The 1986 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 11 and September 1. 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 Huntsville Stars won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Charlotte Orioles in the playoffs.
Team changes The Birmingham Barons ended their affiliation with the Detroit Tigers and began a new affiliation with the Chicago White Sox.
Teams 1986 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 Greenville Braves Greenville, South Carolina Atlanta Braves Greenville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville Expos Jacksonville, Florida Montreal Expos Wolfson Park Orlando Twins Orlando, Florida Minnesota Twins Tinker Field West Birmingham Barons Birmingham, Alabama Chicago White Sox Rickwood Field Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Seattle Mariners Engel Stadium Huntsville Stars Huntsville, Alabama Oakland Athletics Joe W. Davis Stadium Knoxville Blue Jays Knoxville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Bill Meyer Stadium Memphis Chicks Memphis, Tennessee Kansas City Royals Tim McCarver Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Huntsville Stars finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time in team history.
Standings 1986 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 6, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Jacksonville Expos 75 68 – Greenville Braves 73 71 2.5 Columbus Astros 70 70 3.5 Charlotte Orioles 71 73 4.5 Orlando Twins 70 73 5West Division Huntsville Stars 78 63 – Knoxville Blue Jays 74 70 5.5 Birmingham Barons 70 73 9 Memphis Chicks 69 75 10.5 Chattanooga Lookouts 64 78 14.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1986 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 6, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Brick Smith, Chattanooga Lookouts .344 H Gene Larkin, Orlando Twins José Tolentino, Huntsville Stars 170 R Gary Jones, Huntsville Stars 116 2B Brick Smith, Chattanooga Lookouts 38 3B Nelson Liriano, Knoxville Blue Jays 15 HR Glenallen Hill, Knoxville Blue Jays 31 RBI Terry Steinbach, Huntsville Stars 132 SB Gerald Young, Columbus Astros 54
Pitching leaders 1986 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 6, 2025 Stat Player Total W Anthony Kelley, Columbus Astros 14 ERA Eric Bell, Charlotte Orioles 3.05 CG Anthony Kelley, Columbus Astros 8 SHO Todd Burns, Huntsville Stars Mark Clemons, Orlando Twins Anthony Kelley, Columbus Astros 3 SV Paul Schneider, Chattanooga Lookouts 24 IP Cliff Young, Knoxville Blue Jays 203.2 SO Terry Taylor, Chattanooga Lookouts 164
Playoffs The Columbus Astros won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Huntsville Stars in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Terry Steinbach, Huntsville Stars Pitcher of the Year Anthony Kelley, Columbus Astros Manager of the Year Gary Tuck, Columbus Astros
See also 1986 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website