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List of Memphis Chicks (Southern League) seasons

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A black and white photograph of baseball players in uniforms and caps posed in three rows, standing, sitting in chairs, and sitting on a bench on a baseball field
The 1979 Chicks finished with an 82–62 (.569) record playing as the Double-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos in the Southern League.

The Memphis Chicks were a Minor League Baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, that played in the Southern League (SL), at the Double-A level, from 1978 to 1997. Memphis was affiliated with Major League Baseball's Montreal Expos (1978–1983), Kansas City Royals (1984–1994), San Diego Padres (1995–1996), and Seattle Mariners (1997).[1] The club played 2,858 regular-season games and compiled a win–loss record of 1,418–1,439 (.496). They appeared in the postseason on seven occasions in which they had a record of 15–21 (.417) in 36 games. Combining all 2,894 regular-season and postseason games, Memphis had an all-time record of 1,433–1,460 (.495).[2][3]

Created as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League in 1978, the Chicks played in this league through their final 1997 season. With the arrival of the Memphis Redbirds, a Triple-A expansion team of the Pacific Coast League,[2] the Southern League Chicks franchise relocated to Jackson, Tennessee, after the season to become the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.[4]

The Chicks' best regular-season record occurred in 1996 when they finished 81–58 (.583).[2] Their lowest season record was 59–84 (.413), which they recorded in 1989.[2] Of the four Major League Baseball teams with which Memphis was affiliated, they experienced their best record as the Double-A farm club of the Padres from 1995 to 1996. In the two-year affiliation, the Chicks compiled a win–loss record of 149–132 (.530). They reached the postseason in both years, going 3–6 (.333), but failed to win a Southern League championship during that stretch. Conversely, Memphis incurred a 67–72 (.482) record over a single season with the Mariners in 1997 and did not reach the postseason. Over their complete 20-year run, the Chicks won two division titles (1980 and 1990) and one Southern League championship (1990).

Season-by-season records

[edit]
Key
League The team's final position in the league standings
Division The team's final position in the divisional standings
GB Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season
‡ League champions
† Division champions
* Postseason berth
Season-by-season results
Season Regular-season Postseason MLB affiliate Ref.
Record Win % League Division GB Record Win % Result
1978 71–73 .493 5th 2nd 17 — — — Montreal Expos [5]
1979

*

82–62 .569 4th 2nd 1 1–2 .333 Won First-Half Western Division title[n 1]
Lost Western Division title vs. Nashville Sounds, 2–1[8] 		Montreal Expos [9]
1980
* † 		83–61 .576 2nd 2nd 14+1⁄2 4–4 .500 Won First-Half Western Division title[10]
Won Western Division title vs. Nashville Sounds, 3–1[11]
Lost SL championship vs. Charlotte O's, 3–1[12] 		Montreal Expos [13]
1981
* 		77–66 .538 3rd 2nd 4 0–3 .000 Won First-Half Western Division title[14]
Lost Western Division title vs. Nashville Sounds, 3–0[15] 		Montreal Expos [16]
1982 70–74 .486 6th (tie) 3rd (tie) 7 — — — Montreal Expos [17]
1983 61–85 .418 10th 5th 30+1⁄2 — — — Montreal Expos [18]
1984 71–75 .486 7th 2nd 2+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [19]
1985 65–79 .451 9th 4th 14+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [20]
1986 69–75 .479 9th 4th 10+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [21]
1987 72–71 .503 4th 2nd 1+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [22]
1988
* 		79–64 .552 3rd 2nd 2 1–3 .250 Won Second-Half Western Division title[23]
Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–1[24] 		Kansas City Royals [25]
1989 59–84 .413 10th 5th 29 — — — Kansas City Royals [26]
1990
* † ‡ 		73–71 .507 5th 3rd 6 6–3 .667 Won First-Half Western Division title[27]
Won Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–1[28]
Won SL championship vs. Orlando SunRays, 3–2[29] 		Kansas City Royals [30]
1991 61–83 .424 9th (tie) 4th (tie) 16+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [31]
1992 71–73 .493 4th 3rd 19+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [32]
1993 63–77 .450 9th 5th 14 — — — Kansas City Royals [33]
1994 75–62 .547 2nd 2nd 5+1⁄2 — — — Kansas City Royals [34]
1995
* 		68–74 .479 7th 4th 14+1⁄2 2–3 .400 Won First-Half Western Division title[35]
Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–2[36] 		San Diego Padres [37]
1996
* 		81–58 .583 1st 1st — 1–3 .250 Won First-Half Western Division title[38]
Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–1[39] 		San Diego Padres [40]
1997 67–72 .482 7th 5th 10 — — — Seattle Mariners [41]
Totals 1,419–1,439 .497 — — — 15–21 .417 — — —

