Charlotte Orioles Mugs
Description: The Charlotte Orioles were the long-time Class AA Southern League farm club of the Baltimore Orioles. Promoted locally as “The O’s”, the ball club was owned by famed Southern wrestling promoter Jim Crockett Jr. The Crocketts ran the O’s in true mom & pop style. Charlotte’s ballpark, formerly known as Clark Griffith Park, was renamed Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Park in 1976 in honor of the family patriarch, “Big Jim” Crockett, who passed away in 1973. While Jim Jr. and his brothers focused on the wrestling promotion inherited from their late father, sister Frances Crockett managed the O’s business operations as one of the rare female General Managers of the era. A retired wrestler named Klondike Bill handled the groundskeeping duties.
Description: The Charlotte Orioles, also known as the Charlotte O's, played at Crockett Park in the Double-A Southern League from 1976 to 1987 before being re-named the Charlotte Knights. Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray both played for the O's, who faced the Birmingham Barons, Huntsville Stars, Montgomery Rebels, Chattanooga Lookouts, Greenville Braves, Memphis Chicks, Nashville Sounds, Orlando Twins and more.
