Macon Peaches

Macon Peaches
1904–2002
(1904–1917; 1923–1930; 1932; 1936–1942; 1946–1964; 1966–1967; 1980–1987; 1991–2002)
Macon, Georgia

Team Logo
Cap Insignia
Class-level
  • Class A (1980–1987; 1991–2002)
  • Double A (1961; 1963–1964; 1966–1967)
  • A (1946–1960; 1962)
  • B (1923–1930; 1932; 1936–1942)
  • C (1904–1917)
Minor league affiliations
Major league affiliations
Name
  • Peaches
  • Braves, Pirates, Redbirds, Dodgers, Tigers, Highlanders, Brigands, Central City
Ballpark
Minor league titles
League titles 1904–1905, 1930, 1938, 1942, 1949–1950, 1958, 1962

The Macon Peaches was the predominant name of the American minor league baseball franchise representing Macon, Georgia, during the 20th century.

Although Macon did not field teams during and immediately after World War I, the height of the Great Depression and World War II, the name Peaches was used continuously between 1907 and 1955, except for 1916–1917. The Peaches nickname was also used from 1961–1964, 1966–1967, and 1980–1982.[1] Much of that time, the Peaches played in the original South Atlantic "Sally" League, although they made brief appearances in the Southeastern League and the Southern Association. During the 1980s, the Peaches were members of the modern South Atlantic League. After 1929, the team played at Luther Williams Field.

Macon was represented by professional baseball teams in the 19th century and joined the Sally League in 1904 as the Highlanders. From 1956–1960, the club was known as the Macon Dodgers, adopting the name of their parent club. After 1982, the franchise also adopted its parents' identities, as the Redbirds, Pirates, and the Macon Braves.[2]

From 1962–1964, the Peaches were an important upper-level affiliate (Class AA after 1962) of the Cincinnati Reds, producing Pete Rose, Tony Pérez, Lee May and Tommy Helms. All four were members of Cincinnati's first "Big Red Machine" team, the 1970 National League champions. Rose and Pérez would be cornerstones of the dynasty, while May and Helms would be traded to the Houston Astros after 1971 to obtain Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan, who would help lead the Reds to the NL pennant in 1972 and World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

An independent league baseball team called the Macon Peaches played in the 21st century Southeastern League in 2003.

See also

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3. 
  2. ^ Baseball Reference