2002 Southern League season

2002 Southern League season
LeagueSouthern League
SportBaseball
DurationApril 4 – September 2
Games140
Teams10
Regular season
League championsBirmingham Barons
Season MVPAaron Miles, Birmingham Barons
Playoffs
League championsBirmingham Barons
  Runners-upJacksonville Suns

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

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

East Division West Division

Regular season

Summary

  • The Birmingham Barons finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1993.

Standings

[1]

East Division
Team Win Loss % GB
Jacksonville Suns 77 62 .554 –
Tennessee Smokies 69 71 .493 8.5
Greenville Braves 65 69 .485 9.5
Carolina Mudcats 65 71 .478 10.5
Orlando Rays 58 79 .423 18
West Division
Birmingham Barons 79 61 .564 –
Mobile BayBears 76 63 .547 2.5
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 73 67 .521 6
Huntsville Stars 70 69 .504 8.5
Chattanooga Lookouts 60 80 .429 19

League Leaders

Batting leaders

[2]

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

[3]

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

Playoff bracket

Division finals Finals
      
E1 Jacksonville 3
E2 Carolina 2
E1 Jacksonville 0
W1 Birmingham 3
W1 Birmingham 3
W2 West Tenn 2

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

References

  1. ^ 2002 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025
  2. ^ 2002 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025
  3. ^ 2002 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 17, 2025
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