# 1970 Southern League season

The 1970 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 16 and September 7. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team winning the league pennant and championship.
The Columbus Astros won the Southern League championship, as they had the best record in the league.

## Team changes

* The Jacksonville Suns join the league after last playing in the International League in 1968 before going on a hiatus for the 1969 season. The club begins affiliations with the Milwaukee Brewers and Montreal Expos.
* The Mobile A's rejoin the league after last playing in 1966 before going on hiatus from 1967 to 1969. The club begins an affiliation with the Chicago White Sox and are renamed to the Mobile White Sox.
* The Columbus White Sox ended their affiliation with the Chicago White Sox and began a new affiliation with the Houston Astros. The club was renamed to the Columbus Astros.
* The Savannah Senators ended their affiliations with the Houston Astros and Washington Senators and began a new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians. The club was renamed to the Savannah Indians.

## Teams

1970 Southern League :
| Team | City | MLB Affiliate | Stadium |
| Asheville Tourists | Asheville, North Carolina | Cincinnati Reds | McCormick Field |
| Birmingham Athletics | Birmingham, Alabama | Oakland Athletics | Rickwood Field |
| Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte, North Carolina | Minnesota Twins | Clark Griffith Park |
| Columbus Astros | Columbus, Georgia | Houston Astros | Golden Park |
| Jacksonville Suns | Jacksonville, Florida | Milwaukee Brewers Montreal Expos | Wolfson Park |
| Mobile White Sox | Mobile, Alabama | Chicago White Sox | Hartwell Field |
| Montgomery Rebels | Montgomery, Alabama | Detroit Tigers | Paterson Field |
| Savannah Indians | Savannah, Georgia | Cleveland Indians | Grayson Stadium |

## Regular season
### Summary

* The Columbus Astros finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time.

### Standings

Southern League :
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Columbus Astros | 78 | 59 | .569 | – |
| Montgomery Rebels | 79 | 60 | .568 | – |
| Birmingham Athletics | 73 | 65 | .529 | 5.5 |
| Savannah Indians | 71 | 67 | .514 | 7.5 |
| Jacksonville Suns | 67 | 70 | .489 | 12 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 66 | 73 | .475 | 13 |
| Mobile White Sox | 59 | 78 | .431 | 19 |
| Asheville Tourists | 59 | 80 | .424 | 20 |

## League Leaders
### Batting leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Steve Brye, Charlotte Hornets | .308 |
| H | Dan Monzon, Charlotte Hornets | 149 |
| R | Gomer Hodge, Savannah Indians Frederick Smith, Savannah Indians | 72 |
| 2B | Jim Clark, Birmingham Athletics Bill Ferguson, Asheville Tourists | 30 |
| 3B | Steve Brye, Charlotte Hornets John Dolinsek, Columbus Astros | 10 |
| HR | James Covington, Jacksonville Suns | 21 |
| RBI | Jim Clark, Birmingham Athletics Reggie Sanders, Birmingham Athletics | 73 |
| SB | Hagan Andersen, Montgomery Rebels | 24 |

### Pitching leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Ken Forsch, Columbus Astros Bill Gilbreth, Montgomery Rebels | 13 |
| ERA | Eddie Smith, Mobile White Sox | 1.83 |
| CG | Buddy Harris, Columbus Astros | 13 |
| SHO | Ken Forsch, Columbus Astros | 5 |
| SV | Jack Whillock, Montgomery Rebels | 12 |
| IP | Bill Gilbreth, Montgomery Rebels | 221.0 |
| SO | Bill Gilbreth, Montgomery Rebels | 192 |