Gastonia Honey Hunters

Last updated

Gastonia Honey Hunters
Gastonia Honey Hunters logo.svg Honey Hunters cap.png
Team logoCap insignia
Information
League Atlantic League of Professional Baseball  (South Division)
Location Gastonia, North Carolina
Ballpark CaroMont Health Park
Founded2021
Folded2023
Division championships2023
ColorsBlack, gold, orange, white
    
MascotBAM the Honey Badger
OwnershipBrandon Bellamy
ManagementVelocity Companies
Website gohoneyhunters.com

The Gastonia Honey Hunters were a professional baseball team based in Gastonia, North Carolina. They played in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball, [1] [2] at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Contents

History

In 2019 the Atlantic League announced it was considering a new franchise in Gastonia. [3] Work officially began in November 2019, for the new ballpark in Gastonia. [4] In July 2020, the league announced the addition of a new franchise in Gastonia beginning in 2021; it would be the league's second team based in North Carolina. [5] Brandon Bellamy was announced as the team's owner. [6]

On August 15, 2020, a "Name the Team" contest was launched. [7] On October 8, 2020, the names were narrowed down to Fire Ants, Hogzillas, Honey Hunters, Hotshots, and Uppercuts. [8]

On January 13, 2021, the Honey Hunters name, logo and colors were announced. "Honey Hunters" refers to the toughness of a honey badger (Mellivora capensis) and the ability to seek out positive things in hard times. The moniker also alludes to Ransom Hunter, the first freed slave to own property in Gaston County, of which Gastonia is the county seat. [9]

The team's first game was an exhibition on May 23, 2021, [10] followed by the regular season opening day game on May 25. [11]

In 2022, manager Mauro Gozzo was named Atlantic League Manager of the Year. In the off-season he signed a three-year contract extension. [12]

On November 22, 2023, the Atlantic League terminated the membership of the team, citing significant unpaid debts to the league. Rick White, president of the Atlantic League, confirmed that the Honey Hunters were terminated, but said that the Atlantic League intends to field a team in Gastonia in 2024. [13] On December 1, 2023, the company that operates the Honey Hunters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [14] New owners were announced in February 2024 of an Atlantic League team yet to be named which will begin play at CaroMont Health Park on April 25, 2024. [15]

Season by season results

YearWinsLossesPlayoffs
20215466did not qualify
20228844Lost to High Point in Southern Championship series (2-3)
20237947Lost to Lancaster in League Championship series (2-3)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic League of Professional Baseball</span> Independent professional baseball league founded in 1998

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's corporate headquarters is located at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontier League</span> Baseball league in the United States and Canada

The Frontier League is a professional baseball league based in the East North Central and Mid-Atlantic United States, and Central Canada. It operates as one of four Major League Baseball (MLB) Partner Leagues in the American independent baseball league system. Founded in 1993, the Frontier League is the oldest extant independent baseball league in North America to have never organized under the Minor League Baseball system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastonia, North Carolina</span> City in North Carolina, United States

Gastonia is the most populous city in and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest satellite city of the Charlotte area, behind Concord. The population was 80,411 in the 2020 census, up from 71,741 in 2010. Gastonia is the 13th-most populous city in North Carolina. It is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beloit Sky Carp</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Beloit Sky Carp are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and play their home games at ABC Supply Stadium. They previously played at Harry C. Pohlman Field from its opening in 1982 until moving into their current ballpark in August 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexington Legends</span> Professional baseball team

The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball. The Legends have played their home games at Counter Clocks Field since 2001. The team was known as the Lexington Counter Clocks during the 2023 season before reinstating their original name in 2024.

Intimidators Stadium was a baseball stadium in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Opened in 1995, it was the home venue for the Kannapolis Intimidators, the Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIUH Community Park</span> Baseball stadium in Staten Island, New York

The Staten Island University Hospital Community Park is a baseball stadium located on the northeastern tip of Staten Island in New York City. The ballpark is the home of the Staten Island FerryHawks, a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and is the largest stadium in the league by capacity, at 7,171. Since 2022, it has also been the home of the Wagner College Seahawks baseball team. In addition, local high schools have the chance to play at least one game a season at the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counter Clocks Field</span> Baseball stadium in Lexington, Kentucky

The Ballpark at 207 Legends Lane is a ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. It was built in 2001. It holds 6,994 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal Plain League</span> US collegiate summer baseball league

The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league, featuring college players recruited from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from the Class D level Coastal Plain League which operated in the area from 1937 to 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleburne Railroaders</span> American independent professional baseball team

The Cleburne Railroaders are a professional baseball team based in Cleburne, Texas, that plays in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. The team, which began play in 2017, plays its home games at The Depot at Cleburne Station.

