South Atlantic League (1980-1984)
Tombstone
Born: October 1979 – The Greenwood Braves relocate to Anderson, SC
Moved: 1985 (Sumter Braves)
First Game: April 11, 1980 (L 4-3 @ Asheville Tourists)
Last Game: August 31, 1984 (W 6-4, T 2-2 @ Greensboro Hornets)
South Atlantic League Championships: None
Stadium
Memorial Stadium (4,000)11983 Anderson Braves Program
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Atlanta Braves (Ted Turner)
Major League Affiliation: Atlanta Braves
Attendance
Background
The Anderson Braves were a South Carolina-based Class A farm club of the Atlanta Braves during the early 1980’s. Anderson hosted a succession of minor league farm clubs during the 1970’s following the construction of Memorial Stadium in 1970. But affiliated pro baseball never returned to the city after the Braves moved to Sumter, South Carolina in 1985.
On The Field
The Anderson Braves produced several future stars their five-season run, including:
- Outfielder Brett Butler (Anderson ’80)
- Outfielder Brook Jacoby (Anderson ’80)
- Pitcher Zane Smith (Anderson ’82) won 100 games in the Majors from 1984 to 1996
- Pitcher Duane Ward (Anderson ’82), who led the American League in saves in 1993
- Second Baseman Ron Gant (Anderson ’84) hit 321 homers in a 17-year Major League career
Trivia
Ron Gant was the final active alumnus of the Anderson Braves in pro baseball when he played his final game for the Oakland Athletics on May 25th, 2003.
Anderson Braves Shop
In Memoriam
Pitcher Tom Waddell (Anderson ’81-’82) died of a heart attack on September 14, 2019 at age 60. Waddell was one of only eight Scottish natives to ever play Major League Baseball, playing for the Cleveland Indians from 1984-1987.
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