The 1989 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 7 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 Birmingham Barons won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Greenville Braves in the playoffs.
Team changes The Columbus Astros are renamed to the Columbus Mudcats. The club remained affiliated with the Houston Astros. The Charlotte Knights ended their affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles and began a new affiliation with the Chicago Cubs.
Teams 1989 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Charlotte Knights Charlotte, North Carolina Chicago Cubs Knights Castle Columbus Mudcats 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 Birmingham Barons finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1983.
Standings 1989 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 10, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Orlando Twins 79 65 – Greenville Braves 70 69 6.5 Columbus Mudcats 71 72 7.5 Charlotte Knights 70 73 8.5 Jacksonville Expos 68 76 11West Division Birmingham Barons 88 55 – Huntsville Stars 82 61 6 Knoxville Blue Jays 67 76 21 Chattanooga Lookouts 58 81 28 Memphis Chicks 59 84 29
League Leaders Batting leaders 1989 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 10, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Scott Leius, Orlando Twins .303 H Craig Grebeck, Birmingham Barons 153 R Rich Amaral, Birmingham Barons 90 2B Paul Sorrento, Orlando Twins 35 3B Jerome Nelson, Chattanooga Lookouts 13 HR Eric Anthony, Columbus Mudcats 28 RBI Paul Sorrento, Orlando Twins 112 SB C. L. Penigar, Birmingham Barons 64
Pitching leaders 1989 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 10, 2025 Stat Player Total W Laddie Renfroe, Charlotte Knights 19 ERA Pete Delkus, Orlando Twins 1.87 CG Grady Hall, Birmingham Barons 9 SHO Howard Farmer, Jacksonville Expos Greg Kallevig, Charlotte Knights Darryl Kile, Columbus Mudcats Doug Linton, Knoxville Blue Jays Dale Polley, Greenville Braves Woody Williams, Knoxville Blue Jays Ray Young, Huntsville Stars 2 SV Joe Klink, Huntsville Stars 26 IP Grady Hall, Birmingham Barons 190.2 SO Shawn Boskie, Charlotte Knights 164
Playoffs The Birmingham Barons won their fourth Southern League championship, defeating the Greenville Braves in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Eric Anthony, Columbus Mudcats Pitcher of the Year Laddie Renfroe, Charlotte Knights Manager of the Year Jeff Newman, Huntsville Stars
See also 1989 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website