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MLB

Knights & White Sox Celebrating 23rd Year in 2021

Part 1: Party Like It's 1999
The Knights won the 1999 IL Governors' Cup Championship.
By Tommy Viola
May 7, 2021

Professional baseball in Charlotte dates back to 1892. Since that time, the Queen City has featured a number of Major League Baseball affiliates and four different Minor League Baseball teams. From the Charlotte Hornets, to the Charlotte Twins, to the Charlotte O’s, and since 1988, the Charlotte Knights, the City

Professional baseball in Charlotte dates back to 1892. Since that time, the Queen City has featured a number of Major League Baseball affiliates and four different Minor League Baseball teams. From the Charlotte Hornets, to the Charlotte Twins, to the Charlotte O’s, and since 1988, the Charlotte Knights, the City of Charlotte has a rich history of professional baseball.

Earlier this year, the Charlotte Knights formally accepted the invitation to remain the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox for the next 10 seasons (2021 through 2030) under baseball’s new player development structure. As an affiliate of the White Sox since 1999, the Knights have one of baseball’s longest-standing relationships with their Major League partner. As the two organizations are set to partner on their 23rd year in 2021, the Knights are ready to excel on the field – much like they did in 1999.

The 1999 Knights were built on offense, but also boasted solid pitching. Sluggers Luis Raven, Mario Valdez, and Chad Mottola led the way in the offensive department. That special trio combined to mash 79 home runs. Raven led the league with 33 home runs and finished in second place in RBIs with a remarkable 125. He finished just two behind International League leader Steve Cox of Durham (127). Both Raven and Mottola were named to the IL All-Star Team.

The 1999 squad also featured a 23-year-old future Major League superstar -- Carlos Lee. Lee appeared in 25 games for the Knights that season and hit a remarkable .351 with four home runs and 20 RBIs. He later moved on to the White Sox where he hit .293 with 16 home runs and 84 RBIs later that season.

On the mound, Mike Heathcott led the club in wins with 10, but it was Chad Bradford who may have been the most impressive for the team. Bradford posted a stunning 9-3 mark with a miniscule 1.94 ERA in 47 games. Bradford, along with closer Luis Andujar, anchored a solid Knights bullpen. Andujar finished the season with a 4-5 record, a 3.33 ERA, and a team-high 16 saves. Reliever Derek Hasselhoff also chipped in with a 6-0 record and a 4.82 ERA in 49 appearances.

Led by manager Tom Spencer, the Knights posted an 82-62 record – the second highest win total in the IL that season. Spencer, who managed the Knights for just the one season (1999), earned IL Manager of the Year honors at the end of the year.

Spencer’s Knights went on to play in the Governors’ Cup playoffs. For the first time since 1993, Charlotte made it all the way to the finals. The 1999 finals featured a battle of the Carolinas as the Knights faced the 83-win Durham Bulls for the Governors’ Cup Championship. On September 17, 1999, Charlotte pitcher Jason Secoda tossed 5.2 innings of one-run ball and led the Knights to a 2-1 win over the Bulls for their second Governors’ Cup championship in team history. It was a special moment and the organization’s first Governors’ Cup championship since 1993.

On September 20, 1999, the Knights faced off against the Vancouver Canadians (Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s) in game one of the 2nd Annual Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas, NV. Charlotte jumped out to a one-game series lead after winning the opening contest by a score of 6-5. Despite a 5-4 loss in game two of the series, the Knights battled back to win game three by a score of 4-2. With a 2-1 series lead, the Canadians fought back to tie the series with a 9-7 win over the Knights. The first four games of the series were decided by two games or less. In the “winner-take-all” game on September 25, the Canadians captured the Triple-A Championship with a 16-2 win over the Knights. Despite not winning the Triple-A World Series, the 1999 season – with their Governors’ Cup championship to boast -- still goes down as the finest in their storied partnership.

Since 1999, the Knights have featured a number of very competitive teams – but only one Governors’ Cup championship. Could this be Charlotte’s year? With a solid core of prospects in the White Sox organization – and with manager Wes Helms leading the way – the Knights will do all they can to compete for a championship in 2021.