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 first team was the relocated Columbus Jets. In 1977 the franchise was returned to Columbus and Charlies owner Robert Levine purchased the Memphis Blues, moving the team to Charleston, assuming the Charlies name. The team was named for his father Charlie Levine who was also known as “Poor Charlie”. 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 city of Charleston was without professional baseball from 1965 through 1970. The sport returned in 1971 when local businessman Bob Levine purchased the Columbus Jets of the Class AAA International League and relocated the franchise from Columbus, Ohio, to Charleston. Levine renamed the team the Charleston Charlies in honor of his father, Charlie Levine, an avid baseball fan.[1]
Many Charleston residents fondly remember the team’s logo—a smiling baseball character wearing a derby hat with a cigar in its mouth. After each game, the Charleston Gazette printed the logo on the front page: smiling after a win, frowning after a loss.
Bob Levine remained the owner throughout much of the Charlies’ time in Charleston. His father, Charlie Levine—who inspired the team’s name—was often seen watching games in a wheelchair, wearing a derby hat, and smoking a cigar. Known as “Poor Charlie” during his early years as a scrap-metal dealer in Beckley, West Virginia, Charlie Levine passed away in 1981 at the age of 89. Bob Levine died in 2011 at age 87.
Watt Powell Park, home of the Charlies
In late 1976, the Pirates moved their Triple-A affiliate to Columbus, where the franchise became the Columbus Clippers. [2] To keep baseball in Charleston, the Memphis Blues (International League) relocated to Charleston for the 1977 season and assumed the Charlies name and branding. [3]
In August 1981, Levine announced he was putting the team up for sale and began seeking local buyers.[4] The club was first sold to a group led by Carl Steinfeldt, [5][6] and then later purchased by Jordan Kobritz in December 1982 and kept the team in Charleston for the 1983 season.
†1973 International League Manager of the Year ‡1978 International League Manager of the Year
Legend
Postseason berth
League Championship
Notable players and alumni
Many former Major League players spent time with the Charleston Charlies, particularly during the team’s affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. Notable alumni include: • Dave Parker – 7× All-Star, 1978 National League MVP, and World Series champion with the Pirates. • Richie Zisk – 2× All-Star outfielder and designated hitter. • John Candelaria – 1977 All-Star and pitcher for the Pirates’ 1979 World Series team. • Kent Tekulve – Renowned submarine-style reliever and key contributor to the Pirates’ 1979 championship. • Gene Garber – Longtime MLB reliever with over 900 career appearances. • Terry Puhl – Astros outfielder and 1978 All-Star. • Rick Cerone – Yankees catcher and fan favorite during the early 1980s. • Von Hayes – Outfielder/first baseman and 1989 All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies. • Tony Armas – 2× All-Star and 1984 American League home run champion. • Tony La Russa – Hall of Fame manager who briefly played for Charleston during his playing career. • Bob Coluccio – Former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder. • Tim McCarver – 2× All-Star catcher, 2× World Series champion (1964, 1967), and longtime baseball broadcaster. • Willie Randolph – 6× All-Star second baseman and later MLB manager, originally developed in the Pirates’ system.Baseball-Reference: Minor League Teams in Charleston, West Virginia
Notably, Valentine, Howe, and Randolph all managed the New York Mets, while La Russa, Howe, and Macha each managed the Oakland Athletics.
Managers
Former Major League player and longtime Atlanta Braves coach Jim Beauchamp managed the Charleston Charlies from 1977 to 1979 during the club’s affiliation with the Houston Astros.
On May 19, 1961, after only five weeks of play, the St. Louis Cardinals abandoned their plans to place their Triple-A International League affiliate in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved the team, nicknamed the Marlins, to Charleston to finish out the season. This club – Charleston's second Triple-A franchise – stayed only those few months and relocated to Atlanta, for the 1962 season to become the Atlanta Crackers.
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