1980 Southern League season

1980 Southern League season
LeagueSouthern League
SportBaseball
DurationApril 11 – September 1
Number of games144
Number of teams10
Regular season
League championsNashville Sounds
Season MVPSteve Balboni, Nashville Sounds
Playoffs
League championsCharlotte Orioles
  Runners-upMemphis Chicks

The 1980 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 11 and September 1. 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 Charlotte Orioles won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Memphis Chicks in the playoffs.

Team changes

Teams

1980 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 Blue Jays Knoxville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Bill Meyer Stadium
Memphis Chicks Memphis, Tennessee Montreal Expos Tim McCarver Stadium
Montgomery Rebels Montgomery, Alabama Detroit Tigers Paterson Field
Nashville Sounds Nashville, Tennessee New York Yankees Herschel Greer Stadium

Map of teams

East Division West Division

Regular season

Summary

  • The Nashville Sounds finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time in team history.

Standings

[1]

East Division
Team Win Loss % GB
Savannah Braves 77 67 .535
Columbus Astros 76 68 .528 1
Charlotte Orioles 72 72 .500 5
Orlando Twins 65 78 .455 11.5
Jacksonville Suns 63 81 .438 14
West Division
Nashville Sounds 97 46 .678
Memphis Chicks 83 61 .576 14.5
Montgomery Rebels 68 76 .472 29.5
Chattanooga Lookouts 61 83 .424 36.5
Knoxville Blue Jays 57 87 .396 40.5

League Leaders

Batting leaders

[2]

Stat Player Total
AVG Chris Bando, Chattanooga Lookouts .349
H Buck Showalter, Nashville Sounds 178
R Steve Balboni, Nashville Sounds 101
2B Ron Johnson, Jacksonville Suns 40
3B Ted Wilborn, Nashville Sounds 14
HR Steve Balboni, Nashville Sounds 34
RBI Steve Balboni, Nashville Sounds 122
SB Tony Johnson, Memphis Chicks 60

Pitching leaders

[3]

Stat Player Total
W Jim MacDonald, Columbus Astros 17
ERA Andy McGaffigan, Nashville Sounds 2.38
CG George Cappuzzello, Montgomery Rebels
Larry Pashnick, Montgomery Rebels
Bryn Smith, Memphis Chicks
Don Welchel, Charlotte Orioles
12
SHO George Cappuzzello, Montgomery Rebels 6
SV Stuart Livingstone, Savannah Braves 17
IP Steve Bedrosian, Savannah Braves 203.0
SO Steve Bedrosian, Savannah Braves 161

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

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

Awards

Southern League awards
Award name Recipient
Most Valuable Player Steve Balboni, Nashville Sounds
Pitcher of the Year Andy McGaffigan, Nashville Sounds
Manager of the Year Stump Merrill, Nashville Sounds

See also

References

  1. ^ 1980 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025
  2. ^ 1980 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025
  3. ^ 1980 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025