1961 Charlotte Hornets Roster
Team Record: 61-79
Finished 7th in the SAL
Manager: Ellis Clary (61-79)
Affiliation: Minnesota Twins
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Ballpark: Clark Griffith Park
Attendance: 50,033, Avg. 715
The Charlotte Hornets of the South Atlantic League ended the 1961 season with a record of 61 wins and 79 losses, finishing seventh in the SAL.
The Hornets plated 567 runs and allowed 652 runs. Richard Means paced Charlotte with 18 home runs Wendell Antoine accounted for 79 RBI. Nestor Velazquez topped hitters with significant playing time by connecting at a .283 clip. Jack Taylor led the team with 17 wins, while Bob Saban as well added 15 or more victories as well Jack Taylor recorded a 2.99 ERA, leading qualifying pitchers.
Members of the 1961 Charlotte Hornets who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Bill Powell, Joe Nossek, Bob Thurman, Joe Caffie, Sandy Consuegra, Don Williams, Tom Butters, Chuck Coles, Gerry Arrigo, Minnie Mendoza, Ted Tappe, Bernie Allen and Rich Rollins.
Ellis Clary served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernie Allen | L | R | April 16, 1939 | 6'0" | 175 | East Liverpool, OH US |
| Wendell Antoine | R | R | March 17, 1935 | 6'2" | 205 | |
| Gerry Arrigo | L | L | June 12, 1941 | 6'1" | 185 | Chicago, IL US |
| Tom Butters | R | R | April 8, 1938 | 6'2" | 195 | Delaware, OH US |
| Joe Caffie | L | R | February 14, 1931 | 5'10" | 180 | Ramer, AL US |
| Art Clessuras | L | L | October 19, 1938 | 5'11" | 175 | |
| Larry Click | R | R | December 6, 1936 | 6'1" | 178 | Roxton, TX US |
| Bill Cline | R | R | November 13, 1933 | 6'1" | 188 | |
| Chuck Coles | L | L | June 27, 1931 | 5'9" | 180 | Fredericktown, PA US |
| Sandy Consuegra | R | R | September 3, 1920 | 5'11" | 165 | Potrerillos, CU |
| Ronald Cote | R | R | December 10, 1934 | 6'5" | 200 | |
| Willie Crouch | L | R | October 25, 1938 | 5'11" | 185 | |
| Matthew Daskalakis | S | L | March 18, 1931 | 5'11" | 175 | |
| Burton Dziadek | R | R | August 23, 1939 | 6'4" | 200 | Meriden, CT US |
| Reyes Figueroa | R | R | January 25, 1936 | 5'11" | 190 | |
| Alberto Gonzalez | R | R | October 4, 1940 | 5'8" | 180 | |
| Bert Guenthner | R | R | June 26, 1937 | 6'3" | 205 | |
| Curtis Hardaway | R | R | August 13, 1928 | 6'0" | 189 | Columbus, GA US |
| James Hemric | L | R | September 27, 1935 | 5'11" | 175 | |
| Leonard Jackson | R | R | June 18, 1934 | 6'2" | 205 | Caroleen, NC US |
| Joe Kaiser | R | R | December 21, 1938 | 6'1" | 190 | Fredericksburg, TX US |
| Joel Kiger | L | L | January 15, 1938 | 5'11" | 175 | Westfield, NC US |
| Ken Kraynak | L | R | August 8, 1935 | 6'2" | 210 | Plymouth, PA US |
| Guy Lavalliere | R | R | December 31, 1931 | 5'8" | 200 | |
| Maurice Lerner | R | R | December 20, 1935 | 6'2" | 185 | |
| Norbert Lewandowski | R | R | 6'1" | 196 | ||
| Richard Means | L | L | April 9, 1936 | 6'0" | 180 | |
| Minnie Mendoza | R | R | December 3, 1934 | 6'0" | 180 | Ceiba del Agua, CU |
| George Miller | R | R | January 10, 1940 | 5'10" | 180 | Philadelphia, PA US |
| Joe Nossek | R | R | November 8, 1940 | 6'0" | 178 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Angel Oliva | R | R | February 6, 1937 | 6'0" | 185 | San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque CU |
| Edilio Oliva | R | R | June 3, 1939 | 6'1" | 185 | Central Portugalete, Havana CU |
| Bernard Poupore | R | R | May 13, 1939 | 6'2" | 190 | Spalding, MI US |
| Bill Powell | L | R | May 8, 1919 | 6'0" | 195 | Comer, GA US |
| Rich Rollins | R | R | April 16, 1938 | 5'10" | 185 | Mount Pleasant, PA US |
| Ralph Rowe | L | R | July 14, 1924 | 5'6" | 160 | Newberry, SC US |
| Bob Saban | R | R | December 22, 1930 | 6'0" | 195 | McCook, IL US |
| Roberto Tano | R | R | February 20, 1936 | 5'11" | 180 | Ventientes, Camaguey CU |
| Ted Tappe | L | R | February 2, 1931 | 6'3" | 185 | Seattle, WA US |
| Jack Taylor | R | R | October 7, 1927 | 6'2" | 180 | Landis, NC US |
| Bob Thurman | L | L | May 14, 1917 | 6'1" | 205 | Kellyville, OK US |
| Hernan Valdes | R | R | July 31, 1937 | 5'11" | 182 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| Nestor Velazquez | R | R | March 6, 1940 | 6'1" | 179 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| Don Williams | R | R | September 2, 1935 | 6'5" | 218 | Los Angeles, CA US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
