The 1962 South Atlantic League was a Class A baseball season played between April 13 and September 1. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The Macon Peaches won the South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Knoxville Smokies in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Charleston White Sox relocated to Savannah, Georgia and were renamed to the Savannah White Sox. The Columbia Reds disbanded. The Jacksonville Jets disbanded. The Augusta Tigers rejoined the league, having last played in 1958. The club began an affiliation with the New York Yankees and were renamed to the Augusta Yankees. The Macon Dodgers rejoined the league after playing the 1961 season in the Southern Association and last played in the South Atlantic League in 1960. The club began an affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds and were renamed to the Macon Peaches. The Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides ended their affiliation with the Kansas City Athletics and began a new affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Teams 1962 South Atlantic League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Asheville Tourists Asheville, North Carolina Pittsburgh Pirates McCormick Field Augusta Yankees Augusta, Georgia New York Yankees Jennings Stadium Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, North Carolina Minnesota Twins Clark Griffith Park Greenville Spinners Greenville, South Carolina Los Angeles Dodgers Meadowbrook Park Knoxville Smokies Knoxville, Tennessee Detroit Tigers Knoxville Municipal Stadium Macon Peaches Macon, Georgia Cincinnati Reds Luther Williams Field Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides Portsmouth, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia St. Louis Cardinals Frank D. Lawrence Stadium High Rock Park Savannah White Sox Lynchburg White Sox Savannah, Georgia Lynchburg, Virginia Chicago White Sox Grayson Stadium City Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Lynchburg White Sox finish the season with the best record in the league for the first time in team history. On August 26, the Savannah White Sox relocated to Lynchburg, Virginia due to racial conflict. The club was renamed to the Lynchburg White Sox.
Standings 1962 SALLY Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed February 24, 2025 South Atlantic League Team Win Loss % GB Savannah White Sox / Lynchburg White Sox 92 47 – Knoxville Smokies 86 54 6.5 Macon Peaches 80 59 12 Asheville Tourists 70 70 22.5 Greenville Spinners 65 75 27.5 Augusta Yankees 57 83 35.5 Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides 55 85 37.5 Charlotte Hornets 54 86 38.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1962 SAL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 24, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Tony Oliva, Charlotte Hornets .350 H Tommy Helms, Macon Peaches 195 R Pete Rose, Macon Peaches 136 2B Tommy Helms, Macon Peaches 38 3B Pete Rose, Macon Peaches 17 HR Duncan Campbell, Asheville Tourists Elmo Plaskett, Asheville Tourists 27 RBI Deacon Jones, Savannah / Lynchburg 101 SB Chico Salmon, Knoxville Smokies 25
Pitching leaders 1962 SAL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 24, 2025 Stat Player Total W Camilo Estevis, Greenville Spinners 18 ERA Dick Lines, Asheville Tourists 2.11 CG Camilo Estevis, Greenville Spinners 23 SHO Dick Lines, Asheville Tourists 9 IP Leo Marentette, Knoxville Smokies 221.0 SO Leo Marentette, Knoxville Smokies 205
Playoffs The playoffs returned in 1962, with a best-of-five series for the semi-finals and the finals. The Macon Peaches won their ninth South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Knoxville Smokies in four games.
Playoff bracket
See also 1962 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website