Birmingham Athletics

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Team and League History

???, ???

The Birmingham Athletics, owned by Charles O. Finley, join the Southern League.

??? 1967


	Manager John McNamara

April 1967

			1967 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Birmingham Athletics		Charlotte Hornets		Evansville White Sox		Knoxville Smokies		Macon Peaches


	Montgomery Rebels

1967
Southern League

Birmingham Athletics

Charlotte Hornets

Evansville White Sox

Knoxville Smokies

Macon Peaches

Montgomery Rebels

??? ???


	Manager Gus Niarhos

Gus Niarhos is named the Athletics manager.

April 1968

			1968 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Tourists		Birmingham Athletics		Charlotte Hornets		Evansville White Sox		Montgomery Rebels


	Savannah Senators

1968
Southern League

Asheville Tourists

Birmingham Athletics

Charlotte Hornets

Evansville White Sox

Montgomery Rebels

Savannah Senators

??? ???


	Manager Phil Cavaretta

Phil Cavaretta is named the new Athletics manager.

April 1969

			1969 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Tourists		Birmingham Athletics		Charlotte Hornets		Columbus White Sox		Montgomery Rebels


	Savannah Senators

1969
Southern League

Asheville Tourists

Birmingham Athletics

Charlotte Hornets

Columbus White Sox

Montgomery Rebels

Savannah Senators


	Owner Charles O. Finley

April 1970

			1970 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Tourists		Birmingham Athletics		Charlotte Hornets		Columbus Astros		Jacksonville Suns

					NEED LOGO
	Mobile White Sox		Montgomery Rebels		Savannah Indians

1970
Southern League

Asheville Tourists

Birmingham Athletics

Charlotte Hornets

Columbus Astros

Jacksonville Suns

Mobile White Sox

Montgomery Rebels

Savannah Indians

December ??, 1970
Athletics owner, Charles O. Finley, is angered that the city is considering the idea of raising the rental of Rickwood Field from $12,500 per year to $15,000 per year. Finley threatens to move the team before the 1971 season.

??? ???


	Manager Harry Bright

Harry Bright is announced as the Athletics' manager for 1973.

The last two years he was the manager of the class A Burlington team. In 1967, Bright became the manager in Quincy of the Midwest League. The next year, he went to AA Texas League's San Antonio club. In 1969, he moved to Elmira of the AA Eastern League. The next year Bright made a stop in class A Northwest League's Coos Bay before moving on to Burlington.

April 1971

			1971 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
					NEED LOGO		NEED LOGO
	Asheville Tourists		Birmingham Athletics		Charlotte Hornets		Columbus Astros		Jacksonville Suns

			NEED LOGO
	Montgomery Rebels		Savannah Braves

1971
Southern League

Asheville Tourists

Birmingham Athletics

Charlotte Hornets

Columbus Astros

Jacksonville Suns

Montgomery Rebels

Savannah Braves

April 1972

			1972 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
					NEED LOGO
	Asheville Orioles		Birmingham Athletics		Charlotte Hornets		Columbus Astros		Jacksonville Suns

					NEED LOGO
	Knoxville Sox		Montgomery Rebels		Savannah Braves

1972 Southern League
Western Division	Eastern Division
Birmingham Athletics	Asheville Orioles
Columbus Astros	Charlotte Hornets
Knoxville Sox	Jacksonville Suns
Montgomery Rebels	Savannah Braves

April 1973

			1973 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Orioles		Birmingham Athletics		Columbus Astros		Jacksonville Suns		Knoxville Sox

					NEED LOGO
	Montgomery Rebels		Orlando Twins		Savannah Braves

1973 Southern League
Western Division	Eastern Division
Asheville Orioles	Columbus Astros
Birmingham Athletics	Jacksonville Suns
Knoxville Sox	Orlando Twins
Montgomery Rebels	Savannah Braves

January 9, 1974
Finley announces he will be selling his major league sports teams as soon as possible. "My doctor has told me to get out of all sports for physical reasons."

Finley currently owns Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics, the National Hockey League's California Golden Seals, and the American Basketball Association's Memphis Tams.

What effect this decision will have on the Birmingham Athletics is unknown.

March 26, 1974
Shirley Finley, wife of owner Charles O. Finley, files for divorce after 32 years of marriage. She is seeking custody of the couple's three minor children and $1,250 a week for child support. The couple have seven children.

April 1974

			1974 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Orioles		Birmingham Athletics		Columbus Astros		Jacksonville Suns		Knoxville Sox


	Montgomery Rebels		Orlando Twins		Savannah Braves

1974 Southern League
Western Division	Eastern Division
Asheville Orioles	Columbus Astros
Birmingham Athletics	Jacksonville Suns
Knoxville Sox	Orlando Twins
Montgomery Rebels	Savannah Braves

January 9, 1975
A major blow to the chances of the Athletics remaining in Birmingham was landed today when the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board voted to increase Rickwood Field's yearly rental fee 100%, to $25,000. The Athletics have been battling decreased attendance with their last place team.

