The 1988 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 8 and August 31. 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 Chattanooga Lookouts won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Greenville Braves in the playoffs.
Team changes The Charlotte Orioles are renamed to the Charlotte Knights. The club remained affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The Chattanooga Lookouts ended their affiliation with the Seattle Mariners and began a new affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds.
Teams 1988 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Charlotte Knights Charlotte, North Carolina Baltimore Orioles Knights 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 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds 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 Greenville Braves finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1984.
Standings 1988 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 8, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Greenville Braves 87 57 – Jacksonville Expos 69 73 17 Columbus Astros 69 74 17.5 Charlotte Knights 69 75 18 Orlando Twins 66 75 19.5West Division Chattanooga Lookouts 81 62 – Memphis Chicks 79 64 2 Knoxville Blue Jays 75 69 6.5 Birmingham Barons 62 82 19.5 Huntsville Stars 59 85 22.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1988 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 8, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Butch Davis, Charlotte Knights .301 H Mark Lemke, Greenville Braves 153 R Rafael Skeete, Charlotte Knights 89 2B Kevin Burrell, Memphis Chicks 32 3B Carlo Colombio, Columbus Astros Jerry Holtz, Charlotte Knights Barry Jones, Greenville Braves Dennis Hood, Greenville Braves 8 HR Matt Winters, Memphis Chicks 25 RBI Matt Winters, Memphis Chicks 91 SB Jeff Huson, Jacksonville Expos 56
Pitching leaders 1988 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 8, 2025 Stat Player Total W Chris Hammond, Chattanooga Lookouts 16 ERA Mark Gardner, Jacksonville Expos 1.60 CG Gene Harris, Jacksonville Expos 7 SHO Mark Clemons, Jacksonville Expos 3 SV Germán González, Orlando Twins 31 IP Steve Cummings, Knoxville Blue Jays 212.2 SO Alex Sanchez, Knoxville Blue Jays 166
Playoffs The Chattanooga Lookouts won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Greenville Braves in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Matt Winters, Memphis Chicks Pitcher of the Year Germán González, Orlando Twins Manager of the Year Buddy Bailey, Greenville Braves
See also 1988 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website