The 1956 South Atlantic League was a Class A baseball season played between April 17 and September 5. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The Jacksonville Braves won the South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Columbus Foxes in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Columbia Reds ended their affiliation with the Cincinnati Redlegs and began a new affiliation with the Kansas City Athletics. The club was renamed to the Columbia Gems. The Columbus Cardinals ended their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals and began a new affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles. The club was renamed to the Columbus Foxes. The Macon Peaches ended their affiliation with the Chicago Cubs and began a new affiliation with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The club was renamed to the Macon Dodgers. The Montgomery Rebels ended their affiliation with the Boston Red Sox and began a new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians. The Savannah Athletics ended their affiliation with the Kansas City Athletics and began a new affiliation with the Cincinnati Redlegs. The club was renamed to the Savannah Redlegs.
Teams 1956 South Atlantic League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Augusta Tigers Augusta, Georgia Detroit Tigers Jennings Stadium Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, North Carolina Washington Senators Clark Griffith Park Columbia Gems Columbia, South Carolina Kansas City Athletics Capital City Stadium Columbus Foxes Columbus, Georgia Baltimore Orioles Golden Park Jacksonville Braves Jacksonville, Florida Milwaukee Braves Jacksonville Baseball Park Macon Dodgers Macon, Georgia Brooklyn Dodgers Luther Williams Field Montgomery Rebels Knoxville Smokies Montgomery, Alabama Knoxville, Tennessee Cleveland Indians Municipal Field Knoxville Municipal Stadium Savannah Redlegs Savannah, Georgia Cincinnati Redlegs Grayson Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Jacksonville Braves finish the season with the best record for the first time since 1954. On June 18, the Montgomery Rebels relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee and were renamed to the Knoxville Smokies.
Standings 1956 SALLY Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed February 22, 2025 South Atlantic League Team Win Loss % GB Jacksonville Braves 87 53 – Columbus Foxes 79 61 8 Charlotte Hornets 79 61 8 Augusta Tigers 74 66 13 Columbia Gems 64 76 23 Macon Dodgers 64 76 23 Savannah Redlegs 60 80 27 Montgomery Rebels / Knoxville Smokies 53 87 34
League Leaders Batting leaders 1956 SAL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 22, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Lenny Green, Columbus Foxes .318 H Joseph Pahr, Columbia Gems 159 R Lenny Green, Columbus Foxes 92 2B Hank Moreno, Columbus Foxes Joseph Pahr, Columbia Gems 28 3B Danny Morejón, Savannah Redlegs 14 HR Ed Barbarito, Jacksonville Braves 27 RBI Ed Barbarito, Jacksonville Braves 99 SB Danny Morejón, Savannah Redlegs 18
Pitching leaders 1956 SAL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 22, 2025 Stat Player Total W Juan Pizarro, Jacksonville Braves 23 ERA John Tsitouris, Augusta Tigers 1.51 CG Juan Pizarro, Jacksonville Braves 27 SHO George Barker, Macon Dodgers Evelio Hernández, Charlotte Hornets Juan Pizarro, Jacksonville Braves 6 IP Juan Pizarro, Jacksonville Braves 274.0 SO Juan Pizarro, Jacksonville Braves 318
Playoffs The Jacksonville Braves won their first South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Columbus Foxes in two games.
Playoff bracket
See also 1956 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website