The city of Charleston, West Virginia, has a long and sometimes tumultuous baseball history. The launch of the organization today known as the Dirty Birds, however, brought a consistent presence that has competed for almost 40 uninterrupted seasons. 

With new branding as of 2021 and affiliation in the Atlantic League, Charleston's longest tenured baseball organization is continuously adding to the city's baseball legacy. 

Get to know more about the organization with the following primer.

Team Overview 

The Dirty Birds opened their third season of Atlantic League membership in 2023, seeking their first major breakthrough. Charleston has yet to finish above .500 in its short tenure as an Atlantic League club. 

What year were the Charleston Dirty Birds founded? 

The organization debuted in 1987 with an icy reception — literally. An April 1987 article in The State reveals that "just a few days before the Wheeler's debut," their home ballpark was covered in "about 20 inches of snow." 

Only "about 36 hours before" first pitch did the snow melt. This all makes for a fascinating anecdote, but at the time, it prompted The State's columnist to opine about Charleston, "maybe they don't belong." 

Well, fast-forward 36 years and the organization has proven it belongs in professional baseball. 

Who owns the Charleston Dirty Birds?

Andy Shea, the owner and CEO of the Dirty Birds, has an extensive background in baseball management. Shea was the president of the Lexington Legends, a Class A club in the South Atlantic League — the same league in which the Dirty Birds played from 1987 through 2020. 

What is the history of the Charleston Dirty Birds team name and mascot?

The former Wheelers became the Power in 2005, a moniker the organization used until 2021. With membership in a new league came a rebrand in 2021 to the Dirty Birds. 

Now, old-school football fans might see or hear the name and think of Jamal Anderson and the Atlanta Falcons team that reached the Super Bowl in the 1998 NFL season. However, team president Chuck Domino offered the actual origin of the nickname in a statement released in 2021: 

"In the early 1900s, canaries were employed in West Virginia coal mines to detect methane gas to determine whether or not it was safe for coal miners to proceed. These canaries risked their lives for the coal mining industry in West Virginia. It was a dirty job, but these birds were up to the task."

Have the Charleston Dirty Birds ever won an Atlantic League championship?

Charleston has not won an Atlantic League championship, though the club participated in the 2021 Atlantic League Playoffs. 

Charleston's lone league championship came in its fourth season of existence, 1990, as a member of the South Atlantic League. The then-Wheelers bested Savannah in the league final series.  

Where do the Charleston Dirty Birds play?

In 2005, commensurate with the organization's rebrand as the Power, Charleston moved into its current home at GoMart Park. The venue, built in the city's East End, was touted for revitalizing the area upon its opening. 

"It was an eye sore," one local business owner told the Associated Press in April 2005. "Now we've got a state-of-the-art baseball facility right in front of us. We can't find anything bad to say about it. It's going to be really, really nice." 

Charleston Dirty Birds Notable Alumni

Among the notable players to have played in the Charleston organization are the king of closers, former San Diego Padres legend Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman's journey to setting the Major League saves record really began in Charleston, where according to the team's Wall of Fame, Wheelers coach Jim Lett suggested Hoffman move to the mound from the infield. 

After Hoffman came such noteworthy names as Ryan Braun, the longtime Milwaukee Brewers standout and 2011 National League Most Valuable Player; and two-time Gold Glove winner with the Cincinnati Reds, Pokey Reese. 

Charleston Dirty Birds Schedule

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds schedule here.

How To Watch The Charleston Dirty Birds

Atlantic, Frontier, Pioneer and the Coastal Summer Plain League, as well as the Florida Collegiate Summer League, are all streaming on FloBaseball and the FloSports app. Replays, highlights and more news can be found on the site.