1983 Nashville Sounds season

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1983 Nashville Sounds
Class-level
  • Double-A (Since 1978)
Minor league affiliation
Major league affiliation
Location
1983 Information
Owner(s) Larry Schmittou
(Principal owner)
General Manager(s) George Dyce
Manager(s) Doug Holmquist
Local television
Local radio
Stats The Baseball Cube

The Nashville Sounds' 1983 season was the franchise's sixth year of play. The team finished the regular season with a record of 88 wins and 58 losses. In post-season play, the team had two wins and three losses; they were eliminated in the Western Division championship series.

Contents

[edit] Regular season

Nashville finished the first half of the season in second place. Manager Doug Holmquist, frustrated with the team's disappointing first half, instituted a system of fines for player infractions or poor performance on the field. The program ranged from a $10 fine for a pitcher walking a batter with one on and two outs to a $100 fine for missing curfew. Rebounding, Nashville won the second half pennant, earning the team a shot at the Western Division championship.[1]

One highlight of the season included an exhibition game against their major league parent club, the New York Yankees, on April 28, 1983. New York had a four run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but a five-run rally with two outs propelled the Sounds to a 5-4 win in front of 13,641 fans.[2]

One harrowing event took place on June 21 during a road trip to Orlando, Florida. While walking back to the hotel with teammates Scott Bradley, Mike Pagliarulo, and Buck Showalter, Nashville's Erik Peterson was hit by an automobile. When he began to convulse, Bradley put his fingers down Peterson’s throat to keep him from swallowing his tongue. He survived, but with a bruised leg and several lacerations to the head, and he was able to return to play later in the season.[1]

The Sounds also served as the host and the competition for the mid-season Southern League All-Star Game. The all-stars recorded the victory with a score of three runs to two.[3]

[edit] Season standings

Southern League - Western Division
Team Win Loss  % GB
Birmingham Barons 91 54 .628
Nashville Sounds 88 58 .603 3.5
Chattanooga Lookouts 68 75 .476 22.0
Knoxville Blue Jays 64 82 .438 27.5
Memphis Chicks 61 85 .418 30.5

[edit] Post-season

[edit] Western Division finals

The second half champion Sounds faced the first half champion Birmingham Barons in the best-of-five Western Division series. The teams split the first two games played at Birmingham. Nashville then lost the first home contest, giving the Barons a 2-1 lead. Though the Sounds tied the series with a game four win, the Barons won the last game, eliminating Nashville.

Game Date Opponent W/L Score
1 September 3 at Birmingham Barons W 7-6
2 September 4 at Birmingham Barons L 4-3
3 September 5 Birmingham Barons L 4-2
4 September 6 Birmingham Barons W 6-1
5 September 7 Birmingham Barons L 7-5

[edit] Roster

1983 Nashville Sounds Roster
Players Coaching staff
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager
  • Doug Holmquist

Coaches

[edit] Awards and honors

Matt Gallegos was chosen as "Best Hustler" for the league's post-season All-Star team.[4] Mike Pagliarulo had the best fielding percentage amount third basemen in the league (.954).[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b McGee, Mark. "1983 Review." The Nashville Sounds 1984 Official Souvenir Program. 1984: 10-11.
  2. ^ "Nashville Sounds in 1978." The Tennessean. 11 April 2008.
  3. ^ Elliott, Jeff. "All-Star game survives years of dormancy, format changes." The Florida Times-Union. 5 July 2003. 7 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Post-Season All-Star Teams." Southern League. 18 April 2008.
  5. ^ "Single-Season League Leaders." 2008 Nashville Sounds Media Guide. 2008: 137.