1979 Southern League season

1979 Southern League season Southern League Baseball April 16 – September 2 144 10 Regular season Columbus Astros Danny Heep, Columbus Astros Alan Knicely, Columbus Astros Playoffs Nashville Sounds Columbus Astros List of Southern League seasons SL 1978 Southern League season 1978 1980 Southern League season 1980 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 left 10px East Division 10px West Division 1015 425 370 190 650 USA 2000 USA 35.20 -80.86 Blue pog.svg 80 top Charlotte #ffe USA 32.45 -84.99 Blue pog.svg 80 top Columbus #ffe USA 30.33 -81.64 Blue pog.svg 80 top Jackson-ville #ffe USA 28.54 -81.40 Blue pog.svg 80 top Orlando #ffe USA 32.04 -81.08 Blue pog.svg 80 top Savannah #ffe USA 35.05 -85.29 Red pog.svg 80 top Chattan-ooga #ffe USA 35.98 -83.91 Red pog.svg 80 top Knoxville #ffe USA 35.12 -89.98 Red pog.svg 80 top Memphis #ffe USA 32.38 -86.29 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Mont-gomery #ffe USA 36.14 -86.77 Red pog.svg 80 top Nashville #ffe Regular season Summary The Columbus Astros finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1970. Standings 1979 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Columbus Astros 84 59 84 59 – Charlotte Orioles 73 69 73 69 10.5 Jacksonville Suns 69 72 69 72 14 Orlando Twins 60 81 60 81 23 Savannah Braves 60 83 60 83 24West Division Nashville Sounds 83 61 83 61 – Memphis Chicks 82 62 82 62 1 Chattanooga Lookouts 75 69 75 69 8 Knoxville Sox 65 76 65 76 16.5 Montgomery Rebels 62 81 62 81 20.5 League Leaders Batting leaders 1979 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025 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 1979 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 3, 2025 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 The final round of the playoffs is extended to a best-of-five series. The Nashville Sounds won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Columbus Astros in four games. Playoff bracket Division finals Finals E1 Columbus 2 E2 Charlotte 0 W1 Nashville 2 W2 Memphis 1 E1 Columbus 1 W1 Nashville 3 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 1979 Major League Baseball season References External links Minor League Baseball official website Southern League season Category:1979 in sports in Alabama Category:1979 in sports in Florida Category:1979 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:1979 in sports in North Carolina Category:1979 in sports in Tennessee