979 baseball season would be the last season in which Charleston would not play host to a professional, minor league baseball team.

In 1980 the Royals, a Kansas City farm team, began play at College Park. The Western Carolinas league took over the name South Atlantic League and the current stint of minor league baseball in Charleston can trace its roots to the 1980 season. That first Royals team took home a Southern Division championship, but fell to Greensboro in the playoffs. Kansas City’s success at the major league level was echoed through its highly regarded farm system and the as the Royals brought back another Southern Division title in 1984, but again fell in the playoffs, this time to Asheville. Prominent Royals included pitcher David Cone and 1984 league MVP Kevin Seitzer.

For the 1985 season the Charleston club switched affiliations and became a San Diego Padres farm team. Along with the change in parent organization came a name change. The team became known as the Rainbows for the 1985 season. Future major league stars Roberto and Sandy Alomar along with Carlos Baerga each graced the field at College Park. The 1988 team took home a Southern Division title only to fall in the playoffs to Spartanburg. Following that team’s success Charleston baseball fans would endure 11 consecutive losing seasons with their team.

Amidst the losing seasons Charleston baseball officials decided to change the team’s nickname to the RiverDogs for the 1994 season. The team, a Texas Rangers affiliate from 1993-1996, continued to struggle on the field but the fans started turning out in high numbers and the club looked to find a new home in Charleston.

With considerable assistance from the City of Charleston and a partnership with the Citadel, the RiverDogs opened the 1997 season at brand new Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on the banks of the scenic Ashley River. Along with a new, picturesque stadium came a new affiliation with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The first season at “The Joe” the team set a new single season attendance of 234,840- a record that would be eclipsed five out of the next six seasons (1998-2003) at the ballpark. The record was even broken in 2002 despite the outlandish game night promotion of “Nobody Night” when no fans were allowed in to the ball park until the game became official thus allowing the RiverDogs to set the record for lowest single game attendance- zero.

The 2003 season produced a winning team on the field, the first to finish with a winning record since the 2000 campaign, and also resulted in box office success. The RiverDogs were led by B.J. Upton, who was named Most Outstanding Major League Prospect, an award that turned out to be deserved when Upton made his Major League debut the following season with the Devil Rays. The team’s present single season attendance record of 259,007 was achieved, yet at least one game, dubbed appropriately “Silent Night” , the thousands in attendance didn’t roar with approval for the victory over Capital City- fans were encouraged to use signs to root the RiverDogs on in silence.

In 2004 postseason baseball made its first appearance in Charleston since the 1988 season, ending a span of 16 years without a playoff game. The RiverDogs earned the wildcard slot but fell were swept two games to none by Capital City. The team was led by Delmon Young, the second consecutive RiverDog to earn Most Outstanding Major League Prospect honors from the league.

The 2005 season ushered in the Yankees era in Charleston as the RiverDogs became a Class-A affiliate of the New York club. The team ran away with the first half Southern Division crown and set a club record for victories in a season with a record of 80-58. Five players and two coaches took part in the midseason All Star game and Tim Battle was named the game’s MVP. The team’s success ended early in the postseason as for the second straight year the RiverDogs were swept in the first round of the playoffs, this time by eventual league champion Kannapolis.

In 2006 the RiverDogs celebrate their 10th Season of baseball action at “The Joe” and look to continue their success as a Class-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Timeline of Charleston Pro Baseball

