# 1978 International League season

The 1978 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 14 and September 16. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the post-season.
The Richmond Braves won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Pawtucket Red Sox in the final round of the playoffs.

## Team changes

* The Syracuse Chiefs ended their affiliation with the New York Yankees and began a new affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays.
* The Toledo Mud Hens ended their affiliation with the Cleveland Indians and began a new affiliation with the Minnesota Twins.

## Teams

1978 International League :
| Team | City | MLB Affiliate | Stadium |
| Charleston Charlies | Charleston, West Virginia | Houston Astros | Watt Powell Park |
| Columbus Clippers | Columbus, Ohio | Pittsburgh Pirates | Franklin County Stadium |
| Pawtucket Red Sox | Pawtucket, Rhode Island | Boston Red Sox | McCoy Stadium |
| Richmond Braves | Richmond, Virginia | Atlanta Braves | Parker Field |
| Rochester Red Wings | Rochester, New York | Baltimore Orioles | Silver Stadium |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Syracuse, New York | Toronto Blue Jays | MacArthur Stadium |
| Tidewater Tides | Norfolk, Virginia | New York Mets | Met Park |
| Toledo Mud Hens | Toledo, Ohio | Minnesota Twins | Lucas County Stadium |

## Regular season
### Summary

* The Charleston Charlies finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 1973.

### Standings

International League :
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Charleston Charlies | 85 | 55 | .607 | – |
| Pawtucket Red Sox | 81 | 59 | .579 | 4 |
| Toledo Mud Hens | 74 | 66 | .529 | 11 |
| Richmond Braves | 71 | 68 | .511 | 13.5 |
| Tidewater Tides | 69 | 71 | .493 | 16 |
| Rochester Red Wings | 68 | 72 | .486 | 17 |
| Columbus Clippers | 61 | 78 | .439 | 23.5 |
| Syracuse Chiefs | 50 | 90 | .357 | 35 |

## League Leaders
### Batting leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Mike Easler, Columbus Clippers | .330 |
| H | Keith Drumright, Charleston Charlies | 159 |
| R | Wayne Krenchicki, Rochester Red Wings | 93 |
| 2B | Gary Woods, Syracuse Chiefs | 33 |
| 3B | J.J. Cannon, Charleston Charlies | 18 |
| HR | Hank Small, Richmond Braves | 25 |
| RBI | Hank Small, Richmond Braves | 101 |
| SB | Eddie Miller, Richmond Braves | 36 |

### Pitching leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Dan Larson, Charleston Charlies Gary Wilson, Charleston Charlies | 14 |
| ERA | Frank Riccelli, Charleston Charlies | 2.78 |
| CG | Davis May, Toledo Mud Hens | 11 |
| SV | John LaRose, Pawtucket Red Sox | 15 |
| SO | Odell Jones, Columbus Clippers | 169 |
| IP | Dan Larson, Charleston Charlies | 202 |

## Playoffs

* The Richmond Braves won their first Governors' Cup, defeating the Pawtucket Red Sox in six games.

### Playoff bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Governors' Cup | Governors' Cup | Governors' Cup |
| 1 | Charleston | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Richmond | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Richmond | 3 | 4 | Richmond | 4 |
| | | | 2 | Pawtucket | 2 |
| 2 | Pawtucket | 3 | 2 | Pawtucket | 2 |
| 3 | Toledo | 2 | | | |

## Awards

International League awards :
| Award name | Recipient |
| Most Valuable Player | Gary Allenson, Pawtucket Red Sox |
| Pitcher of the Year | Juan Berenguer, Tidewater Tides |
| Rookie of the Year | Glenn Hubbard, Richmond Braves |
| Manager of the Year | Jim Beauchamp, Charleston Charlies |

## All-star team

International League all-star team :
| Position | All-star |
| Catcher | Gary Allenson, Pawtucket Red Sox |
| First base | Hank Small, Richmond Braves |
| Second base | Glenn Hubbard, Richmond Braves |
| Shortstop | Dale Berra, Columbus Clippers |
| Third base | Rob Sperring, Charleston Charlies |
| Outfield | Dave Coleman, Pawtucket Red Sox Mike Easler, Columbus Clippers Alvis Woods, Syracuse Chiefs |
| Pitcher | John LaRose, Pawtucket Red Sox Dan Larson, Charleston Charlies |
| Manager | Jim Beauchamp, Charleston Charlies |