# 1972 Southern League season

The 1972 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 11 and August 31. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team in each division qualifying for the championship round.
The Montgomery Rebels won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Asheville Orioles in the playoffs.

## League changes

* In 1971, the Dixie Association was an interleague partnership between the Southern League and the Texas League as the two leagues played an interlocking schedule. The partnership was dissolved after the season.
* The league introduced two four-team divisions: the East Division and the West Division.

## Team changes

* The Asheville Tourists returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association. The club ended their affiliation with the Chicago White Sox and began a new affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles. The team was renamed to the Asheville Orioles.
* The Birmingham Athletics returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association.
* The Charlotte Hornets returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association.
* The Columbus Astros returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association.
* The Jacksonville Suns returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association. The club ended their affiliation with the Cleveland Indians and began a new affiliation with the Kansas City Royals.
* The Montgomery Rebels returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association.
* The Savannah Braves returned to the Southern League from the Dixie Association.
* The Knoxville Smokies returned to the Southern League following a hiatus since the 1967 season. The club began an affiliation with the Chicago White Sox and were renamed to the Knoxville Sox.

## Teams

1972 Southern League :
| Division | Team | City | MLB Affiliate | Stadium |
| East | Asheville Orioles | Asheville, North Carolina | Baltimore Orioles | McCormick Field |
| East | Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte, North Carolina | Minnesota Twins | Clark Griffith Park |
| East | Jacksonville Suns | Jacksonville, Florida | Kansas City Royals | Wolfson Park |
| East | Savannah Braves | Savannah, Georgia | Atlanta Braves | Grayson Stadium |
| West | Birmingham Athletics | Birmingham, Alabama | Oakland Athletics | Rickwood Field |
| West | Columbus Astros | Columbus, Georgia | Houston Astros | Golden Park |
| West | Knoxville Sox | Knoxville, Tennessee | Chicago White Sox | Bill Meyer Stadium |
| West | Montgomery Rebels | Montgomery, Alabama | Detroit Tigers | Paterson Field |

## Regular season
### Summary

* The Asheville Orioles finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time.

### Standings

East Division :
| Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
| Asheville Orioles | 81 | 58 | .583 | – |
| Savannah Braves | 80 | 59 | .576 | 1 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 70 | 70 | .500 | 11.5 |
| Jacksonville Suns | 64 | 75 | .460 | 17 |
| West Division |||||
| Montgomery Rebels | 78 | 61 | .561 | – |
| Knoxville Sox | 76 | 64 | .543 | 2.5 |
| Columbus Astros | 59 | 80 | .424 | 19 |
| Birmingham Athletics | 49 | 90 | .353 | 29 |

## League Leaders
### Batting leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles | .346 |
| H | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles | 169 |
| R | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles | 123 |
| 2B | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles | 32 |
| 3B | Jerry Hairston Sr., Knoxville Sox Jim Hoppe, Charlotte Hornets Keith Lieppman, Birmingham Athletics | 9 |
| HR | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles | 30 |
| RBI | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles | 109 |
| SB | Rod Gilbreath, Savannah Braves | 45 |

### Pitching leaders

| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Paul Mitchell, Asheville Orioles | 16 |
| ERA | Larry Maxie, Savannah Braves | 1.54 |
| CG | Bill Campbell, Charlotte Hornets | 14 |
| SHO | Herb Hutson, Asheville Orioles | 5 |
| SV | Dutch Weems, Asheville Orioles | 22 |
| IP | Danny Fife, Montgomery Rebels | 221.0 |
| SO | Bill Campbell, Charlotte Hornets | 204 |

## Playoffs

* The league finals is a best-of-five series.
* The Montgomery Rebels won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Asheville Orioles in three games.

### Playoff bracket

| Finals | Finals | Finals |
| E1 | Asheville | 0 |
| W1 | Montgomery | 3 |

## Awards

Southern League awards :
| Award name | Recipient |
| Most Valuable Player | Mike Reinbach, Asheville Orioles |
| Pitcher of the Year | Bill Campbell, Charlotte Hornets |
| Manager of the Year | Joe Sparks, Knoxville Sox |