Sims Legion Park is a 3,000-seat baseball park in Gastonia, North Carolina that is the home field for Gaston College baseball. It has hosted the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League, as well as American Legion baseball. The Grizzlies moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina starting with the 2021 season and were renamed the Spartanburgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastonia Grizzlies</span>

The Gastonia Grizzlies were a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the Coastal Plain League. The team played its home games at Sims Legion Park in Gastonia, North Carolina, where they were known for their unique promotional events and fireworks shows. It was reported in October 2020 that the team was moving to Spartanburg, South Carolina starting with the 2021 season. The team's new name was announced as the Spartanburgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauro Gozzo</span> American baseball player, coach, and manager

Mauro "Blond Herring" or "Goose" Gozzo is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and current manager of the Gastonia Honey Hunters. He played all or parts of six seasons in the majors, from 1989 until 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Britain Bees</span>

The New Britain Bees are an American collegiate summer baseball team based in New Britain, Connecticut. They are a member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), a wood-bat league with teams in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont. Founded in October 2015, the Bees played the 2016 to 2019 seasons as an independent professional baseball team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Bees have played all their home games at New Britain Stadium, where they succeeded the New Britain Rock Cats, who played in the Eastern League before moving to Hartford, becoming the Hartford Yard Goats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Mountain Vibes</span> Minor league baseball team

The Rocky Mountain Vibes are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, an MLB Partner League. They are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and play their home games at UCHealth Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CaroMont Health Park</span> Baseball stadium in Gastonia, North Carolina

CaroMont Health Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Gastonia, North Carolina which opened in 2021. It is part of a 16-acre (6.5 ha) downtown redevelopment plan known as the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staten Island FerryHawks</span> American professional baseball team

The Staten Island FerryHawks are an American minor-league professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Staten Island. They are a member of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball They play their home games at SIUH Community Park, the former home of the Staten Island Yankees, which is in the St. George neighborhood and overlooks the Manhattan skyline across New York Harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Country DockHounds</span> Baseball team in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

The Lake Country DockHounds are a professional baseball team based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, that plays in the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. The DockHounds played their first season in 2022, becoming the first professional sports team in Waukesha County.

The Wild Health Genomes were an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 2022, they were a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League. The Genomes were owned by the same group as the Lexington Legends and shared Wild Health Field with the Legends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spire City Ghost Hounds</span> Baseball team in Frederick, Maryland

The Spire City Ghost Hounds are a professional baseball team in Frederick, Maryland, that played in 2023. The franchise competed in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and played home games at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, sharing the ballpark with the Frederick Keys. Following the 2023 season, the team went on hiatus for the 2024 season.

References

  1. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (September 23, 2020). "Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  2. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (September 24, 2020). "American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ Barrett, Michael (August 21, 2019). "Gastonia advances plan to lure pro-baseball franchise". The Gaston Gazette . Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (December 3, 2019). "Downtown Gastonia Ballpark Project Underway". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. ↑ Del Priore, Jerry (July 28, 2020). "Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Expands to City of Gastonia, NC". AtlanticLeague.com (Press release).
  6. ↑ Cooper, J. J. (July 28, 2020). "Brandon Bellamy Set To Become Only Black Majority Owner In Professional Baseball". Baseball America .
  7. ↑ "Contest to name Gastonia's new pro baseball team begins". The Gaston Gazette. August 16, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ Gilstrap, Samantha (October 8, 2020). "Gastonia Professional Baseball Narrows Down Team Name Finalists". WCCB . Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (January 13, 2021). "New for 2021: Gastonia Honey Hunters". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  10. ↑ Hughes II, Joe L. (May 25, 2021). "Diggin' in: Gastonia 's new professional baseball team, stadium set for grand debut". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  11. ↑ Ellis, Kevin (May 27, 2021). "Opening Day arrives for Gastonia Honey Hunters, and it was beautiful". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ Welch, Maddison (November 10, 2022). "Mauro "Goose" Gozzo signs Three-Year Contract Extension With The Gastonia Honey Hunters". gohoneyhunters.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ Fohner, Kara (November 22, 2023). "More trouble for Gastonia's Honey Hunters". The Gaston Gazette. Gannett Company. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ Ablon, Matthew (December 5, 2023). "Company that owns Gastonia Honey Hunters files for bankruptcy". WCNC-TV . Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ Calkins, Mary (February 7, 2024). "Gastonia leaders reveal new pro baseball team amid Honey Hunters legal battle". WBTV . Retrieved March 25, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.