The Shelby Reds, was the primary name of a minor league baseball team that played in Shelby, North Carolina, between 1937 and 1982. The Reds were a member of the Western Carolinas League, before transferring with the league to the

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...

in 1980. The club was initially affiliated with the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. In 1979, the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

became their affiliate, changing the team's name to the Shelby Pirates. The team changed affiliates again in 1981, this time to the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

. As result their name changed a final time to the

Shelby Mets Shelby may refer to: Places United States * Shelby, Alabama, a census-designated place and unincorporated community * Shelby, Idaho * Shelby, Indiana, an unincorporated town * Shelby, Iowa, a city * Shelby, Oceana County, Michigan, a village * ...

. Among earlier teams were the Shelby Colonels, Shelby Farmers, Shelby Yankees, Shelby Rebels, Shelby Senators and Shelby Cubs.

Notable Shelby alumni

* Rafael Belliard (1980) *

Bruce Berenyi Bruce Michael Berenyi (born August 21, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher from 1980 to 1986. Early years Berenyi's uncle was MLB pitcher Ned Garver. Berenyi played basketball as well as baseball at Fairview High School in ...

(1977) *

Mike Bielecki Michael Joseph Bielecki (born July 31, 1959) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for five different teams. Major league career Pittsburgh Pirates After graduating from Dundalk High School, Bielecki attende ...

(1980) *

George Brunet George Stuart Brunet (June 8, 1935 – October 25, 1991) was an American professional baseball pitcher who also went on to a Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame career in Mexico. Brunet pitched for nine different Major League clubs during ...

(1953) * Mark Carreon (1982) *

Dave Coble David Lamar Coble (December 24, 1912 – October 16, 1971) was an American professional baseball player and manager. A catcher, Coble played one season in Major League Baseball (MLB), appearing in 15 games with the 1939 Philadelphia Phillies. Li ...

(1948 & 1951–1952, MGR) *

Jose DeLeon Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galile ...

(1980) * Lenny Dykstra (1981-1982) 3 x MLB All-Star *

Wes Ferrell Wesley Cheek Ferrell (February 2, 1908 – December 9, 1976) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball from 1927 through 1941. Primarily a starting pitcher, Ferrell played for the Cleveland Indians (192 ...

(1965, MGR) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Cecilio Guante Cecilio Guante Magallanes (born February 1, 1960) is a Dominican former professional baseball player. He made his Major League Baseball(MLB) debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates and ended his career after playing with the Cleveland Indians. He fin ...

(1980) *

Paul Householder Paul Wesley Householder (born September 4, 1958) is a retired American professional baseball outfielder. He played during eight seasons at the major league level with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Houston Astr ...

(1977) * Hal Jeffcoat (1946) * Roger McDowell (1982) *

Eddie Milner Edward James Milner Jr. (May 21, 1955 – November 2, 2015) was an American professional baseball player. He played all or parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds (1980–86, 1988) and San Francisco Giants (1987), p ...

(1977) *

Fritz Peterson Fred Ingels Peterson (born February 8, 1942) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player who played for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers from 1966 to 1976. Peterson was a southpaw starting pitcher who enjoy ...

(1964) *

Roy Smalley Jr. Roy Frederick Smalley Jr. (June 9, 1926 – October 22, 2011) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. From 1948 through 1958, Smalley played for the Chicago Cubs (1948–1953), Milwaukee Braves (1953–69), Milwaukee Braves (1954) and Philad ...

(1946) * Gene Tenace (1965) MLB All-Star;

1974 World Series The 1974 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1974 season. The 71st edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion (and two-time defending World S ...

Most Valuable Player *

John Wockenfuss Johnny Bilton Wockenfuss (February 27, 1949 – August 19, 2022), sometimes known by the nicknames "Fuss" and "Johnny B.", was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the ...

(1969)

Season-by-season

Source:

References

Baseball teams established in 1977 Baseball teams established in 1982 Defunct Western Carolinas League teams Defunct South Atlantic League teams Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates New York Mets minor league affiliates Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates Professional baseball teams in North Carolina Defunct baseball teams in North Carolina Baseball teams disestablished in 1982 {{NorthCarolina-baseball-team-stub