The 1978 Carolina League was a Class A baseball season played between April 14 and September 2. Six teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team in each half of the season competing for the championship.
The Lynchburg Mets won the Carolina League championship, as they defeated the Peninsula Pilots in the final round of the post-season.
Team changes The Alexandria Dukes joined the league as an expansion team. The Kinston Eagles joined the league as an expansion team.
Teams 1978 Carolina League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Alexandria Dukes Alexandria, Virginia None Municipal Stadium at Four Mile Run Kinston Eagles Kinston, North Carolina None Grainger 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 Peninsula Pilots finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 1971.
Standings 1978 CL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed December 10, 2024 Carolina League Team Win Loss % GB Peninsula Pilots 90 49 – Lynchburg Mets 73 64 16 Salem Pirates 72 63 16 Alexandria Dukes 58 75 29 Kinston Eagles 57 77 30.5 Winston-Salem Red Sox 55 77 31.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1978 CL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 10, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Ron MacDonald, Lynchburg Mets .325 H Ron MacDonald, Lynchburg Mets 158 R George Vukovich, Peninsula Pilots 94 2B Ron MacDonald, Lynchburg Mets 30 3B Wally Backman, Lynchburg Mets Elijah Bonaparte, Peninsula Pilots Jerry McDonald, Salem Pirates George Vukovich, Peninsula Pilots 9 HR Ozzie Virgil Jr., Peninsula Pilots 29 RBI Ozzie Virgil Jr., Peninsula Pilots 98 SB Mel Barrow, Kinston Eagles 55
Pitching leaders 1978 CL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 10, 2024 Stat Player Total W Marty Bystrom, Peninsula Pilots Henry Mack, Peninsula Pilots 15 ERA José Martínez, Peninsula Pilots 2.07 CG Marty Bystrom, Peninsula Pilots Kevin Stephenson, Winston-Salem Red Sox 13 SV Russell Clark, Lynchburg Mets 22 SO Marty Bystrom, Peninsula Pilots 159 IP Marty Bystrom, Peninsula Pilots 197.0
Playoffs The Lynchburg Mets won their first Carolina League championship, defeating the Peninsula Pilots in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Carolina League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Ozzie Virgil Jr., Peninsula Pilots Manager of the Year Jack Aker, Lynchburg Mets
See also 1978 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website