The 1973 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 16 and September 13. Eight teams played a 146-game schedule, with the top two teams in each division qualifying for the post-season.
The Pawtucket Red Sox won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Charleston Charlies in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Louisville Colonels relocated to Pawtucket, Rhode Island and were renamed the Pawtucket Red Sox. The club remained affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. The league realigned from one eight-team division to two four-team divisions, the American and National. American League affiliates played in the American Division and National League affiliates played in the National Division.
Teams 1973 International League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium American Pawtucket Red Sox Pawtucket, Rhode Island Boston Red Sox McCoy Stadium Rochester Red Wings Rochester, New York Baltimore Orioles Silver Stadium Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse, New York New York Yankees MacArthur Stadium Toledo Mud Hens Toledo, Ohio Detroit Tigers Lucas County Stadium National Charleston Charlies Charleston, West Virginia Pittsburgh Pirates Watt Powell Park Peninsula Whips Hampton, Virginia Montreal Expos War Memorial Stadium Richmond Braves Richmond, Virginia Atlanta Braves Parker Field Tidewater Tides Norfolk, Virginia New York Mets Met Park
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Charleston Charlies finished with the best record in the league for the first time in franchise history. The regular season schedule changed from 144-games to 146-games.
Standings 1973 IL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed 19 November 2024. American Division Team Win Loss % GB Rochester Red Wings 79 67 – Pawtucket Red Sox 78 68 1 Syracuse Chiefs 76 70 3 Toledo Mud Hens 65 81 14
National Division Team Win Loss % GB Charleston Charlies 85 60 – Tidewater Tides 75 70 10 Peninsula Whips 72 74 13.5 Richmond Braves 53 93 32.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1973 IL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed 19 November 2024. Stat Player Total AVG Royle Stillman, Rochester Red Wings .354 H Mike Cummings, Pawtucket Red Sox 139 R Rick Bladt, Syracuse Chiefs 97 2B Bill McNulty, Tidewater Tides 30 3B Rick Bladt, Syracuse Chiefs 10 HR Jim Fuller, Rochester Red Wings 39 RBI Jim Fuller, Rochester Red Wings 108 SB Larry Lintz, Peninsula Whips 48
Pitching leaders 1973 Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed 19 November 2024. Stat Player Total W John Montague, Peninsula Whips 15 ERA Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox 2.03 CG Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox 16 SV Joe Grzenda, Syracuse Chiefs 18 SO Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox 158 IP Fred Holdsworth, Toledo Mud Hens 214.0
Playoffs The Pawtucket Red Sox won their first Governors' Cup in their first season following their relocation, defeating the Charleston Charlies in five games. The semi-finals were expanded from a best-of-three series to a best-of-five series.
Playoff bracket
Awards International League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Jim Fuller, Rochester Red Wings Pitcher of the Year Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox Rookie of the Year Otto Vélez, Syracuse Chiefs Manager of the Year Joe Morgan, Charleston Charlies
See also 1973 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website