The Charlotte Giants were a minor league baseball team based in

Charlotte, Michigan Charlotte ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County. Charlotte is in the central portion of the county, on the boundary between Eaton Township and C ...

. In 1926, the Charlotte Giants played as members of the

Michigan State League The Michigan State League was a minor league baseball league that operated in various seasons between 1889 and 1941. The league franchises were based exclusively in Michigan, with the league forming on six different occasions. Twenty two different ...

, completing partial season in the league. Charlotte hosted home minor league games at Bennett Park.

History

Minor league baseball began in Charlotte, Michigan in 1926, when the

Flint Vehicles The Flint Vehicles were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1921 to 1926. They were a part of the Michigan–Ontario League and were preceded in the league by the Flint Halligens in 1919 and 1920. In 1921, future Pittsburgh St ...

franchise relocated to Charlotte during the season. Charlotte became members of the eight–team Class B level

. Charlotte joined the Bay City Wolves, Grand Rapids Black Sox, Kalamazoo Celery Pickers, Ludington Tars, Muskegon Reds, Port Huron Saints and

Saginaw Aces Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...

in league play. The Charlotte "Giants" played a partial season in 1926. On June 13, 1926, the Michigan–Ontario League merged with the

Central League The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consi ...

to form the new Michigan State League. The Michigan State League began play June 15, 1926. On July 22, 1926, the Flint Vehicles franchise (18–26) moved to Charlotte, playing the remainder of the season as the Charlotte "Giants." Continuing play in the newly formed level Michigan State League, the Flint/Charlotte team finished in last place. The Charlotte use of the "Giants" moniker was adopted as a sarcastic response to the last place team. Local newspapers referred to the team as "Dunn's Giants" referring to manager Ray Dunn. After the Flint franchise relocated, the 1926 Giants compiled a 14–37 record while based in Charlotte. With a 32–63 overall record, the Vehicles/Giants team placed eighth in the Michigan State League final standings. The team played under manager Ray Dunn in both locations. Finishing the league schedule, the Giants ended the season 32.5 games behind the first place Bay City Wolves (64–30) in the final standings. Charlotte finished behind the Bay City Wolves, Grand Rapids Black Sox (51–43), Kalamazoo Celery Pickers (39–59), Ludington Tars (45–51), Muskegon Reds (39–56), Port Huron Saints (56–38) and Saginaw Aces (55–41) in the final standings. The Michigan State League did not return to play in 1927. Charlotte, Michigan has not hosted another minor league team.

The ballparks

The 1926 Charlotte Giants hosted home minor league games at Bennett Park. Bennett Park is still in use today as a public park.

Year–by–year record

Notable alumni

No 1926 Flint Vehicles / Charlotte Giants rostered players advanced to the major leagues.

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Charlotte - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Baseball teams established in 1926 Baseball teams disestablished in 1926 Michigan State League teams Eaton County, Michigan