Milestones
Formed: October 16, 19441Plans For New Class C Baseball League Made, AP via The Tuscaloosa News, Oct. 16, 1944
Status: Active
First Game: April 26, 1945
Seasons: 80 & counting (as of 10/1/2026)
States: MD, NC, SC, VA
Leadership
Carolina League Most Valuable Player
Trophy Case
| YEAR | PLAYER | POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Art Fowler | Pitcher | Danville Leafs |
| 1946 | Woody Fair | Outfielder | Durham Bulls |
| 1947 | Harvey Haddix | Pitcher | Winston-Salem Cardinals |
| 1948 | Russell Sullivan | Outfielder | Danville Leafs |
| 1949 | Leo "Muscle" Shoals | First Baseman | Reidsville Luckies |
| 1950 | Bill Evans | Outfielder | Burlington Bees |
| 1951 | Ray Jablonski | Third Baseman | Winston-Salem Cardinals |
| 1952 | Leonard Matarazzo | Pitcher | Fayetteville A's |
| 1953 | Ramon Monzant | Pitcher | Danville Leafs |
| 1954 | Guy Morton | Catcher | Greensboro Patriots |
| 1955 | Danny Morejon | Outfielder | Highpoint-Thomasville Hi-Toms |
| 1956 | Curt Flood | Outfielder | Highpoint-Thomasville Hi-Toms |
| 1957 | Fred Van Dusen | Outfielder | Highpoint-Thomasville Hi-Toms |
| 1958 | Fred Valentine | Outfielder | Wilson Tobs |
| 1959 | Carl Yastrzemski | Second Baseman | Raleigh Capitals |
| 1960 | Ed Olivares | Third Baseman | Winston-Salem Redbirds |
| 1961 | Chuck Weatherspoon | Outfielder-Catcher | Wilson Tobs |
| 1962 | Rusty Staub | First Baseman | Durham Bulls |
| 1963 | Jim Price | Catcher | Kinston Eagles |
| 1964 | Edwin Stroud | Outfielder | Tidewater Tides |
| 1965 | Bobby Murcer | Shortstop | Greensboro Yankees |
| 1966 | Robbie Snow | Pitcher | Winston-Salem Red Sox |
| 1967 | Don Money | Shortstop | Raleigh Pirates |
| 1968 | Tony Solaita | First Baseman | Highpoint-Thomasville Hi-Toms |
| 1969 | Luther Quinn | Third Baseman | Salem Rebels |
| 1970 | Cliff Johnson | Catcher | Raleigh-Durham Triangles |
| 1971 | Richard Giallella | Outfielder | Peninsula Phillies |
| 1972 | Dave Parker | Outfielder | Salem Pirates |
| 1973 | Terry Whitfield | Outfielder | Kinston Eagles |
| 1974 | Miguel Dilone | Outfielder | Salem Pirates |
| 1975 | Luke Wrenn | Outfielder | Salem Pirates |
| 1976 | Marshall Brant | First Baseman | Lynchburg Mets |
| 1977 | Oswaldo Olivares | Outfielder | Salem Pirates |
| 1978 | Ozzie Virgil Jr. | Catcher | Peninsula Pilots |
| 1979 | Bob Dernier | Outfielder | Peninsula Pilots |
| 1980 | Julio Franco | Shortstop | Peninsula Pilots |
| 1981 | Brad Komminsk | Outfielder | Durham Bulls |
| 1982 | Juan Samuel | Second Baseman | Peninsula Pilots |
| 1983 | Lenny Dykstra | Outfielder | Lynchburg Mets |
| 1984 | Barry Lyons | Catcher | Lynchburg Mets |
| 1985 | Shawn Abner | Outfielder | Lynchburg Mets |
| 1986 | Gregg Jeffries | Shortstop | Lynchburg Mets |
| 1987 | Casey Webster | Designated Hitter | Kinston Indians |
| 1988 | Mickey Pina | Outfielder | Lynchburg Red Sox |
| 1989 | Phil Plantier | Outfielder | Lynchburg Red Sox |
| 1990 | Gary Scott | Third Baseman | Winston-Salem Spirits |
| 1991 | Pete Castellano | Third Baseman | Winston-Salem Spirits |
| 1992 | Bubba Smith | First Baseman | Peninsula Pilots |
| 1993 | Bubba Smith | Designated Hitter | Winston-Salem Spirits |