1886 Charleston Seagulls begin play in old Southern League.
1904 Sea Gulls begin play in South Atlantic League.
1907 Sea Gulls post 75-46 record and win league championship.
1911 Storm destroys stadium and cuts short Sea Gulls season.
1913 New stadium built(College Park); Sea Gulls resume South Atlantic League play.
1919 Team nickname shortened to Gulls.
1920 Nickname changed to Palmettos.
1921 Nickname shortened to Pals; Club elevated to Class B designation.
1922 Pals win South Atlantic League Title.
1923-39 No professional baseball in Charleston.
1940 Midway through the season the Rebels debut at College Park.
1942 Rebels win South Atlantic League Title.
1946 Rebels move up to Class A.
1947 Rebels draw 184,851 fans to College Park, an attendance record that stood until 1997.
1948 Rebels win South Atlantic League Pennant.
1959 After six-year hiatus, baseball returns to Charleston and ChaSox begin play.
1962-72 No professional baseball in Charleston.
1973 Pro baseball resumes in Charleston with the Pirates, a Pittsburgh affiliate in the Western
Carolinas League and pitcher John Candelaria leads the league with a 10-2 record.
1974 Pitcher Randy Sealy sets a single-season team record and notches the lowest ERA in the league
with a 1.97 mark.
1975 Team sets a SAL record losing 22 consecutive games from June 18- July 7.
1976 Team nickname changed to Patriots, outfielder Fred Rein sets a SAL record for outfielders by
committing four errors in one game.
1978 Team name switched back to Pirates, Charleston hosts the SAL All-Star Game- North wins 4-0
over South.
1979 No professional baseball in Charleston.
1980 Charleston rejoins South Atlantic League and behind a SAL best 150 strikeouts from pitcher
Ronald Kraus the Royals capture the Southern Division title, but fall to Greensboror in the playoffs.
1981 Pitcher Jeffrey Gladden leads the league with a 2.09 ERA.
1982 Pitcher Danny Jackson leads the league with a 10-1 record and slugger Cliff Pastornicky paces
the SAL with a .343 batting average.
1983 Mark Pirruccello sets a single-season team record with 25 home runs.
1984 Royals win Southern Division title, Kevin Seitzer named league MVP, Charleston hosts SAL
All-Star
Game- South edges North 5-4, Pat Borders and Manny Lee are notable players in the game.
1985 Team nickname changed to Rainbows, Charleston hosts SAL All-Star Game- South knocks off
North 6-5, Rob Ducey and Tom Glavine play in the game.
1988 Rainbows win Southern Division title behind a pitching staff that posts a SAL record 2.44 ERA for
the season.
1989 Pedro A. Martinez ties team record with a lead best 1.97 ERA and Hurricane Hugo damages
College Park in October but repairs are made in time for the 1990 season opener.
1990 Pitcher Charles Thompson sets the SAL record for losses in a season registering 17.
1994 Nickname changed to RiverDogs.
1996 RiverDogs play final season at College Park.
1997 RiverDogs begin play at new, 5,549-seat park on the banks of the Ashley River.
1998 RiverDogs set an all-time Charleston attendance mark of 234,840.
1999 RiverDogs set another all-time Charleston attendance mark of 238,184.
2000 RiverDogs set another all-time Charleston attendance mark of 240,069.
2001 RiverDogs draw one-millionth fan to “The Joe,” Justin Schuda ties a team record with 25 home
runs.
2002 RiverDogs set Charleston pro baseball single-season attendance mark of 242,143 as well as
single-game highs (7,886- July 4) and lows (Zero- "Nobody Night" July 8).
2003 RiverDogs set another all-time Charleston attendance mark of 259,007 and a new single-game record of 8,116 on July 4, Hall of Famer Larry Doby's #14 is retired.
2004 RiverDogs make the playoffs for the first time in 16 years, but lose in the first round of the playoffs
to Capital City two games to none, Delmon Young leads the league
with 116 RBI and ties a team record with 25 home runs for the season.
2005 RiverDogs become New York Yankees affiliate, two-millionth fan attends game at "The Joe"
RiverDogs win first-half Southern Division championship but fall in the first round of the playoffs
against eventual SAL champion Kannapolis.
2006 RiverDogs set an all-time Charleston professional baseball attendance mark drawing 267,908
fans to Riley Park. Second-year player Ben Jones ties the modern-day (since 1960) Charleston
professional baseball career record for home runs (35) and runs batted-in (165).
2007 The RiverDogs once again set an all-time Charleston professional baseball attendance mark drawing
284,718 total fans eclipsing the mark set the previous year. Mitch Hilligoss captured national headlines
on his way to setting a new SAL record 38 consecutive game hit-streak.


