The 1989 season brought new changes to the Knights organization. The team was now the AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, and they were relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina, in a temporary ballpark called "Knights Castle" across from the construction site of the future "Knights Stadium". During the '89 season the Knights' roster included players like Laddie Renfroe, Greg Kalliveg (left photo) and future Chicago Cub Derrick May. The Knights finished their first season in Fort Mill with a 70-73 record in 4rth place. 

The 1990 season would mark as a highlight in Charlotte baseball history, as the new 10,000 seat capacity, $12 million dollar Knights Stadium (which was owner George Shinn's idea) would open, and host Charlotte Knights baseball action for the next 23 years. In 1989, the Knights attendance was 157,720, and in 1990 the new ballpark raised the attendance to 271,502. The highest

                                                   attendance of any AA level Minor League Baseball team in the nation. The 1990 roster included

                                                   players like Kevin Coffman and Heath Solcumb. Charlotte's batting average that season was .234,

                                                   the worst in the Southern League, and the team ended up finishing the season in 4rth place.

                                                   Starting as a Flashback Fridays promotion in 2013 for the Knights last season in Fort Mill, the

                                                   Knights would wear (not completely accurate) replica's of the 1990 Knights uniform (minus a

                                                   replica 1990 hat), and would again wear the '90 uniforms in 2017 for their Turn Back

                                                   Tuesdays promotion, as it was then the Knights 30th anniversary season.

For the 1991 season the roster was comprised of future Cubs Alex Arias (right photo) and Jim Bullinger, and the team ended up again finishing 4rth in the Southern League. 1992 was the last time the AA Knights would exist, as Shinn would request an expansion franchise at the AAA level (the highest level in Minor League Baseball) for the following season. The 1992 season saw players like Elvin Paulino, and the Knights finished with a 70-73 record in 2nd place, but were easily swept by the Greenville Braves in the divisional playoff.

After the end of the '92 season the AA Knights were sold off to Nashville Tennessee, as the Nashville Xpress, the AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1993 - 1994. Then from 1995 - 1996 the franchise was the Port City Roosters in Wilmington, NC, as the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Roosters names included Derek Lowe, and Ken Griffey Jr.'s brother Craig Griffey. The Roosters played at the UNCW college baseball field, but due to odd parking, one food concession stand, no beer, and poor attendance, the team was forced to relocate, this time to

Mobile Alabama as the Mobile BayBears. The franchise remained in Mobile until 2018, when

they relocated to Huntsville / Madison Alabama and are currently known as the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

What was your time like in Fort Mill?

And did you even stay in Charlotte?

Or just play for Charlotte in Fort Mill? 

My time in Fort Mill was fun. We stayed in the Charlotte area

and played at the pre fab stadium. People and fans were very nice.

Yes. I stayed in the Charlotte area and had lunch in the city

more than a few times.

What was the temporary 1989 Knights Castle park like??

Do you still own your Knights hat?

Did the Knights use a reddish orange color in 1989?

It was temporary but cozy. The outfield wall was made

of ply wood and I think I may have broke it once running

into it. Our locker room was basically a trailer but we

didn't really worry about those things too much.

No.

                            Yes.

Baseball has been in Charlotte for over 100 years.

What are your thoughts on this?

 I think Charlotte is a great city and should have a MLB team.

What does baseball mean to you?

Minor Leagues or baseball in general?

It has been my life. Literally. I was born into it.

My Dad played in the MLB, I played and coached

in the MLB, and MiLB for 32 years, my brother is a

MLB scout and my son works for the MLB doing

instant replay. So it's safe to say baseball has

impacted every part of my 50 years of life.

What are your thoughts on the current Knights today?

How long did you play as a Knight?

The entire season, or just some of it?

Thanks for your time!!

I don't really follow them.

I think they are affiliated with the Chicago White Sox? I'm not sure.

The whole year.

Thanks for your time!!