| 1994 | Larry Sutton | First Baseman | Wilmington Blue Rocks |
| 1995 | Richie Sexson | First Baseman | Kinston Indians |
| 1996 | Jose Guillen | Outfielder | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| 1997 | Aramis Ramirez | Third Baseman | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| 1998 | Joe Crede | Third Baseman | Winston-Salem Warthogs |
| 1999 | Marcus Giles | Second Baseman | Myrtle Beach Pelicans |
| 2000 | Troy Farnsworth | Designated Hitter/Infielder | Potomac Cannons |
| 2001 | Victor Martinez | Catcher | Kinston Indians |
| 2002 | Brad Hawpe | First Baseman | Salem Avalanche |
| 2003 | Chris Shelton | Designated Hitter | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| 2004 | Brad Eldred | First Baseman | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| 2005 | Leo Daigle | First Baseman | Winston-Salem Warthogs |
| 2006 | Jordan Brown | Outfielder | Kinston Indians |
| 2007 | Mitch Einertson | Outfielder | Salem Avalanche |
| 2008 | Beau Mills | First Baseman | Kinston Indians |
| 2009 | Brandon Waring | Third Baseman | Frederick Keys |
| 2010 | Tyler Moore | First Baseman-Designated Hitter | Potomac Nationals |
| 2011 | Ian Gac | First Baseman-Designated Hitter | Winston-Salem Dash |
| 2012 | Dan Black | First Baseman | Winston-Salem Dash |
| 2013 | Chris Curley | Third Baseman | Winston-Salem Dash |
| 2014 | Joey Gallo | Third Baseman | Myrtle Beach Pelicans |
| 2015 | Nellie Rodriguez | First Baseman | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| 2016 | Bobby Bradley | First Baseman | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| 2017 | Ademar Rifaela | Outfielder | Frederick Keys |
| 2018 | Bobby Dalbec | Third Baseman | Salem Red Sox |
| 2019 | Mario Feliciano | Catcher | Carolina Mudcats |
| 2020 | No Award | SEASON CANCELLED: COVID-19 | |
| 2021 | Diego Infante | Outfielder | Charleston RiverDogs |
| 2022 | Jackson Chourio | Outfielder | Carolina Mudcats |
| 2023 | Samuel Basallo | Catcher | Delmarva Shorebirds |
Background
Coming soon…
Carolina League Franchise List
| Team | Years Active | Championships |
|---|---|---|
| Alamance Senators | 1965-1971 | None |
| Alexandria Dukes | 1978 & 1980-1983 | 1982 |
| Alexandria Mariners | 1979 | None |
| Augusta GreenJackets | 2021-Present | None |
| Buies Creek Astros | 2017-2018 | 2018 |
| Burlington Bees | 1945-1951 | 1949 |
| Burlington Indians | 1958-1964 | 1958 |
| Burlington Rangers | 1972 | None |
| Burlington Senators | 1965-1971 | None |
| Burlington-Graham Pirates | 1952-1955 | None |
| Carolina Mudcats | 2012-2019 | None |
| Charleston Riverdogs | 2022-Present | 2022-2026 |
| Columbia Fireflies | 2015-Present | None |
| Danville 97s | 1998 | None |
| Danville Leafs | 1945-1958 | 1945-1953-1955 |
| Delmarva Shorebirds | 2022-Present | None |
| Down East Wood Ducks | 2017-2019 | 2017 (Co-Champions) |
| Durham Bulls | 1945-1967 | 1957-1967 |
| Durham Bulls | 1980-1997 | None |
| Fayetteville A's | 1950-1952 | None |
| Fayetteville Highlanders | 1953-1956 | 1954-1956 |
| Fayetteville Woodpeckers | 2019-Present | None |
| Frederick Keys | 1989-2019 | 1990-2005-2007-2011 |
