The 2001 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 5 and September 3. 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 Huntsville Stars and Jacksonville Suns were co-champions of the Southern League championship.
Team changes The Chattanooga Lookouts moved from the West Division to the East Division. The Tennessee Smokies moved from the East Division to the West Division. The Jacksonville Suns ended their affiliation with the Detroit Tigers and began a new affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Teams 2001 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Carolina Mudcats Zebulon, North Carolina Colorado Rockies Five County Stadium Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds Bellsouth Park Greenville Braves Greenville, South Carolina Atlanta Braves Greenville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Los Angeles Dodgers Wolfson Park Orlando Rays Kissimmee, Florida Tampa Bay Devil Rays Cracker Jack Stadium West Birmingham Barons Birmingham, Alabama Chicago White Sox Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Huntsville Stars Huntsville, Alabama Milwaukee Brewers Joe W. Davis Stadium Mobile BayBears Mobile, Alabama San Diego Padres Hank Aaron Stadium Tennessee Smokies Sevierville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Smokies Park West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Jackson, Tennessee Chicago Cubs Pringles Park
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Jacksonville Suns finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1998.
Standings 2001 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Jacksonville Suns 83 56 – Chattanooga Lookouts 72 67 11 Carolina Mudcats 62 76 20.5 Greenville Braves 60 79 23 Orlando Rays 59 81 24.5West Division Birmingham Barons 80 60 – Tennessee Smokies 80 60 – Huntsville Stars 75 63 4 Mobile BayBears 65 73 14 West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 59 80 20.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 2001 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Ben Broussard, Chattanooga Lookouts .320 H Reed Johnson, Tennessee Smokies 174 R Reed Johnson, Tennessee Smokies 104 2B Josh Phelps, Tennessee Smokies 36 3B Glenn Davis, Jacksonville Suns Orlando Hudson, Tennessee Smokies 8 HR Josh Phelps, Tennessee Smokies 31 RBI Joe Borchard, Birmingham Barons 98 SB Jorge Nuñez, Jacksonville Suns 44
Pitching leaders 2001 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 Stat Player Total W Chris Baker, Tennessee Smokies Mitch Wylie, Birmingham Barons 15 ERA Steve Smyth, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 2.54 CG Chris Baker, Tennessee Smokies Scott Cassidy, Tennessee Smokies 4 SHO Scott Cassidy, Tennessee Smokies 3 SV Edwin Almonte, Birmingham Barons 36 IP Jim Magrane, Orlando Rays 182.0 SO Nick Neugebauer, Huntsville Stars 149
Playoffs Due to the September 11 attacks, the final round of the playoffs was canceled. The Huntsville Stars and Jacksonville Suns were declared co-champions. The Huntsville Stars won their third Southern League championship. The Jacksonville Suns won their second Southern League championship.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Josh Phelps, Tennessee Smokies Pitcher of the Year Chris Baker, Tennessee Smokies Manager of the Year John Shoemaker, Jacksonville Suns
See also 2001 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website