1979 Southern League season

1979 Southern League season
LeagueSouthern League
SportBaseball
DurationApril 16 – September 2
Number of games144
Number of teams10
Regular season
League championsColumbus Astros
Season MVPDanny Heep, Columbus Astros
Alan Knicely, Columbus Astros
Playoffs
League championsNashville Sounds
  Runners-upColumbus Astros

The 1979 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 16 and September 2. Ten teams played a 144-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.

The Nashville Sounds won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Columbus Astros in the playoffs.

Teams

1979 Southern League
Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium
East Charlotte Orioles Charlotte, North Carolina Baltimore Orioles Jim Crockett Memorial Park
Columbus Astros Columbus, Georgia Houston Astros Golden Park
Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Kansas City Royals Wolfson Park
Orlando Twins Orlando, Florida Minnesota Twins Tinker Field
Savannah Braves Savannah, Georgia Atlanta Braves Grayson Stadium
West Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cleveland Indians Engel Stadium
Knoxville Sox Knoxville, Tennessee Chicago White Sox Bill Meyer Stadium
Memphis Chicks Memphis, Tennessee Montreal Expos Tim McCarver Stadium
Montgomery Rebels Montgomery, Alabama Detroit Tigers Paterson Field
Nashville Sounds Nashville, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds Herschel Greer Stadium

Map of teams

East Division West Division

Regular season

Summary

  • The Columbus Astros finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1970.

Standings

[1]

East Division
Team Win Loss % GB
Columbus Astros 84 59 .587 –
Charlotte Orioles 73 69 .514 10.5
Jacksonville Suns 69 72 .489 14
Orlando Twins 60 81 .426 23
Savannah Braves 60 83 .420 24
West Division
Nashville Sounds 83 61 .576 –
Memphis Chicks 82 62 .569 1
Chattanooga Lookouts 75 69 .521 8
Knoxville Sox 65 76 .461 16.5
Montgomery Rebels 62 81 .434 20.5

League Leaders

Batting leaders

[2]

Stat Player Total
AVG Joe Charboneau, Chattanooga Lookouts .352
H Danny Heep, Columbus Astros 171
R Tim Raines, Memphis Chicks 104
2B Tom Wiedenbauer, Columbus Astros 31
3B Duane Walker, Nashville Sounds 15
HR Alan Knicely, Columbus Astros 33
RBI Dave Hostetler, Memphis Chicks 114
SB LaMart Harris, Jacksonville Suns 68

Pitching leaders

[3]

Stat Player Total
W Del Leatherwood, Columbus Astros 15
ERA Scott Brown, Nashville Sounds 2.40
CG Billy Smith, Columbus Astros 19
SHO Del Leatherwood, Columbus Astros 4
SV Geoff Combe, Nashville Sounds 27
IP Del Leatherwood, Columbus Astros 202.0
SO Bob Veselic, Orlando Twins 151

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Division finals Finals
      
E1 Columbus 2
E2 Charlotte 0
E1 Columbus 1
W1 Nashville 3
W1 Nashville 2
W2 Memphis 1

Awards

Southern League awards
Award name Recipient
Most Valuable Player Danny Heep, Columbus Astros
Alan Knicely, Columbus Astros
Pitcher of the Year Geoff Combe, Nashville Sounds
Manager of the Year Jimmy Johnson, Columbus Astros

See also

References

  1. ^ 1979 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025
  2. ^ 1979 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025
  3. ^ 1979 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025
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