Greenville Red Sox
Encyclopedia
The Greenville Red Sox was the name of an American
minor league baseball
franchise representing Greenville, South Carolina
, that played for five seasons, 1967–1971, in the Class A Western Carolinas League
. It played its home games at Meadowbrook Park.
Greenville was represented in the WCL from 1963–1972, taking its nicknames from its various parent organizations. When the New York Mets
vacated Greenville after the 1966 season, the Boston Red Sox
, seeking to replace the Oneonta Red Sox
as its third full-season Class A farm club, took the Mets' place. The Greenville Red Sox produced future Major League Baseball
players such as Rick Burleson
, Cecil Cooper
, Billy Conigliaro
, John Curtis
, Bo Diaz
, Dwight Evans
, Mike Garman
, Mike Nagy, Don Newhauser
, Ben Oglivie
and Dick Pole
during their five years of existence. The team won one league championship, in . Attendance ranged between 41,000 and 59,000 — in the middle to lower tier of WCL franchises of the time.
When Red Sox decided to trim their farm system for — they had two other full-season Class A affiliates, the Winston-Salem Red Sox and the Winter Haven Red Sox
— the Texas Rangers
replaced them in Greenville, and renamed the team. The Boston club returned to Greenville in and has a Player Development Contract with the Greenville Drive
, which plays in the South Atlantic League
, the successor to the WCL.
{|border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #F9F9F9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- style="background: #F2F2F2;"
! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Attendance !! Manager
|- align=center
| 1967
|| 59-61 || Third || 43,053 || Matt Sczesny
|- align=center
| 1968
|| 68-54 || Third || 59,368 || Matt Sczesny
|- align=center
| 1969
|| 56-68 || Sixth || 52,991 || Bill Slack
|- align=center
| 1970
|| 77-52 || First || 46,245 || Rac Slider
|- align=center
| 1971
|| 62-63 || Third || 41,402 || Rac Slider
|- align=center
|}
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
franchise representing Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, that played for five seasons, 1967–1971, in the Class A Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
. It played its home games at Meadowbrook Park.
Greenville was represented in the WCL from 1963–1972, taking its nicknames from its various parent organizations. When the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
vacated Greenville after the 1966 season, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, seeking to replace the Oneonta Red Sox
Oneonta Red Sox
The Oneonta Red Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Oneonta, New York. They played in the Can-Am League from 1946 to 1951, and in the New York-Penn League in 1966. Affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, they played their home games at Damaschke Field....
as its third full-season Class A farm club, took the Mets' place. The Greenville Red Sox produced future Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players such as Rick Burleson
Rick Burleson
Richard Paul Burleson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. "Rooster," as he was nicknamed was a famously intense ballplayer...
, Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
, Billy Conigliaro
Billy Conigliaro
William Michael Conigliaro is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played in the American League for the Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics...
, John Curtis
John Curtis
John Charles Keyworth Curtis is an English footballer. He is a versatile defender who can play anywhere along the back four or even as a defensive midfielder.-Career:...
, Bo Diaz
Bo Diaz
Baudilio José Díaz Seijas was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds between and...
, Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
, Mike Garman
Mike Garman
Michael Douglas Garman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher whom the Boston Red Sox selected with the third overall pick in the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft...
, Mike Nagy, Don Newhauser
Don Newhauser
Donald Louis "Don" Newhauser was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He played for the Red Sox in 1972, 1973, and 1974.Newhauser was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2nd round of the 1967 amateur draft.-Statistics:...
, Ben Oglivie
Ben Oglivie
Benjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer is a former Major League Baseball left fielder for the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and the Milwaukee Brewers . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes...
and Dick Pole
Dick Pole
Richard Henry Pole is a retired Major League Baseball player and a former Cincinnati Reds pitching coach. A right-handed pitcher, Pole was tall and weighed during his playing career.-Playing career:...
during their five years of existence. The team won one league championship, in . Attendance ranged between 41,000 and 59,000 — in the middle to lower tier of WCL franchises of the time.
When Red Sox decided to trim their farm system for — they had two other full-season Class A affiliates, the Winston-Salem Red Sox and the Winter Haven Red Sox
Winter Haven Red Sox
The Winter Haven Red Sox is a former minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox from 1969 to 1992.*Location: Winter Haven, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation: Boston Red Sox...
— the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
replaced them in Greenville, and renamed the team. The Boston club returned to Greenville in and has a Player Development Contract with the Greenville Drive
Greenville Drive
The Greenville Drive is a minor league baseball team that plays in Greenville, South Carolina. They are a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and a member of the South Atlantic League. Prior to the 2005 SAL season, the team played in Columbia, South Carolina, was affiliated with the New York...
, which plays in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, the successor to the WCL.
{|border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #F9F9F9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- style="background: #F2F2F2;"
! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Attendance !! Manager
|- align=center
| 1967
1967 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim Stadium: National League, 2-1 ; Tony Pérez, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Arizona State...
|| 59-61 || Third || 43,053 || Matt Sczesny
Matt Sczesny
Matthew John Sczesny [says'-nee] was an American infielder and manager in minor league baseball, and a longtime scout for the Boston Red Sox of the American League...
|- align=center
| 1968
1968 in baseball
-The Year of the Pitcher:In Major League Baseball, the trend throughout the 1960s was of increased pitching dominance, caused by enforcing a larger strike zone beginning in 1963...
|| 68-54 || Third || 59,368 || Matt Sczesny
|- align=center
| 1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
|| 56-68 || Sixth || 52,991 || Bill Slack
Bill Slack
William Henry Slack is a retired Canadian baseball pitcher, manager and coach, and a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Although he never played Major League Baseball, Slack spent 50 years at the minor league level, and was a longtime member of the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves...
|- align=center
| 1970
1970 in baseball
-Major Leagues:*World Series MVP: Brooks Robinson*All-Star Game, July 14 at Riverfront Stadium: National League, 5-4 ; Carl Yastrzemski, MVP-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Navegantes del Magallanes *College World Series: USC...
|| 77-52 || First || 46,245 || Rac Slider
Rac Slider
Rachel Wayne "Rac" Slider is a retired infielder and manager in American minor league baseball who also spent four seasons as a Major League Baseball coach with the Boston Red Sox...
|- align=center
| 1971
1971 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:National League: Pittsburgh PiratesAmerican League: Baltimore Orioles1971 World Series: Pittsburgh def. Baltimore , 4 games to 3.Inter-league playoff: Pittsburgh declined challenge by Tokyo Yomiuri Giants....
|| 62-63 || Third || 41,402 || Rac Slider
|- align=center
|}