At Girard College, he changed his last name from Letti to Knight possibly to avoid ethnic hostility toward Italians.

In 1883, he was named the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association, and the team won the league pennant with Knight also playing right field.

[3] On May 21, 1880, he was playing right field at Riverside Park in Albany, New York when Lip Pike hit a ball over the fence and into the river.

[5] After Knight's playing career ended, he was an umpire for several seasons; his most active year was 1890, when he officiated 123 games in the Players' League.

[6] Knight died of poisoning at age 78 in Philadelphia when the gas line to the heater in his house leaked.