The 2003 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 3 and September 1. 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 Carolina Mudcats won the Southern League championship, defeating the Huntsville Stars in the playoffs.
Team changes The Carolina Mudcats ended their affiliation with the Colorado Rockies and began a new affiliation with the Florida Marlins. The Tennessee Smokies ended their affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays and began a new affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Teams 2003 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Carolina Mudcats Zebulon, North Carolina Florida Marlins Five County Stadium Greenville Braves Greenville, South Carolina Atlanta Braves Greenville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Orlando Rays Kissimmee, Florida Tampa Bay Devil Rays Cracker Jack Stadium Tennessee Smokies Sevierville, Tennessee St. Louis Cardinals 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 Carolina Mudcats finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1995.
Standings 2003 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Carolina Mudcats 80 58 – Tennessee Smokies 72 67 8.5 Greenville Braves 68 70 12 Jacksonville Suns 66 73 14.5 Orlando Rays 65 72 14.5West Division Huntsville Stars 75 63 – Birmingham Barons 73 64 1.5 Chattanooga Lookouts 66 74 10 West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 65 73 10 Mobile BayBears 61 77 14
League Leaders Batting leaders 2003 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Chris Aguila, Carolina Mudcats .321 H Corey Hart, Huntsville Stars 149 R Bucky Jacobsen, Tennessee Smokies 84 2B Corey Hart, Huntsville Stars 40 3B Dave Krynzel, Huntsville Stars 11 HR Bucky Jacobsen, Tennessee Smokies 31 RBI Corey Hart, Huntsville Stars 94 SB Billy Hall, Carolina Mudcats 45
Pitching leaders 2003 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025 Stat Player Total W Enemencio Pacheo, Birmingham Barons Cory Stewart, Mobile BayBears 12 ERA Neal Cotts, Birmingham Barons 2.16 CG Scott Autrey, Orlando Rays Dan Curtis, Greenville Braves Josh Hall, Chattanooga Lookouts Jon Switzer, Orlando Rays Heath Totten, Jacksonville Suns 2 SHO Donnie Bridges, Carolina Mudcats Dan Curtis, Greenville Braves Chad Gaudin, Orlando Rays Jon Leicester, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Jason Shelley, Huntsville Stars Heath Totten, Jacksonville Suns José Veras, Orlando Rays 1 SV Mike Lyons, Tennessee Smokies 31 IP Heath Totten, Jacksonville Suns 181.1 SO Mike Nannini, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 158
Playoffs The Carolina Mudcats won their second Southern League championship, defeating the Huntsville Stars in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Corey Hart, Huntsville Stars Pitcher of the Year Joel Hanrahan, Jacksonville Suns Manager of the Year Frank Kremblas, Huntsville Stars
See also 2003 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website