# 1973 International League season

The 1973 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 16 and September 13. Eight teams played a 146-game schedule, with the top two teams in each division qualifying for the post-season.
The Pawtucket Red Sox won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Charleston Charlies in the final round of the playoffs.

## Team changes

* The Louisville Colonels relocated to Pawtucket, Rhode Island and were renamed the Pawtucket Red Sox. The club remained affiliated with the Boston Red Sox.
* The league realigned from one eight-team division to two four-team divisions, the American and National. American League affiliates played in the American Division and National League affiliates played in the National Division.

## Teams

1973 International League :
| Division | Team | City | MLB Affiliate | Stadium |
| American |
| American | Pawtucket Red Sox | Pawtucket, Rhode Island | Boston Red Sox | McCoy Stadium |
| American | Rochester Red Wings | Rochester, New York | Baltimore Orioles | Silver Stadium |
| American | Syracuse Chiefs | Syracuse, New York | New York Yankees | MacArthur Stadium |
| American | Toledo Mud Hens | Toledo, Ohio | Detroit Tigers | Lucas County Stadium |
| National |
| National | Charleston Charlies | Charleston, West Virginia | Pittsburgh Pirates | Watt Powell Park |
| National | Peninsula Whips | Hampton, Virginia | Montreal Expos | War Memorial Stadium |
| National | Richmond Braves | Richmond, Virginia | Atlanta Braves | Parker Field |
| National | Tidewater Tides | Norfolk, Virginia | New York Mets | Met Park |

## Regular season
### Summary

* The Charleston Charlies finished with the best record in the league for the first time in franchise history.
* The regular season schedule changed from 144-games to 146-games.

### Standings

American Division :
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Rochester Red Wings | 79 | 67 | .541 | – |
| Pawtucket Red Sox | 78 | 68 | .534 | 1 |
| Syracuse Chiefs | 76 | 70 | .521 | 3 |
| Toledo Mud Hens | 65 | 81 | .445 | 14 |
National Division :
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Charleston Charlies | 85 | 60 | .586 | – |
| Tidewater Tides | 75 | 70 | .517 | 10 |
| Peninsula Whips | 72 | 74 | .493 | 13.5 |
| Richmond Braves | 53 | 93 | .363 | 32.5 |

## League Leaders
### Batting leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Royle Stillman, Rochester Red Wings | .354 |
| H | Mike Cummings, Pawtucket Red Sox | 139 |
| R | Rick Bladt, Syracuse Chiefs | 97 |
| 2B | Bill McNulty, Tidewater Tides | 30 |
| 3B | Rick Bladt, Syracuse Chiefs | 10 |
| HR | Jim Fuller, Rochester Red Wings | 39 |
| RBI | Jim Fuller, Rochester Red Wings | 108 |
| SB | Larry Lintz, Peninsula Whips | 48 |

### Pitching leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | John Montague, Peninsula Whips | 15 |
| ERA | Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox | 2.03 |
| CG | Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox | 16 |
| SV | Joe Grzenda, Syracuse Chiefs | 18 |
| SO | Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox | 158 |
| IP | Fred Holdsworth, Toledo Mud Hens | 214.0 |

## Playoffs

* The Pawtucket Red Sox won their first Governors' Cup in their first season following their relocation, defeating the Charleston Charlies in five games.
* The semi-finals were expanded from a best-of-three series to a best-of-five series.

### Playoff bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Governors' Cup | Governors' Cup | Governors' Cup |
| A1 | Rochester | 0 | | | |
| N1 | Charleston | 3 | | | |
| N1 | Charleston | 3 | N1 | Charleston | 2 |
| | | | A2 | Pawtucket | 3 |
| A2 | Pawtucket | 3 | A2 | Pawtucket | 3 |
| N2 | Tidewater | 2 | | | |

## Awards

International League awards :
| Award name | Recipient |
| Most Valuable Player | Jim Fuller, Rochester Red Wings |
| Pitcher of the Year | Dick Pole, Pawtucket Red Sox |
| Rookie of the Year | Otto Vélez, Syracuse Chiefs |
| Manager of the Year | Joe Morgan, Charleston Charlies |