The 1976 Carolina League was a Class A baseball season played between April 16 and September 2. Four teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team in each half of the season competing for the championship.
The Winston-Salem Red Sox won the Carolina League championship, as they finished in first place in both halves of the season.
Team changes The Rocky Mount Phillies relocate to Hampton, Virginia and are renamed the Peninsula Pilots. The club remains affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Lynchburg Rangers ended their affiliation with the Texas Rangers and begin a new affiliation with the New York Mets. The team is renamed the Lynchburg Mets.
Teams 1976 Carolina League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Lynchburg Mets Lynchburg, Virginia New York Mets City Stadium Peninsula Pilots Hampton, Virginia Philadelphia Phillies War Memorial Stadium Salem Pirates Salem, Virginia Pittsburgh Pirates Salem Municipal Field Winston-Salem Red Sox Winston-Salem, North Carolina Boston Red Sox Ernie Shore Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Winston-Salem Red Sox finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 1970.
Standings 1976 CL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed December 10, 2024 Carolina League Team Win Loss % GB Winston-Salem Red Sox 80 57 – Peninsula Pilots 71 65 8.5 Salem Pirates 68 69 12 Lynchburg Mets 64 75 17
League Leaders Batting leaders 1976 CL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 10, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Bobby Brown, Peninsula Pilots .349 H Puchy Delgado, Winston-Salem Red Sox 143 R David Lozano, Lynchburg Mets 89 2B Marshall Brant, Lynchburg Mets 32 3B Bobby Brown, Peninsula Pilots 10 HR Marshall Brant, Lynchburg Mets 23 RBI Marshall Brant, Lynchburg Mets 93 SB Puchy Delgado, Winston-Salem Red Sox 52
Pitching leaders 1976 CL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 10, 2024 Stat Player Total W Don Fowler, Peninsula Pilots Ed Whitson, Salem Pirates 15 ERA Frank Ciammachilli, Peninsula Pilots 2.36 CG Ed Whitson, Salem Pirates 16 SV Peter Manos, Peninsula Pilots 17 SO Ed Whitson, Salem Pirates 186 IP Ed Whitson, Salem Pirates 203.0
Playoffs The Winston-Salem Red Sox won their sixth Carolina League championship, as they won both halves of the regular season.
Awards Carolina League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Marshall Brant, Lynchburg Mets Manager of the Year Tony Torchia, Winston-Salem Red Sox
See also 1976 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website