{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name =Gastonia Rockets | firstseason =1952 | lastseason =1953 | allyears = | city =Gastonia, North Carolina | logo = | uniformlogo = | class level =Class B (1952–1953) | league =Tri-State League (1952–1953) | majorleague =Chicago White Sox (1952–1953) | nickname =Gastonia Rockets (1952–1953) | ballpark =Sims Legion Park (1952–1953) | classnum = | classchamps = | leaguenum =0 | leaguechamps =None | confnum =1 | conferencechamps =1952 | divnum = | divisionchamps = | wildcardnum =0 | wildcardberths = }} The '''Gastonia Rockets''' were a minor league baseball team based in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. The Rockets played as members of the Class B level Tri-State League in 1952 and 1953, winning the 1952 league pennant before the team folded following the 1953 season. The Rockets were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and hosted home games at Sims Legion Park, which is still in use today.
==History== Gastonia first hosted minor league baseball in 1923, when the Gastonia "Comers" played a partial season as members of the Class B level South Atlantic League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1923 Columbia/Gastonia Comers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Gastonia Rockets were immediately preceded in minor league play by the 1950 Gastonia "Browns," who played the season as members of the Class D level Western Carolina League, finishing last in the league standings with a record of 40-70.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1950 Gastonia Browns Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor-first1=Lloyd |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first2=Miles |editor-last2=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref>
In 1952, Gastonia resumed minor league play as a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, when the "Rockets" became members of the eight-team Class B level Tri-State League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1952 Gastonia Rockets Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Gastonia replaced the Greenwood Tigers franchise in joining the league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1951 Greenwood Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-TRIS5/y-1951|title=1951 Tri-State League (TSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The Anderson Rebels, Asheville Tourists, Charlotte Hornets, Greenville Spinners, Knoxville Smokies, Rock Hill Chiefs and Spartanburg Peaches joined Gastonia in beginning league play on April 16, 1952.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-TRIS5/y-1952|title=1952 Tri-State League (TSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
The "Rockets" moniker corresponds to aviation history in Gastonia. In 1946, the Gastonia Airport was opened.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academyofaviation.com/gastonia-municipal-airport-expansion.html|title=Lengthening the Runway at Gastonia Municipal Airport|website=www.academyofaviation.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofgastonia.com/municipal-airport.html|title=Municipal Airport|website=City of Gastonia}}</ref>
In their first season of league play, the Gastonia Rockets won the 1952 Tri-State League pennant. The Rockets ended the Tri-State League regular season with a record of 89-50, finishing first in the standings, 1½ games ahead of the second place Charlotte Hornets. Hal Van Pelt served as the Gastonia manager.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=fbce016d|title=1952 Tri-State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> In the first round of the four-team playoffs, the Spartanburg Peaches defeated the Rockets 3 games to 2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-gr11687/y-1952|title=1952 Gastonia Rockets minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/> Alex Cosmidis of Gastonia scored 122 runs to lead the Tri-state league in that category.<ref name="encyc"/>
The Rockets continued play as the 1953 Tri-State League reduced to six teams, in what proved to be the final season of the team.<ref name="encyc"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-TRIS5/y-1953|title=1953 Tri-State League (TSL) Minor League Baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> Gastonia did not qualify for the 1953 playoffs, as the Rockets placed fifth in the Tri-State League regular season standings with a 66–81 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1953 Gastonia Rockets Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> With Hal Van Pelt returning as manager, the Rockets ended the season 28½ behind the first place Spartanburg Peaches.<ref name="encyc"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=c8321c1f|title=1953 Tri-State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Gastonia was replaced by the Knoxville Smokies in the 1954 Tri-State League, after Knoxville had disbanded in 1953.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=6a0a7e7e|title=1954 Tri-State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
Gastonia, North Carolina next hosted minor league baseball in 1959, when the Gastonia Pirates played a partial season as members of the Class A level South Atlantic League.<ref name="encyc"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1959 Columbus/Gastonia Pirates Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
==The ballpark== In their two seasons of play, the Gastonia Rockets hosted minor league home games at Sims Legion Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-962|title=Sims Legion Park in Gastonia, NC minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The original ballpark was built in 1950, with a major renovation in 1977 and again in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hughes II |first1=Joe L. |title=Diggin' in: Gastonia's new professional baseball team, stadium set for grand debut |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/sports/local/2021/05/25/gastonia-honey-hunters-new-stadium-set-for-grand-debut/7430404002/ |access-date=July 10, 2022 |work=The Gaston Gazette |date=May 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |last1=Foote |first1=Sharon |title=Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening for Sims Legion Park |url=https://cityofgastonia.news/2022/03/ribbon-cutting-ceremony-and-grand-opening-for-sims-legion-park/ |website=City News Source |publisher=City of Gastonia |access-date=September 29, 2022 |date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> Still in use today, the ballpark is located at 1001 North Marietta Street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofgastonia.com/sims-legion-park.html|title=Sims Legion Park|website=City of Gastonia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gogastonnc.org/places/sims-legion-park|title=Sims Legion Park in Gaston County, NC|website=Go Gaston NC}}</ref>
==Timeline== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;" ! Year(s) !! # Yrs. !! Team !! Level !! League!!Affiliate!!Ballpark |- | 1952–1953 || 2 || Gastonia Rockets || Class B ||Tri-State League||Chicago White Sox||Sims Legion Park |- |}
==Year–by–year records== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Manager !!Attend!! Playoffs / Notes |- | 1952|| 89–50|| 1st || Hal Van Pelt ||94,788||Lost in 1st round |- | 1953|| 66–81|| 5th || Hal Van Pelt ||69,052||Did not qualify |-
|} <ref name="encyc"/>
==Notable alumni== * Alex Cosmidis (1952) * Zeb Eaton (1952) * Mike Garbark (1953) * Rudy Hernandez (1953) * Howie Moss (1952) ==See also== *Gastonia Rockets players
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Gastonia&state=NC&country=US Gastonia - Baseball Reference]
Category:Baseball teams established in 1952 Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1953 Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams Category:Defunct baseball teams in North Carolina Category:Defunct Tri-State League teams Category:Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates Category:Gastonia, North Carolina