50th Anniversary — 1969 HORNETS

Hornets jerseys were worn by the Knights on June 22. (Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights).

The Charlotte Knights honored the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Southern League champions — the Charlotte Hornets — on Saturday, June 22. As part of the celebration, the Knights welcomed former players and their families to the ballpark. Manager Ralph Rowe’s daughter, Char Rowe-McEewen, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The 1969 Charlotte Hornets, who won the Southern League Championship, were honored at BB&T Ballpark on June 22, 2019. (Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights).

L-to-R: John Randolph, Emil Gove, Carl Finafrock, Char Rowe-McEwen, and Michael Montagnino pose in front of the BB&T Ballpark Trophy Case. (Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights).

On hand for the celebration were former players Emil Gove, Carl Finafrock, and John Randolph. The Knights also honored the memory of Hornets head groundskeeper, Buster Sloan, with an appearance by his son, Marshall Sloan.

Charlotte Knights players donned Charlotte Hornets uniforms. (Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights).

As part of the festivities that evening, the current Knights wore 1969-themed Hornets uniforms on the field. Seeing the Hornets back on the baseball diamond was special. It brought back a lot of great memories of Charlotte baseball history for all of those in attendance.

The Knights won two games on June 22. (Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights).

As for on the field, the Knights won both games of their doubleheader, winning game one by a score of 11–4 and game two by a score of 7–6. Throughout the day, the jerseys were being auctioned off with proceeds to benefit Charlotte Knights Charities. After the game, the winning bidders were able to claim their jerseys right off the backs of the players.