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. 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. == All Silver Anniversary Team ==