The 1971 Dixie Association was a Class AA baseball season played between April 13 and September 6. Fourteen teams played a 142-game schedule, with four teams qualifying for the post-season.
The Charlotte Hornets won the Dixie Association championship, defeating the Arkansas Travelers in the final round of the playoffs.
League changes The Dixie Association was an interleague partnership between the Texas League (TL) and the Southern League (SL) Double-A leagues of Minor League Baseball in 1971. The two leagues played an interlocking schedule.(January 20, 1971). Texas, Southern Loops Join to Former Dixie Association, Lawrence Journal-World (Associated Press)(June 29, 1971). Dixie Association Appeared Doomed, Bonham Daily Favorite (Associated Press) The partnership was dissolved after the season.
Each league consisted of seven teams who were divided among the association's three divisions. The West Division was composed of four TL teams. The Central Division had three TL teams and one SL team. The East Division consisted of six SL teams. At the end of the season, the two top teams from the SL competed for the Southern League championship—the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Asheville Tourists, 2–1. The TL winners of the Central and West Divisions met for the Texas League championship—the Arkansas Travelers defeated the Amarillo Giants, 2–0. The individual league champions then competed for the Dixie Association championship—Charlotte defeated Arkansas, 3–0.
Team changes Southern League teams The Asheville Tourists join the league from the Southern League. The club ended their affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds and began a new affiliation with the Chicago White Sox. The club will play in the East Division. The Birmingham Athletics join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the Central Division. The Charlotte Hornets join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the East Division. The Columbus Astros join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the East Division. The Jacksonville Suns join the league from the Southern League. The club ended their affiliations with the Milwaukee Brewers and Montreal Expos and began a new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians. The club will play in the East Division. The Mobile White Sox fold. The Montgomery Rebels join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the East Division. The Savannah Indians join the league from the Southern League. The club ended their affiliation with the Cleveland Indians and began a new affiliation with the Atlanta Braves. The team was renamed to the Savannah Braves. The club will play in the East Division.
Texas League teams The Arkansas Travelers join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the East Division. The Amarillo Giants join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. The Albuquerque Dodgers join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. The Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. The El Paso Sun Kings took a leave of absence in 1971. The Memphis Blues join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the East Division. The San Antonio Missions join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. The Shreveport Captains join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the East Division. The club ended their affiliation with the Atlanta Braves and began a new affiliation with the California Angels.
Teams 1971 Dixie Association Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Asheville Tourists Asheville, North Carolina Chicago White Sox McCormick Field Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, North Carolina Minnesota Twins Clark Griffith Park Columbus Astros Columbus, Georgia Houston Astros Golden Park Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Cleveland Indians Wolfson Park Montgomery Rebels Montgomery, Alabama Detroit Tigers Paterson Field Savannah Braves Savannah, Georgia Atlanta Braves Grayson Stadium Central Arkansas Travelers Little Rock, Arkansas St. Louis Cardinals Ray Winder Field Birmingham Athletics Birmingham, Alabama Oakland Athletics Rickwood Field Memphis Blues Memphis, Tennessee New York Mets Blues Stadium Shreveport Captains Shreveport, Louisiana California Angels SPAR Stadium West Albuquerque Dodgers Albuquerque, New Mexico Los Angeles Dodgers Albuquerque Sports Stadium Amarillo Giants Amarillo, Texas San Francisco Giants Potter County Memorial Stadium Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs Arlington, Texas Baltimore Orioles Turnpike Stadium San Antonio Missions San Antonio, Texas Chicago Cubs V. J. Keefe Memorial Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Charlotte Hornets finished the season with the best record in the league.
Standings 1971 Dixie Standings at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 27, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Charlotte Hornets 92 50 – Asheville Tourists 90 51 1.5 Montgomery Rebels 73 69 19 Jacksonville Suns 63 77 28 Savannah Braves 57 84 34.5 Columbus Astros 51 91 41Central Division Arkansas Travelers 75 64 – Memphis Blues 69 70 6 Shreveport Captains 69 73 7.5 Birmingham Athletics 48 93 28West Division Amarillo Giants 88 54 – Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs 82 59 5.5 Albuquerque Dodgers 67 75 21 San Antonio Missions 63 77 24
League Leaders Batting leaders 1971 DA Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 27, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Minnie Mendoza, Charlotte Hornets .316 H Minnie Mendoza, Charlotte Hornets 163 R Ken Hottman, Asheville Tourists 99 2B Gary Matthews, Amarillo Giants 37 3B Leon Brown, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs 10 HR Ken Hottman, Asheville Tourists 37 RBI Ken Hottman, Asheville Tourists 116 SB Bill North, San Antonio Missions 47
Pitching leaders 1971 DA Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 27, 2025 Stat Player Total W Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs 19 ERA Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs 1.71 CG Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs 20 SHO Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs Gary Ryerson, Amarillo Giants 6 SV Jack Whillock, Montgomery Rebels 15 IP Wes Scott, Amarillo Giants 221.0 SO Chris Floethe, Birmingham Athletics 225
Playoffs The semi-finals are a best-of-three series. The finals are a best-of-five series. The Charlotte Hornets won the Dixie Association championship, defeating the Arkansas Travelers in three games.
Playoff bracket
See also 1971 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website