The 1959 South Atlantic League was a Class A baseball season played between April 13 and September 1. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The Gastonia Pirates won the South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Charleston ChaSox in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Augusta Tigers disbanded. The Asheville Tourists join the league from the Tri-State League, last playing in 1955. The club began an affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies. Previously, the team played in the South Atlantic Association from 1924 to 1930. The Charleston ChaSox join the league as an expansion team. The Columbus Foxes re-join the league from the Alabama-Florida League. The club began an affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates and were renamed the Columbus Pirates. The Knoxville Smokies ended their affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles and began a new affiliation with the Detroit Tigers. The Savannah Redlegs are renamed the Savannah Reds. The club remained affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.
Teams 1959 South Atlantic League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Asheville Tourists Asheville, North Carolina Philadelphia Phillies McCormick Field Charleston ChaSox Charleston, South Carolina Chicago White Sox Hampton Park Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, North Carolina Washington Senators Clark Griffith Park Columbus Pirates Gastonia Pirates Columbus, Georgia Gastonia, North Carolina Pittsburgh Pirates Golden Park Sims Legion Park Jacksonville Braves Jacksonville, Florida Milwaukee Braves Jacksonville Baseball Park Knoxville Smokies Knoxville, Tennessee Detroit Tigers Knoxville Municipal Stadium Macon Dodgers Macon, Georgia Los Angeles Dodgers Luther Williams Field Savannah Reds Savannah, Georgia Cincinnati Reds Grayson Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Knoxville Smokies finish the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1929. On July 6, the Columbus Pirates relocated to Gastonia, North Carolina and were renamed the Gastonia Pirates.
Standings 1959 SALLY Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed February 23, 2025 South Atlantic League Team Win Loss % GB Knoxville Smokies 78 62 – Charlotte Hornets 75 65 3 Charleston ChaSox 71 69 7 Columbus Pirates / Gastonia Pirates 70 69 7.5 Asheville Tourists 70 70 8 Savannah Reds 67 73 11 Jacksonville Braves 65 75 13 Macon Dodgers 63 76 14.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1959 SAL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 23, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Nathan Dickerson, Asheville Tourists .363 H Thomas St. John, Savannah Reds 148 R Harry Warner, Charlotte Hornets 94 2B Ben Tompkins, Asheville Tourists 30 3B Jose Cesar, Macon Dodgers 14 HR Cliff Cook, Savannah Reds 32 RBI Cliff Cook, Savannah Reds 100 SB Bill Fox, Macon Dodgers 29
Pitching leaders 1959 SAL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 23, 2025 Stat Player Total W Jack Taylor, Asheville Tourists 18 ERA Jim Proctor, Knoxville Smokies 2.19 CG Bob Botz, Jacksonville Braves Jim Proctor, Knoxville Smokies Duane Richards, Savannah Reds 15 SHO William Dial, Columbus / Gastonia 4 IP Bob Botz, Jacksonville Braves 244.0 SO Ray Daviault, Macon Dodgers 169
Playoffs The semi-finals and finals are extended to a best-of-five series. The Gastonia Pirates won their first South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Charleston ChaSox in three games.
Playoff bracket
See also 1959 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website