The 1996 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 4 and September 2. Ten teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.
The Jacksonville Suns won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Chattanooga Lookouts in the playoffs.
Teams 1996 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Carolina Mudcats Zebulon, North Carolina Pittsburgh Pirates Five County Stadium Greenville Braves Greenville, South Carolina Atlanta Braves Greenville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Detroit Tigers Wolfson Park Orlando Cubs Orlando, Florida Chicago Cubs Tinker Field Port City Roosters Wilmington, North Carolina Seattle Mariners Brooks 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 Smokies Knoxville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Bill Meyer Stadium Memphis Chicks Memphis, Tennessee San Diego Padres Tim McCarver Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Memphis Chicks finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time in franchise history.
Standings 1996 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 14, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Jacksonville Suns 75 63 – Carolina Mudcats 70 69 5.5 Orlando Cubs 61 78 14.5 Greenville Braves 58 82 18 Port City Roosters 56 84 20West Division Memphis Chicks 81 58 – Chattanooga Lookouts 81 59 0.5 Knoxville Smokies 75 65 6.5 Birmingham Barons 74 65 7 Huntsville Stars 66 74 15.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1996 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 14, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Dan Rohrmeier, Memphis Chicks .344 H Dan Rohrmeier, Memphis Chicks 162 R Mike Cameron, Birmingham Barons 120 2B Aaron Boone, Chattanooga Lookouts 44 3B Demond Smith, Huntsville Stars 14 HR Derrek Lee, Memphis Chicks 34 RBI Derrek Lee, Memphis Chicks 104 SB Mike Cameron, Birmingham Barons 39
Pitching leaders 1996 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 14, 2025 Stat Player Total W Brian Moehler, Jacksonville Suns 15 ERA Shane Dennis, Memphis Chicks 2.27 CG Rich Pratt, Birmingham Barons 5 SHO Stacy Hollins, Huntsville Stars Rich Pratt, Birmingham Barons 2 SV Domingo Jean, Chattanooga Lookouts 31 IP Wade Walker, Orlando Cubs 187.2 SO Curt Lyons, Chattanooga Lookouts 176
Playoffs The Jacksonville Suns won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Chattanooga Lookouts in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Derrek Lee, Memphis Chicks Pitcher of the Year Curt Lyons, Chattanooga Lookouts Manager of the Year Mark Berry, Chattanooga Lookouts
See also 1996 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website