South Atlantic League (1960-1961)
Tombstone
Born: 1960
Moved: February 2, 1962 (Macon Peaches)
First Game: April 18, 1960 (L 7-6 @ Charlotte Hornets)
Last Game: September 5, 1961 (L 2-1 & L 6-4 @ Charleston White Sox)
South Atlantic League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Cincinnati Reds
Major League Affiliation: Cincinnati Reds
Attendance
Background
The Class A Columbia Reds of 1960-1961 marked a brief return to South Carolina’s capital city by the Cincinnati Reds, who previously sponsored a South Atlantic League farm club in Columbia from 1938 to 1955. The Cincinnati Reds owned the Columbia ball club directly.
The Columbia Reds won the 1960 South Atlantic League pennant, topping the 8-team loop with an 83-56 record. The team’s success seemed to perplex field manager Max Macon, who told the press a day after clinching the pennant:
“This ball club surprised me. It was remarkable. We had no outstanding players … Most teams need a good strong bench to be a contender. But we got by without one.”
(Orangeburg Times & Democrat 9/5/1960)
Columbia lost to the Savannah Pirates in the semi-finals of the 1960 Sally League playoffs.
Move To Macon
The Reds played one final season in Columbia in 1961, finishing fourth with a 70-65 record. Columbia’s 1961 pitching staff featured two future Major League All-Stars in Vic Davalillo and Sammy Ellis. (Davalillo would convert to the outfield before making his Major League debut in 1963).
After the 1961 season the Cincinnati Reds shifted their Sally League operation to Macon, Georgia where the club became known as the Macon Peaches for the 1962 season.
It would be two decades until pro baseball returned to Columbia, South Carolina. The Columbia Mets took up residence at Capital City Stadium in 1983.
Columbia Reds Shop
Links
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2 Responses
The Reds must have had a very strong starting line-up that didn’t suffer too many injuries.
Played for the Columbia Reds in 1961. Led the league in loses, walks, wild pitches and hit batters!! Still had a good era in the three’s. Ha! Almost got hit by a train going to ballpark as there were no crossing gates or lights back then. Two years later in the majors. We traveled in three Pontiac station wagons and it was very tight and sweaty! Lots of fun!