Appalachian League (1971-1973)
Tombstone
Born: 1971
Folded: Autumn 1973
First Game: June 24, 1971 (L 3-2 vs. Bristol Tigers)
Last Game: August 27, 1973 (Doubleheader, scores uncertain vs. Pulaski Phillies)
Appalachian League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners: Wytheville Baseball Club, Inc. (James Wassum, President)11971 Wytheville Braves Program
Major League Affiliation: Atlanta Braves
Attendance
Background
The Wytheville Braves were a Virginia-based Rookie-level farm club of the Atlanta Braves during the early 1970’s. During Wytheville’s three-year run in the Atlanta system, the team developed a handful of future Braves Major Leaguers, including:
- Catcher Biff Pocoroba (Wytheville ’71), who became a National League All-Star with Atlanta in 1978
- Pitcher Preston Hanna (Wytheville ’72)
- Pitcher Larry Bradford (Wytheville ’73)
- Terry Harper, a 17-year old pitcher for Wytheville in 1973, made it to Atlanta in 1980 after converting to playing outfield in 1976
Harper was the last active member of the Wytheville Braves in pro baseball, playing his final games with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League in 1988.
Departure
Following the 1973 season, the Kansas City Royals withdrew from the Appalachian League, where they sponsored the Kingsport, Tennessee franchise. Kingsport led the Appy League in attendance and gate receipts during the 19732Smith, Jimmy. “Appalachian League adopts designated hitter.” The Johnson City Press (Johnson City, TN). November 19, 1973. Atlanta swiftly moved their Appalachian League operations into the vacancy at Kingsport in November 1973, leaving Wytheville out in the cold.
The Appalachian League returned to Wytheville in 1985 with the Wytheville Cubs (1985-1989), the final pro ball club to play in the city.
Wytheville Braves Shop
Editor's Pick
Appalachian League Baseball
Where Rookies Rise
By Allen LaMountain
Long-time Appy League beat writer Allen LaMountain wrote this exhaustive chronicle of the Rookie circuit in 2014, offering a history of each city in the circuit and profiles of dozens of the future Major League stars and Hall-of Famers who got their first taste of pro ball in places like Bluefield, Elizabethton, Johnson City and Kingsport.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
In Memoriam
Pitcher Larry Bradford (Wytheville ’73) suffered a fatal heart attack while attending a Braves game at Turner Field on September 11, 1998. Bradford, who pitched for Atlanta from 1977 to 1981, was 48.
Catcher Biff Pocoroba (Wytheville ’71) passed away on May 24, 2020 at age 66.
Links
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