Belmont Chiefs

The Belmont Chiefs were a minor league baseball team based in Lexington, North Carolina in 1961. Belmont played as exclusively members of the Western Carolina League.

Belmont Chiefs
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1961)
LeagueWestern Carolina League (1961)
Major league affiliations
TeamSan Francisco Giants (1961)
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Team data
NameBelmont Chiefs (1961)
BallparkDavis Park (1961)

The Belmont Chiefs were a minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

History

In 1961, minor league baseball play began in Belmont, North Carolina. The Belmont Chiefs began play as members in the six–team Class D level Western Carolina League. The Chiefs were a minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants in 1961. Belmont joined the Salisbury Braves, Statesville Owls, Lexington Indians, Shelby Colonels and Newton-Conover Twins in league play.[1][2]

Reportedly, the Belmont Chiefs were owned by Jim Poole, who also began the season at the Chiefs' manager. The team began the season with a 2–22 record. On May 27, 1961 Whitey Ries replaced Poole as manager. On July 17, 1961, Ries was replaced as manager by Max Lanier.[3]

Beginning Western Carolina League play on May 1, 1961, Belmont finished the season in 5th place in the final league standings. The Chiefs improved to go 37–39 after their 2–22 start and had a final record of 39–61. The Chiefs finished the season 24.0 games behind the 1st place Salisbury Braves in the final standings. The Belmont Chiefs folded after the 1961 season, after drawing 10,081 home fans for the season,. The Western Carolina League reduced to four teams in 1962.[4][1][5][2][6]

Belmont, North Carolina has not hosted another minor league team.[7]

The ballparks

The Belmont Chiefs were noted to have played minor league home games at Davis Park. Today, Davis Park is still in use as a public park with a "baseball field." Davis Park is located at 203 Park Drive, Belmont, North Carolina.[8][9]

(2007) Downtown. Belmont, North Carolina

Timeline
Year(s)# Yrs.TeamLevelLeagueAffiliate
19611Belmont ChiefsClass D
Western Carolina LeagueSan Francisco Giants

Year-by-Year Record
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs/Notes
196139–615thJim Poole (2–22)
Whitey Ries / Max Lanier		Did not qualify

Notable alumni

See also

Belmont Chiefs players

References
  1. "1961 Western Carolina League". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "1961 Western Carolina League (WCL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "Belmont Chiefs - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  4. "Western Carolina League - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  5. "1961 Belmont Chiefs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. "1961 Belmont Chiefs minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  7. "Belmont, NC - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
  8. "Davis Park in Belmont, NC minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "Davis Park". Belmont, NC.

External References

Baseball Reference Bullpen

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