All-time Records
Year Team Name (Affiliation) League Record Att.
1886 Seagulls Southern
1887 Seagulls Southern
1888 Seagulls Southern
1889 Seagulls Southern
1890 Seagulls Southern
1891 Seagulls Southern
1892 Seagulls Southern
1893 Seagulls Southern
1904 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 59-60
1905 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 53-70
1906 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 48-61
1907 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 75-46
1908 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 44-66
1909 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 52-60
1911 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 41-84
1913 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 48-68
1914 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 78-46
1915 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 51-36
1916 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 69-55
1917 Sea Gulls South Atlantic 47-23
1919 Gulls South Atlantic 49-48
1920 Palmettos South Atlantic 54-71
1921 Pals South Atlantic 83-64
1922 Pals South Atlantic 80-48
1923 Pals South Atlantic 64-76
1940 Rebels South Atlantic 44-106
1941 Rebels South Atlantic 61-76
1942 Rebels South Atlantic 85-52
1946 Rebels South Atlantic 65-75
1947 Rebels South Atlantic 83-69 184,851
1948 Rebels South Atlantic 87-65 171,096
1949 Rebels (White Sox) South Atlantic 68-83 94,816
1950 Rebels (Pirates) South Atlantic 79-72 86,063
1951 Rebels (Pirates) South Atlantic 75-65 87,275
1952 Rebels (Pirates) South Atlantic 78-75 70,175
1953 Rebels (Pirates) South Atlantic 55-84 55,837
1959 ChaSox (White Sox) South Atlantic 71-69 85,689
1960 White Sox (White Sox) South Atlantic 59-80 43,461
1961 White Sox (White Sox) South Atlantic 70-68 40,600
1973 Pirates (Pirates) Western Carolinas 72-52 92,523
1974 Pirates (Pirates) Western Carolinas 71-60 50,011
1975 Pirates (Pirates) Western Carolinas 45-96 21,693
1976 Patriots (Pirates) Western Carolinas 59-80 32,249
1977 Patriots (Pirates) Western Carolinas 53-87 31,891
1978 Pirates (Pirates) Western Carolinas 47-93 19,536
1980 Royals (Royals) South Atlantic 78-61 109,191
1981 Royals (Royals) South Atlantic 75-67 83,934
1982 Royals (Royals) South Atlantic 74-66 114,859
1983 Royals (Royals) South Atlantic 64-80 100,318
1984 Royals (Royals) South Atlantic 78-64 117,185
1985 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 63-69 105,647
1986 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 68-71 131,696
1987 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 85-53 87,185
1988 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 72-68 55,909
1989 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 46-96 78,483
1990 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 69-72 76,133
1991 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 55-85 119,080
1992 Rainbows (Padres) South Atlantic 55-85 103,824
1993 Rainbows (Rangers) South Atlantic 66-70 98,000
1994 RiverDogs (Rangers) South Atlantic 50-89 105,701
1995 RiverDogs (Rangers) South Atlantic 50-89 101,280
1996 RiverDogs (Rangers) South Atlantic 63-78 100,428
1997 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 60-82 231,006
1998 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 67-74 234,840
1999 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 65-77 238,184
2000 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 73-66 240,069
2001 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 64-76 236,175
2002 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 60-76 242,143
2003 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 77-62 259,007
2004 RiverDogs (Devil Rays) South Atlantic 76-63 255,790
2005 RiverDogs (Yankees) South Atlantic 80-58 249,374
2006 RiverDogs (Yankees) South Atlantic 78-62 267,908
2007 RiverDogs (Yankees) South Atlantic 78-62 284,718