Franchise totals

[edit]

By affiliation

[edit]
Franchise totals by affiliation[1][3]
Affiliation Regular-season Postseason
Record Win % Appearances Record Win %
Montreal Expos (1978–1983) 444–421 .513 3 5–9 .357
Kansas City Royals (1984–1994) 758–814 .482 2 7–6 .538
San Diego Padres (1995–1996) 149–132 .530 2 3–6 .333
Seattle Mariners (1997) 67–72 .482 — — —
Totals 1,418–1,439 .496 7 15–21 .417

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Chicks finished the 1979 first half tied for first place with the Montgomery Rebels.[6] The Chicks defeated the Rebels in a one-game playoff, 2–1, to win the first-half title.[7]

References

[edit]
Specific
  1. ^ a b "2019 Memphis Redbirds Media Guide" (PDF). 2019 Memphis Redbirds Media Guide. mlb.com. February 4, 2020. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Memphis, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "League Records (1964–Present)". 2019 Southern League Media Guide. Southern League. pp. 134–139. Archived from the original on May 30, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  4. ^ "Memphis Wins Season Finale". The Jackson Sun. Jackson. September 2, 1997. p. 2C. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "1978 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Young, Rick (June 25, 1979). "Rebs, Chicks Will Play Off 1st-Half Tie". The Alabama Journal. p. 14. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Stukenborg, Phil (July 19, 1979). "Chicks Hoist First-Half Pennant Over Memphis". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. 24. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Brennan, Jack (September 6, 1979). "Chicks Silenced by the Sounds". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. Memphis. p. 26. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "1979 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  10. ^ Haney, Greg (June 20, 1980). "Chicks Blitz Sounds to Cop First-Half Title". The Commercial Appeal. Nashville. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Squires, Tom (September 7, 1980). "Sounds Fall; Chicks Win Title". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-C. Archived from the original on June 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Charlotte Wins Southern League". The Dothan Eagle. Memphis: The Associated Press. September 11, 1980. p. 6. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "1980 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  14. ^ "Chicks Win, Clinch Title". The Commercial Appeal. Charlotte. June 18, 1981. p. 35. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Squires, Tom (September 6, 1981). "Nashville Clinches Western". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 36. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "1981 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  17. ^ "1982 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  18. ^ "1983 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  19. ^ "1984 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "1985 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "1986 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  22. ^ "1987 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  23. ^ Higgins, Ron (August 30, 1988). "Chicks Capture Second-Half Title". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Stukenborg, Paul (September 8, 1988). "Loss Ends Title Hopes for Chicks". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "1988 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  26. ^ "1989 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 12, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  27. ^ "Chicks Take 1st-Half Title". The Jackson Sun. Fort Mill: The Associated Press. June 15, 1990. p. 17. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Stukenborg, Phil (September 7, 1990). "Chicks Take Quick Lead, West Title". The Commercial Appeal. Birmingham. p. 27. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Stukenborg, Phil (September 16, 1990). "'90 Chicks: Call Them Champions". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 45. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "1990 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  31. ^ "1991 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  32. ^ "1992 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  33. ^ "1993 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  34. ^ "1994 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  35. ^ Starks, Larry (June 15, 1995). "Chicks Finally Wrap Up 1st-Half Division Crown". The Commercial Appeal. Huntsville. p. 31. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Starks, Larry (September 11, 1995). "Chicks' Game 5 Collapse Mirrors Season". The Commercial Appeal. Chattanooga. p. 19. Archived from the original on July 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "1995 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on November 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  38. ^ "Chicks Clinch Crown". The Commercial Appeal. Chattanooga. June 16, 1996. p. 33. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Starks, Larry (September 8, 1996). "Chicks Beaten by Bunt". The Commercial Appeal. Chattanooga. p. 39. Archived from the original on June 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "1996 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  41. ^ "1997 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
General
  • Schroeder, Michael; Tomko, Connor; Wade, Martheus; Selby, Steve (2019). 2019 Memphis Redbirds Media Guide (PDF). Memphis: Memphis Redbirds. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2024 – via Minor League Baseball.
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