Gastonia Honey Hunters

{{short description|American minor-league professional baseball team}}

{{Infobox baseball team

| name = Gastonia Honey Hunters

| logo = Gastonia Honey Hunters logo.svg

| cap_logo = Honey Hunters cap.png

| uniform =

| league = Atlantic League of Professional Baseball

| division = South Division

| location = Gastonia, North Carolina

| ballpark = CaroMont Health Park

| founded = 2021

| folded = 2023

| nickname =

| league_champs =

| series =

| series_champs =

| former_names =

| former_ballparks =

| colors = Black, gold, orange, white
{{Color box|#1A1717}} {{Color box|#FEA500}} {{Color box|#FF6A00}} {{Color box|white}}

| mascot = BAM the Honey Badger

| manager =

| season =

| record =

| playoffs =

| affiliations =

| division_champ_type =

| division_champs = 2023

| series2 =

| series2_champs =

| former_leagues =

| berths =

| retired_numbers =

| general_manager =

| president =

| media =

| website = {{URL|https://gohoneyhunters.com/}}

| owner = Brandon Bellamy

| management = Velocity Companies

| coach =

}}

The Gastonia Honey Hunters were a professional baseball team based in Gastonia, North Carolina. They played in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball,{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |title=Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/23/indy-atlantic-league-designated-mlb-partner-league/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 23, 2020}}{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |title=American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/24/american-association-frontier-league-now-mlb-partner-leagues/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 24, 2020}} at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia, North Carolina.

History

In 2019 the Atlantic League announced it was considering a new franchise in Gastonia.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Barrett |title=Gastonia advances plan to lure pro-baseball franchise |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20190821/gastonia-advances-plan-to-lure-pro-baseball-franchise |access-date=August 16, 2020 |work=The Gaston Gazette |date=August 21, 2019}} Work officially began in November 2019, for the new ballpark in Gastonia.{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Downtown Gastonia Ballpark Project Underway |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/12/03/downtown-gastonia-ballpark-project-underway/ |access-date=August 16, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=December 3, 2019}} In July 2020, the league announced the addition of a new franchise in Gastonia beginning in 2021; it would be the league's second team based in North Carolina.{{cite press release |first=Jerry |last=Del Priore |url=https://atlanticleague.com/news/?article_id=1452 |title=Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Expands to City of Gastonia, NC |work=AtlanticLeague.com |date=July 28, 2020}} Brandon Bellamy was announced as the team's owner.{{Cite news |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/brandon-bellamy-set-to-become-only-black-majority-owner-in-professional-baseball/ |title=Brandon Bellamy Set To Become Only Black Majority Owner In Professional Baseball |first=J. J. |last=Cooper |work=Baseball America |date=July 28, 2020}}

On August 15, 2020, a "Name the Team" contest was launched.{{cite news |title=Contest to name Gastonia's new pro baseball team begins |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20200815/contest-to-name-gastoniarsquos-new-pro-baseball-team-begins |access-date=August 16, 2020 |work=The Gaston Gazette |date=August 16, 2020}} On October 8, 2020, the names were narrowed down to Fire Ants, Hogzillas, Honey Hunters, Hotshots, and Uppercuts.{{cite news |first=Samantha |last=Gilstrap |title=Gastonia Professional Baseball Narrows Down Team Name Finalists |url=https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2020/10/08/gastonia-professional-baseball-team-narrows-down-team-name-finalists/ |date=October 8, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020 |work=WCCB}}

On January 13, 2021, the Honey Hunters name, logo and colors were announced. "Honey Hunters" refers to the toughness of a honey badger (Mellivora capensis) and the ability to seek out positive things in hard times. The moniker also alludes to Ransom Hunter, the first freed slave to own property in Gaston County, of which Gastonia is the county seat.{{cite news |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/01/13/new-for-2021-gastonia-honey-hunters/ |title=New for 2021: Gastonia Honey Hunters |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=January 13, 2021 |access-date=January 13, 2021}}

The team's first game was an exhibition on May 23, 2021,{{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=June 7, 2021 |work=The Gaston Gazette |date=May 25, 2021}} followed by the regular season opening day game on May 25.{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Kevin |title=Opening Day arrives for Gastonia Honey Hunters, and it was beautiful |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2021/05/27/opening-day-arrives-gastonia-honey-hunters-and-beautiful/5132062001/ |access-date=June 7, 2021 |work=The Gaston Gazette |date=May 27, 2021}}

In 2022, manager Mauro Gozzo was named Atlantic League Manager of the Year. In the off-season he signed a three-year contract extension.{{cite news |last=Welch |first=Maddison |title=Mauro "Goose" Gozzo signs Three-Year Contract Extension With The Gastonia Honey Hunters |url=https://www.gohoneyhunters.com/news/oc6vbag9n5hupxx89rd6jh852yq5cs/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |work=gohoneyhunters.com |date=November 10, 2022}}

On November 22, 2023, the Atlantic League terminated the membership of the team, citing significant unpaid debts to the league. Rick White, president of the Atlantic League, confirmed that the Honey Hunters were terminated, but said that the Atlantic League intends to field a team in Gastonia in 2024.{{Cite news |last=Fohner |first=Kara |date=November 22, 2023 |title=More trouble for Gastonia's Honey Hunters |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/11/22/honey-hunters-terminated-from-atlantic-league/71678663007/|work=The Gaston Gazette |publisher=Gannett Company |access-date=November 23, 2023}} On December 1, 2023, the company that operates the Honey Hunters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{Cite news |first=Matthew |last=Ablon |url=https://www.wcnc.com/amp/article/news/local/gastonia/gastonia-honey-hunters-bankruptcy-case/275-1998deb6-2440-4c1a-bccf-702eb6262304 |title=Company that owns Gastonia Honey Hunters files for bankruptcy |date=December 5, 2023 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=WCNC-TV |language=en}} New owners were announced in February 2024 of an Atlantic League team yet to be named which will begin play at CaroMont Health Park on April 25, 2024.{{cite news |last1=Calkins |first1=Mary |title=Gastonia leaders reveal new pro baseball team amid Honey Hunters legal battle |url=https://www.wbtv.com/2024/02/07/gastonia-reveal-plans-new-pro-baseball-team-amidst-honey-hunters-legal-battle/ |access-date=March 25, 2024 |work=WBTV |date=February 7, 2024 |language=en}}