The 1996 Carolina League was a Class A-Advanced baseball season that took place from April 5 to September 2. Eight teams participated in a 140-game schedule, with the winners of each half of the season competing in the playoffs.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks won the Carolina League championship, defeating the Kinston Indians in the final round of the playoffs.
Teams 1996 Carolina League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Northern Frederick Keys Frederick, Maryland Baltimore Orioles Harry Grove Stadium Lynchburg Hillcats Lynchburg, Virginia Pittsburgh Pirates City Stadium Prince William Cannons Woodbridge, Virginia Chicago White Sox G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium Wilmington Blue Rocks Wilmington, Delaware Kansas City Royals Daniel S. Frawley Stadium Southern Durham Bulls Durham, North Carolina Atlanta Braves Durham Bulls Athletic Park Kinston Indians Kinston, North Carolina Cleveland Indians Grainger Stadium Salem Avalanche Salem, Virginia Colorado Rockies Salem Memorial Ballpark Winston-Salem Warthogs Winston-Salem, North Carolina Cincinnati Reds Ernie Shore Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Wilmington Blue Rocks finished with the best record in the league for the third consecutive season.
Standings 1996 CL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed December 22, 2024 Northern division Team Win Loss % GB Wilmington Blue Rocks 80 60 – Frederick Keys 67 72 12.5 Lynchburg Hillcats 65 74 14.5 Prince William Cannons 58 80 21Southern division Kinston Indians 76 62 – Winston-Salem Warthogs 74 65 2.5 Durham Bulls 73 66 3.5 Salem Avalanche 62 76 14
League Leaders Batting leaders 1996 CL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 21, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Sean Casey, Kinston Indians .331 H José Guillén, Lynchburg Hillcats 170 R Juan Thomas, Prince William Cannons 88 2B Freddy García, Lynchburg Hillcats 39 3B Chip Glass, Kinston Indians 9 HR Freddy García, Lynchburg Hillcats José Guillén, Lynchburg Hillcats 21 RBI Johnny Isom, Frederick Keys 104 SB Sergio Nunez, Wilmington Blue Rocks 44
Pitching leaders 1996 CL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 22, 2024 Stat Player Total W David Caldwell, Kinston Indians 13 ERA Nerio Rodríguez, Frederick Keys 2.26 CG Carlos Castillo, Prince William Cannons Allen Halley, Prince William Cannons Kevin Pickford, Lynchburg Hillcats 4 SV Steve Prihoda, Wilmington Blue Rocks 25 SO Russ Herbert, Prince William Cannons 148 IP Kevin Pickford, Lynchburg Hillcats 172.1
Playoffs The Wilmington Blue Rocks won their second Carolina League championship, defeating the Kinston Indians in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Carolina League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player José Guillén, Lynchburg Hillcats Pitcher of the Year Noe Najera, Kinston Indians Manager of the Year Jack Mull, Kinston Indians
See also 1996 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website