The 1998 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 2 and September 7. 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 Mobile BayBears won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Jacksonville Suns in the playoffs.
Team changes The Southern League relocated to Jackson, Tennessee and were renamed to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. The club ended their affiliation with the Seattle Mariners and began a new affiliation with the Chicago Cubs. The Orlando Rays ended their affiliation with the Chicago Cubs and began a new affiliation with the Seattle Mariners.
Teams 1998 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 Knoxville Smokies Knoxville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Bill Meyer Stadium Orlando Rays Orlando, Florida Seattle Mariners 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 Mobile BayBears Mobile, Alabama San Diego Padres Hank Aaron Stadium West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Jackson, Tennessee Chicago Cubs Pringles Park
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Jacksonville Suns and Mobile BayBears finished the season with the best record in the league. This was the first time for the Suns since 1987 and the first time for the BayBears in team history.
Standings 1998 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 14, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Jacksonville Suns 86 54 – Knoxville Smokies 71 69 15 Orlando Rays 67 71 18 Greenville Braves 67 72 18.5 Carolina Mudcats 59 80 26.5West Division Mobile BayBears 86 54 – Huntsville Stars 72 68 14 West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 66 74 20 Chattanooga Lookouts 65 73 20 Birmingham Barons 58 82 28
League Leaders Batting leaders 1998 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 14, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Jason LaRue, Chattanooga Lookouts .365 H Gabe Kapler, Jacksonville Suns 176 R Gabe Kapler, Jacksonville Suns 113 2B Robert Fick, Jacksonville Suns Gabe Kapler, Jacksonville Suns 47 3B Bo Porter, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 11 HR Gabe Kapler, Jacksonville Suns 28 RBI Gabe Kapler, Jacksonville Suns 146 SB Bo Porter, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 50
Pitching leaders 1998 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 14, 2025 Stat Player Total W Dave Borkowski, Jacksonville Suns 16 ERA Bryan Wolff, Mobile BayBears 2.29 CG Brian McNichol, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Jason Olsen, Birmingham Barons 4 SHO Tim Harikkala, Orlando Rays Bryan Wolff, Mobile BayBears 2 SV Sean Spencer, Orlando Rays 18 IP Buddy Carlyle, Mobile / Chattanooga 188.2 SO Brian McNichol, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 168
Playoffs The Mobile BayBears won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Jacksonville Suns in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Gabe Kapler, Jacksonville Suns Pitcher of the Year Bruce Chen, Greenville Braves Manager of the Year Mike Ramsey, Mobile BayBears
See also 1998 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website