The 1976 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 13 and September 2. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.
The Montgomery Rebels won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Orlando Twins in the playoffs.
Team changes The Asheville Orioles relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina and were renamed the Charlotte Orioles. The team moved from the West Division to the East Division. The club remained affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The Birmingham Athletics relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee and were renamed the Chattanooga Lookouts. The club remained affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. The Columbus Astros moved from the East Division to the West Division.
Teams 1976 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Charlotte Orioles Charlotte, North Carolina Baltimore Orioles Clark Griffith 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 Oakland Athletics Engel Stadium Columbus Astros Columbus, Georgia Houston Astros Golden Park Knoxville Sox Knoxville, Tennessee Chicago White Sox Bill Meyer Stadium Montgomery Rebels Montgomery, Alabama Detroit Tigers Paterson Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Montgomery Rebels finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1973.
Standings
East Division Team Win Loss % GB Orlando Twins 75 64 – Charlotte Orioles 74 66 1.5 Savannah Braves 69 71 6.5 Jacksonville Suns 66 72 8.5West Division Montgomery Rebels 81 56 – Chattanooga Lookouts 70 68 11.5 Knoxville Sox 61 77 20.5 Columbus Astros 58 80 23.5
League Leaders Batting leaders
Stat Player Total AVG Tim Corcoran, Montgomery Rebels .309 H Blake Doyle, Charlotte Orioles 158 R Jim Obradovich, Orlando Twins 84 2B Donn Seidholz, Knoxville Sox 28 3B Derek Bryant, Chattanooga Lookouts Rafael Liranzo, Charlotte Orioles 10 HR Jim Obradovich, Orlando Twins 21 RBI Jim Obradovich, Orlando Twins 68 SB Derek Bryant, Chattanooga Lookouts Roger Cador, Savannah Braves 42
Pitching leaders
Stat Player Total W Dave Ford, Charlotte Orioles 17 ERA Dave Rozema, Montgomery Rebels 1.57 CG Dave Ford, Charlotte Orioles 19 SHO Dave Ford, Charlotte Orioles Greg Thayer, Orlando Twins Davis May, Orlando Twins Dave Rozema, Montgomery Rebels 4 SV Randy Miller, Charlotte Orioles 19 IP Dave Ford, Charlotte Orioles 212.0 SO Dave Ford, Charlotte Orioles 121
Playoffs The playoffs are expanded to include a one-game playoff for each divisional winner in each half of the season. The Montgomery Rebels won their second consecutive, and fourth overall Southern League championship, defeating the Orlando Twins in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Larry Foster, Knoxville Sox Pitcher of the Year Dave Ford, Charlotte Orioles Manager of the Year Rene Lachemann, Chattanooga Lookouts
See also 1976 Major League Baseball season
References