Charleston Charlies | |
---|---|
Minor league affiliations | |
Previous classes |
|
League | International League |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams |
|
Minor league titles | |
League titles | 1977 |
Team data | |
Previous parks | Watt Powell Park |
The Charleston Charlies were a Triple-A minor league baseball team located in Charleston, West Virginia. Two separate Charlies franchises played in the International League from 1971 to 1983. The team was the relocated Columbus Jets. In 1977 the franchise was returned to Columbus and Charlies owner Robert Lavine purchased the Memphis Blues, moving the team to Charleston, assuming the Charlies name. The Charlies were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1971–76), Houston Astros (1977–79), Texas Rangers (1980), and Cleveland Indians (1981–83). The 1973 Charlies won the league's regular-season title. The original Charlies moved back to Columbus as the Columbus Clippers in 1977.
The new Charlies, which were the re-located Memphis Blues won the 1977 Governors' Cup, awarded to the IL's playoff championship, while the 1978 teams won the league's regular-season title. The franchise relocated in 1984 to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, playing as the Maine Guides. Today, the franchise is known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.