| Fredericksburg Nationals | 2020-Present | 2024 |
| Greensboro Patriots | 1945-1957 | None |
| Greensboro Patriots | 1968 | None |
| Greensboro Yankees | 1958-1967 | 1960 |
| Hagerstown Suns | 1981-1988 | 1981 |
| Hickory Crawdads | 2025-Present | None |
| Highpoint-Thomasville Hi-Toms | 1954-1958 | None |
| Highpoint-Thomasville Hi-Toms | 1968 | 1968 |
| Highpoint-Thomasville Royals | 1969 | None |
| Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | 2021-Present | None |
| Kinston Blue Jays | 1982-1985 | None |
| Kinston Eagles | 1956-1957 & 1962-1973 | 1962 |
| Kinston Eagles | 1978-1981 & 1986 | None |
| Kinston Expos | 1974 | None |
| Kinston Indians | 1987-2011 | 1988-1991-1995-2004-2006 |
| Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets | 1945-1947 | None |
| Lynchburg Hillcats | 1995-2019 | 1997-2002-2009-2012-2017 (Co-Champions), 2025 |
| Lynchburg Mets | 1976-1987 | 1978-1983-1984 |
| Lynchburg Rangers | 1975 | None |
| Lynchburg Red Sox | 1988-1994 | None |
| Lynchburg Twins | 1970-1974 | None |
| Lynchburg White Sox | 1966-1969 | None |
| Martinsville A's | 1945-1949 | 1948 |
| Myrtle Beach Pelicans | 1999-Present | 1999 (Co-Champions)-2000-2015-2016 |
| Peninsula Astros | 1969-1970 | None |
| Peninsula Grays | 1964-1968 | None |
| Peninsula Pennants | 1974 | None |
| Peninsula Phillies | 1971 | 1971 |
| Peninsula Pilots | 1976-1985 & 1989-1992 | 1977-1980-1992 |
| Peninsula White Sox | 1986-1987 | None |
| Potomac Cannons | 1999-2004 | None |
| Potomac Nationals | 2005-2019 | 2008-2010-2014 |
| Prince William Cannons | 1989-1998 | 1989 |
| Prince William Pirates | 1984-1986 | None |
| Prince William Yankees | 1987-1988 | None |
| Raleigh Capitals | 1945-1953 & 1958-1962 | 1946-1947 |
| Raleigh Cardinals | 1964-1965 | None |
| Raleigh Mets | 1963 | None |
| Raleigh Pirates | 1966-1967 | None |
| Raleigh-Durham Mets | 1968 | None |
| Raleigh-Durham Phillies | 1969 | 1969 |
| Raleigh-Durham Triangles | 1970-1971 | None |
| Red Springs Twins | 1969 | None |
| Reidsville Luckies | 1948-1954 | 1952 |
| Reidsville Phillies | 1955 | None |
| Rocky Mount Leafs | 1965-1972 | 1966 |
| Rocky Mount Phillies | 1973-1975 | 1975 |
| Rocky Mount Pines | 1980 | None |
| Rocky Mount Senators | 1964 | None |
| Salem Avalanche | 1995-2008 | 2001 |
| Salem Buccaneers | 1987-1994 | 1987 |
| Salem Pirates | 1972-1979 | 1972-1973-1974 |
| Salem Rebels | 1968-1971 | None |
| Salem Red Sox | 2009-2019 | 2013 |
| Salem Redbirds | 1980-1986 | None |
| Salem RidgeYaks | 2026-Present | None |
| Tidewater Tides | 1963-1968 | 1965 |
| Virginia Generals | 1988 | None |
| Wilmington Blue Rocks | 1993-2019 | 1994-1996-1998-1999 (Co-Champions) |
| Wilson Pennants | 1973 | None |
| Wilson Tobs | 1956-1968 | 1959-1961-1963 |
| Wilson Warbirds | 2026-Present | NONE |
| Winston-Salem Cardinals | 1945-1953 | 1950-1951 |
| Winston-Salem Dash | 2009-2019 | None |
| Winston-Salem Red Sox | 1961-1983 | 1964-1970-1976-1979 |
| Winston-Salem Redbirds | 1957-1960 | None |
| Winston-Salem Spirits | 1984-1994 | 1985-1986-1993 |
| Winston-Salem Twins | 1954-1956 | None |
| Winston-Salem Warthogs | 1995-2008 | 2003 |
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