The Kingsport Mets were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League from 1921 to 2020. They were located in Kingsport, Tennessee, and were last named for the team's major league affiliate, the New York Mets. The team played its home games at Hunter Wright Stadium which opened in 1995. The Mets previously played at Dobyns-Bennett High School. In 1983, while Dobyns-Bennett's field was being renovated, the team temporarily moved to Sarasota, Florida, and played in the Gulf Coast League as the Gulf Coast League Mets.
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History
The first professional team to hail from Kingsport was the Kingsport Indians who played in the Appalachian League from 1921 to 1925. From 1938 to 1941, the Kingsport team was known as the Cherokees, but changed to the Dodgers in 1942 when the team became a farm team of Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. They reverted to the Cherokees name in 1943 and continued to play under this moniker through 1955. The Kingsport Cherokees competed in the Mountain States League from 1953 to 1954, before returning to the Appalachian League in 1957 as the Kingsport Orioles after two years of dormancy. After another two years on hiatus, Kingsport returned as the Pirates from 1960 to 1963. From 1969 to 1970, they competed as the Kingsport Royals. Notable players during this period include Al Cowens and U L Washington.
From 1974 to 1979, they were known as the Braves. As an Atlanta Braves affiliate, multiple future major leaguers played for them, including Matt Sinatro, Rick Behenna, Jose Alvarez, Steve Bedrosian, Paul Runge, Brad Komminsk, Milt Thompson, Brook Jacoby, and Mike Payne. Additionally, National League MVP Dale Murphy and Cy Young Award winner Steve Bedrosian played in Kingsport.
In 1980, the team became known as the Kingsport Mets, the name under which the team has competed since then—with the exception of playing the 1983 season in Sarasota, Florida, as the Gulf Coast League Mets while their home stadium underwent renovations. Players Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Kevin Mitchell, José Reyes, David Wright, Lastings Milledge, and A. J. Burnett made their professional debuts in Kingsport. The Mets won the Appalachian League Championship in 1988 and 1995.
The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[1][2] In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Mets were replaced by a new franchise in the revamped league designed for rising college freshmen and sophomores.[3]
All Silver Anniversary Team
In 2005, the team selected 14 former players and a manager for its All Silver Anniversary Team in commemoration of 25 years as a Mets affiliate.
Year-by-year record
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| Year | Record | Win % | Finish | GB | Manager | Postseason |
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| 1974 | 31–39–1 | .443 | 7th | 21.5 | Hoyt Wilhelm | — |
| 1975 | 33–33 | .500 | 6th | 7 | Gene Hassell | — |
| 1976 | 25–42 | .373 | 8th | 23.5 | Bobby Dews | — |
| 1977 | 43–26 | .623 | 1st | — | Bob Didier | League Champions |
| 1978 | 33–37 | .471 | 5th | 8.5 | Eddie Haas | — |
| 1979 | 39–31 | .557 | 2nd | 15.5 | Gene Hassell | — |
| 1980 | 35–35–1 | .500 | 3rd | 11 | Chuck Hiller | — |
| 1981 | 21–49 | .300 | 6th | 25 | Al Jackson | — |
| 1982 | 28–40 | .412 | 7th | 4.5 | Ed Olsen | — |
| 1984 | 31–38 | .449 | 7th | 9 | Dan Radison | — |
Playoffs
- 1988: Defeated Burlington 2–0 to win league championship.
- 1995: Defeated Bluefield 2–1 to win league championship.
- 1996: Lost to Bluefield 2–1 in finals.
- 2013: Lost to Greeneville 2–1 in semifinals.
- 2015: Lost to Greeneville 2–1 in semifinals.
- 2018: Lost to Elizabethton 2–1 in semifinals.
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni
- Hoyt Wilhelm (1974, MGR) Inducted, 1985
Notable alumni
- Steve Bedrosian (1978) MLB All-Star; 1987 NL Cy Young Award
- Heath Bell (1998) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Bruce Benedict (1976) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Steve Blass (1960) MLB All-Star
- Dick Bosman (1963) 1969 AL ERA Leader
- A. J. Burnett (1996) MLB All-Star
- Rick Camp (1974)
- Joey Cora (2001, MGR) MLB All-Star
- Al Cowens (1969)
- Jacob deGrom (2010) 3 x MLB All-Star; 2014 NL Rookie of the Year; 2018 and 2019 NL Cy Young
- Steven Matz (2012)
- Mike Difelice (2009-2010, MGR)
- Tim Foli (1998, MGR)
- Dwight Gooden (1982) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1984 NL Rookie of the Year; 1985 NL Cy Young Award
- Carlos Gomez (2004) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Glenn Hubbard (1975-1976) MLB All-Star
- Jason Isringhausen (1992) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Brook Jacoby (1979) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Gregg Jeffries (1985) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Dennis Leonard (1972)
- Jerry May (1961)
- Kevin Mitchell (1981) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1989 NL Most Valuable Player
- Dale Murphy (1974) MLB All-Star; 2 x NL Most Valuable Player (1982-1983)
- Daniel Murphy (2006) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Randy Myers (1982) 4 x MLB All-Star
- Angel Pagan (2000)
- Jose Reyes (2000) 3 x MLB All-Star; 2011 NL Batting Title
- Josh Satin (2008)
- Pete Schourek (1987)
- Darryl Strawberry (1980) 8 x MLB All-Star; 1983 NL Rookie of the Year
- Milt Thompson (1979)
- U.L. Washington (1973)
- Mookie Wilson (2003-2004, MGR)
- Preston Wilson (1993) MLB All-Star
- David Wright (2001-2002) 7 x MLB All-Star
References
External links
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