The 2002 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 Birmingham Barons won the Southern League championship, defeating the Jacksonville Suns in the playoffs.
Team changes The Chattanooga Lookouts moved from the East Division to the West Division. The Tennessee Smokies moved from the West Division to the East Division.
Teams 2002 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Carolina Mudcats Zebulon, North Carolina Colorado Rockies Five County Stadium 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 Tennessee Smokies Sevierville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Smokies Park West Birmingham Barons Birmingham, Alabama Chicago White Sox Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds Bellsouth Park Huntsville Stars Huntsville, Alabama Milwaukee Brewers 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 Birmingham Barons finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1993.
Standings 2002 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Jacksonville Suns 77 62 – Tennessee Smokies 69 71 8.5 Greenville Braves 65 69 9.5 Carolina Mudcats 65 71 10.5 Orlando Rays 58 79 18West Division Birmingham Barons 79 61 – Mobile BayBears 76 63 2.5 West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 73 67 6 Huntsville Stars 70 69 8.5 Chattanooga Lookouts 60 80 19
League Leaders Batting leaders 2002 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Bobby Darula, Chattanooga Lookouts .325 H Aaron Miles, Birmingham Barons 171 R Rich Thompson, Tennessee Smokies 109 2B Aaron Miles, Birmingham Barons 39 3B Miguel Olivo, Birmingham Barons 10 HR David Kelton, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Pete Laforest, Orlando Rays 20 RBI David Kelton, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 79 SB Bernie Castro, Mobile BayBears 53
Pitching leaders 2002 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 Stat Player Total W Vinnie Chulk, Tennessee Smokies Diego Markwell, Tennessee Smokies 13 ERA Vinnie Chulk, Tennessee Smokies 2.96 CG Brandon Backe, Orlando Rays Peter Bauer, Tennessee Smokies 3 SHO Aaron Cook, Carolina Mudcats 2 SV Joe Valentine, Birmingham Barons 36 IP Peter Bauer, Tennessee Smokies 177.0 SO Matt Bruback, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 158
Playoffs The Birmingham Barons won their sixth Southern League championship, defeating the Jacksonville Suns in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Aaron Miles, Birmingham Barons Pitcher of the Year Vinnie Chulk, Tennessee Smokies Manager of the Year Wally Backman, Birmingham Barons
See also 2002 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website