Former Knights Win World Series
(Charlotte, NC) — John Farrell, a former starting pitcher who appeared in 15 games for the Charlotte Knights in 1994, became the first former Knights player to manage a Major League team to a World Series championship on Wednesday night. Farrell’s Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6–1 in game six of the 2013 World Series from Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
A former second-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 1984 draft, Farrell posted a 4–7 record with a 5.61 ERA in 14 starts for the Charlotte Knights in 1994. At the time, the Knights were the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.
Overall, the New Jersey native won 36 games over his eight-year Major League career. He won a season-high 14 games for the Indians in 1988.
Farrell began his managerial career in 2011 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The former Cleveland hurler guided the Blue Jays to a 154–170 mark over two seasons (2011–12). The 2013 season marked his first year with the Red Sox. Farrell led the Sox to a 97–65 record during the 2013 regular season en route to an American League pennant. Boston finished the 2012 season in last place in the America League East after compiling a 69–93 record under manager Bobby Valentine.
Farrell is the second person with ties to the Charlotte Knights to lead a team to a World Series victory as manager. 1993 Charlotte Knights manager Charlie Manuel led the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series win in 2008 over the Tampa Bay Rays.
The World Series winning Red Sox roster also featured three more former Charlotte Knights. Boston pitching coach Juan Nieves spent three seasons as the pitching coach of the Knights (2005–07). The 2013 season marked his first season with the Red Sox after spending the previous five seasons as the bullpen coach of the Chicago White Sox (2008–2012).
Starting pitchers Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy also have ties to the Charlotte Knights. Dempster went 3–1 with a 3.27 ERA in five starts for the Charlotte Knights in 1998. At the time, the Knights were the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins.
Peavy appeared in four games for the Knights in 2009 and four more in 2011 — both during Major League Rehab assignments. In 2009, Peavy posted a 1–1 record and a 2.93 ERA for the Knights. Two seasons later, he was back on a ML Rehab stint and went 1–1 with a 3.65 ERA (four starts).
The Knights will open BB&T Ballpark on Friday night, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. against the Norfolk Tides. Season tickets for the 2014 inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at (980) 207–0079, by email at seasonseats@charlotteknights.com, or in person by stopping by the Knights Uptown Offices located at Packard Place, 222 South Church Street, 3rd floor, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. For more information about Charlotte Knights Baseball, log on to www.charlotteknights.com.
