Obviously the first Charlotte Hornets were the Charlotteans who fought in the Battle of Charlotte during the Revolutionary War and received this nickname! Ever since then there have been countless things in Charlotte and the surrounding region adorned with the Hornets name in honor of the fighting spirit of this community!
The first NBA franchise in Charlotte was not the first sports team in the area to have the name. Starting 1901 one of the original Charlotte Hornets was a minor league baseball team which was a feeder team for the Washington Senators. They were on and off until about 1973. Then Jim Crockett Jr. bought the Asheville Orioles (affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles) and they became the Charlotte Orioles. Some names you might recognize from the Major Leagues that played for the O’s at the beginning of their careers were Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, and Curt Schilling!
In the late 80’s the team was bought by George Shinn ( Yes, the very same George Shinn who founded the Charlotte Hornets NBA team) then renamed them the Charlotte Knights which we know and love today!
Here are some cool pics of the Charlotte Hornets Minor League Baseball Team!














