The 1978 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 13 and September 3. Ten teams played a 144-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.
The Knoxville Sox won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Savannah Braves in the playoffs.
Team changes The Memphis Chicks join the league as an expansion team and play in the West Division. The team began an affiliation with the Montreal Expos. The Nashville Sounds join the league as an expansion team and play in the West Division. The team began an affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds. The Columbus Astros move from the West Division to the East Division. The Chattanooga Lookouts ended their affiliation with the Oakland Athletics and began a new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians.
Teams 1978 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Charlotte Orioles Charlotte, North Carolina Baltimore Orioles Jim Crockett Memorial Park Columbus Astros Columbus, Georgia Houston Astros Golden Park Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Kansas City Royals Wolfson Park Orlando Twins Orlando, Florida Minnesota Twins Tinker Field Savannah Braves Savannah, Georgia Atlanta Braves Grayson Stadium West Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cleveland Indians Engel Stadium Knoxville Sox Knoxville, Tennessee Chicago White Sox Bill Meyer Stadium Memphis Chicks Memphis, Tennessee Montreal Expos Tim McCarver Stadium Montgomery Rebels Montgomery, Alabama Detroit Tigers Paterson Field Nashville Sounds Nashville, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds Herschel Greer Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Knoxville Sox finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time in franchise history.
Standings 1978 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 1, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Orlando Twins 82 61 – Jacksonville Suns 73 69 8.5 Savannah Braves 72 72 10.5 Columbus Astros 70 73 12 Charlotte Orioles 66 78 16.5West Division Knoxville Sox 88 56 – Memphis Chicks 71 73 17 Montgomery Rebels 67 77 21 Nashville Sounds 64 77 22.5 Chattanooga Lookouts 63 80 24.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1978 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 1, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Joe Gates, Knoxville Sox .332 H Joe Gates, Knoxville Sox 161 R Joe Gates, Knoxville Sox 85 2B Sal Rende, Chattanooga Lookouts 29 3B Gary Cooper, Savannah Braves 9 HR Eddie Gates, Memphis Chicks 25 RBI Sal Rende, Chattanooga Lookouts 87 SB LaMart Harris, Memphis Chicks 45
Pitching leaders 1978 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 1, 2025 Stat Player Total W Terry Sheehan, Orlando Twins 17 ERA Roger Alexander, Savannah Braves 1.84 CG Gordie Pladson, Columbus Astros 14 SHO Roger Alexander, Savannah Braves 5 SV Dwight Lewis, Orlando Twins Dan Quisenberry, Jacksonville Suns 15 IP Terry Sheehan, Orlando Twins 213.0 SO Jay Howell, Nashville Sounds 173
Playoffs The Knoxville Sox earned a bye in the division finals, as they won the division in both halves of the season. The Knoxville Sox won their second Southern League championship, defeating the Savannah Braves in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Eddie Gates, Memphis Chicks Pitcher of the Year Bruce Berenyi, Nashville Sounds Manager of the Year Bobby Dews, Savannah Braves
See also 1978 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website