The 1956 Carolina League was a Class B baseball season played between April 17 and September 3. Eight teams played a 154-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the post-season.
The Fayetteville Highlanders won the Carolina League championship, defeating the Danville Leafs in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Burlington-Graham Pirates relocated to Kinston, North Carolina, and were renamed the Kinston Eagles. The club remained affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reidsville Phillies relocated to Wilson, North Carolina, and were renamed the Wilson Tobs. The Fayetteville Highlanders ended their affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles and began an affiliation with the Cleveland Indians.
Teams 1956 Carolina League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Danville Leafs Danville, Virginia New York Giants League Park Durham Bulls Durham, North Carolina Detroit Tigers Durham Athletic Park Fayetteville Highlanders Fayetteville, North Carolina Cleveland Indians Pittman Stadium Greensboro Patriots Greensboro, North Carolina Boston Red Sox World War Memorial Stadium High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Thomasville, North Carolina Cincinnati Redlegs Finch Field Kinston Eagles Kinston, North Carolina Pittsburgh Pirates Grainger Stadium Wilson Tobs Wilson, North Carolina Philadelphia Phillies Fleming Stadium Winston-Salem Twins Winston-Salem, North Carolina New York Yankees Ernie Shore Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms finished with the best record in the regular season for the second consecutive season. The regular season schedule is lengthened from 140-games to 154-games.
Standings 1956 CL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed December 3, 2024 Carolina League Team Win Loss % GB High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms 91 63 – Durham Bulls 84 69 6.5 Danville Leafs 83 69 7 Fayetteville Highlanders 78 71 10.5 Greensboro Patriots 75 79 16 Wilson Tobs 72 79 17.5 Kinston Eagles 66 87 24.5 Winston-Salem Twins 59 91 30
League Leaders Batting leaders 1956 CL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 3, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Curt Flood, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms .340 H George Contratto, Greensboro Patriots Curt Flood, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms 190 R Curt Flood, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms 133 2B Willie McCovey, Danville Leafs 38 3B Dale Ferris, Durham Bulls 10 HR Leon Wagner, Danville Leafs 51 RBI Leon Wagner, Danville Leafs 166 SB Bill Kallas, Fayetteville Highlanders 35
Pitching leaders 1956 CL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 3, 2024 Stat Player Total W Jack Taylor, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms 22 ERA Kenneth Deal, Greensboro Patriots 2.19 CG Jack Taylor, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms 28 SHO Woody Rich, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Jack Taylor, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Albert Wilson, Danville Leafs 4 SO Earl Hunsinger, Wilson Tobs 232 IP Jack Taylor, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms 289.0
Playoffs The Fayetteville Highlanders won their second Carolina League championship in three seasons, defeating the Danville Leafs in six games. The semi-finals were reduced from a best-of-seven series to a best-of-five series.
Playoff bracket
Awards Carolina League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Curt Flood, High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Manager of the Year Johnny Pesky, Durham Bulls
See also 1956 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website