Gastonia Pirates

Gastonia Pirates
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class-A
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (1)
  • 1959
Team data
Previous names
  • Gastonia Pirates (1959, 1962-1972)
  • Gastonia Rippers (1960)
Previous parks
Sims Legion Park I

The Gastonia Pirates were a minor league baseball team, based in Gastonia, North Carolina, between 1959 and 1972. The club was a Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played primarily in the Western Carolinas League. The club was originally named the Columbus Pirates prior to 1959 and were based in Columbus, Georgia, as a member of the South Atlantic League.[1] On July 6, 1959 the Pirates moved to Gastonia and became the Gastonia Pirates. In 1960 the Pirates were not an affiliate of the Gastonia team and the void was filled by the Gastonia Rippers in the Western Carolinas League.[1]

After the Pirates folded after the 1972 season, the Gastonia Rangers, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers became the city's representative in the Western Carolinas League.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.