"I really can't argue with them trying to raise prices. Everything is going up this year. But I do resent having to read about it in the paper. It seems the least they could have done was pick up the phone and tell us they would like to discuss our lease agreement. An increase is one thing, but a 100% increase is something else. Because of the increase, there is a very real possibility there won't be a baseball team at this location, or in this city, next year," said Athletics general manager Glynn West.

Southern League president Billy Hitchcock agrees the increase is too severe. "Birmingham has always had to pay much more than any other city in the league for its park. Other cities have different agreements. Some pay $1 a year and maintain the park. Others pay the light bill, and others provide the maintenance crews. None came close to paying what Birmingham has to pay. If Oakland gets out of Birmingham it will be a very serious blow to the Southern League. Our plans for the coming year are already firm, and its going to be very hard to find another city this late in the year."

Frank Wagner, a member of the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board, explained the reasons for the increase. "We have been losing from $10,000 to $15,000 a year just on that operation. This is simply an effort on our part to break even. We understand Mr. Finley's problems in trying to field a minor league baseball team, but that's his problem and we have ours. We are in no way trying to squeeze them out of Birmingham."

January 22, 1975
Birmingham's immediate future in the Southern League is being decided by Finley after the Park and Recreation Board offered the Athletics two options in the leasing of Rickwood Field. They now have the option of paying $18,750 yearly rent or the option of taking over the maintenance costs and booking operations of Rickwood Field from April 10th to September 6th for $1,000.

West says the first option is unlikely to be agreed to, but Finley is considering the second option.

January 30, 1975
Birmingham Park and Recreation Board officials announce they have come to an agreement with the Athletics in terms of the rental of Rickwood Field. The Athletics will continue to pay the $12,500 they did last year but a review for the 1976 season will occur in April.

West lays it on the line and issues a challenge by saying, "Baseball fans will get a chance this season to show whether or not they want professional baseball here. How well we do this season at the gate could go a long way toward determining whether or not the Oakland organization feels it can meet any increase in rent."

West also announces that manager Harry Bright left the Athletics to become manager of the Class AAA Pacific League's Sacramento, California team.

February 22, 1975


	Manager Harry Malmberg

It is announced that Harry Malmberg will be the Athletics manager for the 1975 season. Malmberg was born in nearby Fairfield when his parents were on the way from Florida to California but only lived here for two months.

Malmberg began his coaching career as an assistant with Major League Baseball's Boston club in 1963. His managerial career began in the California League. Since 1973, Malmberg has been with the AAA American Association's Omaha franchise.

Malmberg played in the minor leagues from 1947 to 1963 except for the 1955 season when he played for Detroit. While there, he played for Billy Hitchcock, who is currently the Southern League's president. "Harry is a good baseball man. I think the people at Birmingham will like him," Hitchcock said.

March 15, 1975
A bad thunderstorm and a lightning bolt that knocked out a right-field roof transformer stopped the Athletics from playing a much-anticipated exhibition game against Finley's Oakland Athletics.

"If there had been enough light, those fans would have seen a game they'd remember all their lives. The World Champion A's and the Birmingham A's would have played barefooted, all of 'em, except the pitchers and catchers," Finley said.

April 1975

			1975 Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Orioles		Birmingham Athletics		Columbus Astros		Jacksonville Suns		Knoxville Sox


	Montgomery Rebels		Orlando Twins		Savannah Braves

1975 Southern League
Western Division	Eastern Division
Asheville Orioles	Columbus Astros
Birmingham Athletics	Jacksonville Suns
Knoxville Sox	Orlando Twins
Montgomery Rebels	Savannah Braves

June 24, 1975
At a meeting between Athletics officials and the Birmingham Park and Recreation board, the prospects of the Athletics returning in 1976 are rapidly dimming. At issue is the board's increase for rental of Rickwood Field.

The board wants to increase the fee by 100% to $25,000. Board member Tom Bradford summed up the board's feelings. "I'm not interested in subsidizing professional sports. I'm willing to rent the facility for what it costs and not a penny less."

Athletics officials insist the rent can't exceed the current fee of $12,500 or they will be forced to leave the city. Team officials have already looked at Huntsville as an alternative to keep the franchise in the Southern League. "We would like to stay in the Southern League. It is a good league with some fine cities. But if a spot should come open in the Texas League, we would also take a quick look in that direction," said John Claiborne, Oakland's director of minor league operations.

A recent study by the National Association of Professional Baseball reported that the Birmingham Athletics currently pay the highest stadium rental in AA baseball. The Southern League's Jacksonville Suns are next highest at $6,000, less than half of what the Athletics pay.

The board voted to provide a cost breakdown for 70 playing dates that should be ready in 30 days.

