Tombstone
Born: 1972 – Re-branded from Salem Rebels
Re-Branded: 1980 (Salem Redbirds)
First Game: April 14, 1972 (L 6-2 @ Burlington Rangers)
Last Game:
Carolina League Champions: 1972, 1973 & 1974
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners: Salem Athletic Club (Morris Cregger, Ralph Richardson, Bernard Beatty, et al.)
Major League Affiliation: Pittsburgh Pirates
Background
The Salem Pirates were a Virginia-based Class A farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1972 to 1979. Pittsburgh’s sponsorship of Salem’s Carolina League franchise dated back to 1968, but the club was known as the Salem Rebels from 1968 to 1971.
Salem won back-to-back-to-back Carolina League titles from 1972 through 1974. This impressive feat was made somewhat easier by the perilous condition of the Carolina League (and minor league baseball more generally) during the 1970’s. The circuit featured only 6 active members during Salem’s championship seasons. In 1975 the Carolina League shrunk to just four teams and had to schedule inter-league games with the Class A Western Carolinas League to stay afloat.
Top Players
Pittsburgh had a terrific farm system during the 1970’s and a number of top players came through Salem on their way up to Three Rivers Stadium. These included:
- 1978 National League MVP Dave Parker (Salem ’72)
- Outfielder Omar Moreno (Salem ’73)
- Pitcher Al Holland (Salem ’76)
- Pitcher Ed Whitson (Salem ’76)
- Catcher Tony Pena (Salem ’77)
- Pitcher Pascual Perez (Salem ’78)
Four Salem Pirates players earned Carolina League Most Valuable Player honors. Dave Parker (1972 and Miguel Dilone (1974) went on to lengthy Major League careers. Luke Wrenn (1975) and Oswaldo Olivares never made it to The Show.
Death of Alfredo Edmead
Tragedy struck at Municipal Stadium on August 22nd, 1974. Salem outfielder Alfredo Edmead charged in on a shallow pop fly to right field. Second baseman Pablo Cruz ran back from his infield station. As Edmead dove for the ball, his head impacted Cruz’s knee and Edmead fell unresponsive to the turf. Edmead was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. The game resumed after a 20-minute delay. Salem players were unaware that their teammate had died until after the game.1Doughty, Doug. “Doughty: 1974 death of Alfredo Edmead still haunts.” The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, VA). August 21, 2014.
Pirates To Redbirds and Back (Sort of…)
Salem Athletic Club, the community-based ownership group of the Salem Pirates, sold the club to Nashville-based Larry Schmittou in September 1979. At the time, Schmittou was one of the most respected owner in all of minor league baseball and operated the wildly successful Nashville Sounds team. Schmittou promptly announced plans to re-name the Salem club, even if Pittsburgh remained as parent club in 1980. The team ultimately adopted the name ‘Redbirds’ and became a San Diego Padres farm club prior to the 1980 season.
After a seven-year absence, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned as Salem’s parent club in 1987. The Redbirds identity was abandoned and the team became the Salem Buccaneers for the years 1987 to 1994.
The Carolina League has operated continuously in Salem since 1968. After several subsequent name changes, the former Salem Pirates franchise plays on today as the Salem Red Sox.
In Memoriam
Pitcher Rod Scurry died of a heart attack on November 5, 1992 at age 36. New York Times obituary.
Outfielder Mitchell Page (Salem ’73) passed away in his sleep at age 59 on March 12, 2011. Washington Post obituary.
Pitcher Pascual Perez was murdered during a home invasion in his native Dominican Republic on November 1, 2012. The 1983 National League All-Star selection was 55 years old. New York Times coverage.
Downloads
1978 Pirates vs. Lynchburg Mets Roster Sheet
1978 Salem Pirates vs. Lynchburg Mets Roster Sheet
Links
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