July 17, 1975
West reports the team is considering a move to Talladega, Huntsville, Mobile, Graysville, Tuscaloosa, or Macon (GA). The Athletics are also considering moving to the Texas League. This is a long-shot, however, since there is currently no opening in that league.

July 22, 1975
After weeks of number-crunching, the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board announce they must charge the Athletics $25,000 for next season's rental of Rickwood Field. West is present at the board meeting and approaches them with an alternative plan for the Athletics to pay the city $12,000 and assume all costs of grounds keeping, which is the bulk of the yearly rental fee. The board will consider West's proposition and will vote on it at their August meeting.

September 4, 1975
The Birmingham Park and Recreation Board and the Birmingham Athletics hold their final meeting. The city does not back off its $25,000 rent or $12,000 and services offer.

"I can't speak for him (owner Charlie Finley), but I would guess that if anyone wants to see Class AA baseball at Rickwood Field, they had better come out tonight or Friday. After that we'll probably be gone," West said.

October 29, 1975
The Birmingham Park Board submits a final proposal to the Athletics and want an answer from Finley within fifteen days.

The proposal offers the Athletics rental of Rickwood Field for $1 for the season (April through September) but the Athletics would be in charge of ground crews and electricity. The Park Board would retain the right to book events in Rickwood when the Athletics were on the road, and the Board would be responsible for cleanup after those events. The Board would also credit the Athletics $100 for each event held at Rickwood.

November 18, 1975
West manages to convince the Park and Recreation Board to extend the final proposal's deadline by five days.

November 19, 1975

Late this evening, investors in Chattanooga secure permission from the Oakland Athletics to move the Class AA Southern League team to their city. Approval of Southern League directors was secured by telephone from Southern League president Billy Hitchcock.

West was unaware of the decision the next morning until asked for comment by local media. "I don't know anything about it. Therefore I feel I should withhold any comment until I have talked to Mr. Finley," a shocked West said.

While the approval is tentative, final league approval should only be a matter of formality during the league meeting in December.

"I have always felt, and still feel, that Birmingham is a great baseball town, and under the right circumstances I think the city could again be a minor league stronghold as it was in the 1940's and early 50's. But at this time we feel it is in the best interest of the Southern League to approve the move to Chattanooga," Hitchcock said.

Epilogue
After the 1975 season wrapped up, the league voted to allow the team to be moved and the franchise became the Southern League's Chattanooga Lookouts.

Baseball would return to the city in 1978, when the upstart Freedom Baseball League's Alabama Barons began play at Rickwood Field. The league would fold after five games, and the undefeated Barons were deemed champions.

Art Clarkson brought the Southern League back to town in 1981 when he purchased the Montgomery Rebels and moved them here to become the Birmingham Barons.

Both the Birmingham Barons and the Southern League are still active to this day.

Champions of the Southern League/Double-A South
Year	Team	Year	Team	Year	Team
1964	Lynchburg White Sox	1985	Huntsville Stars	2006	Montgomery Biscuits
1965	Columbus Confederate Yankees	1986	Columbus Astros (2nd)	2007	Montgomery Biscuits (2nd)
1966	Mobile Athletics	1987	Birmingham Barons (2nd)	2008	Mississippi Braves
1967	Birmingham Athletics	1988	Chattanooga Lookouts	2009	Jacksonville Suns
1968	Asheville Tourists	1989	Birmingham Barons (3rd)	2010	Jacksonville Suns (2nd)
1969	Charlotte Hornets	1990	Memphis Chicks	2011	Mobile BayBears (3rd)
1970	Columbus Astros	1991	Orlando Sun Rays	2012	Mobile BayBears (4th)
1971	Charlotte Hornets (2nd)	1992	Greenville Braves	2013	Birmingham Barons (6th)
1972	Montgomery Rebels	1993	Birmingham Barons (4th)	2014	Jacksonville Suns (3rd)
1973	Montgomery Rebels (2nd)	1994	Huntsville Stars (2nd)	2015	Chattanooga Lookouts (2nd)
1974	Knoxville Sox	1995	Carolina Mudcats	2016	Jackson Generals
1975	Montgomery Rebels (3rd)	1996	Jacksonville Suns	2017	Chattanooga Lookouts (3rd) Pensacola Blue Wahoos
1976	Montgomery Rebels (4th)	1997	Greenville Braves (2nd)	2018	Jackson Generals (2nd)
1977	Montgomery Rebels (5th)	1998	Mobile BayBears	2019	Jackson Generals (3rd)
1978	Knoxville Sox (2nd)	1999	Orlando Rays	2020	Season cancelled: COVID-19
1979	Nashville Sounds	2000	West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx	2021	Mississippi Braves (2nd)
1980	Charlotte Orioles	2001	Huntsville Stars (3rd) Jacksonville Suns (2nd)	2022	Pensacola Blue Wahoos (2nd)
1981	Orlando Twins	2002	Birmingham Barons (5th)	2023	Tennessee Smokies (2nd)
1982	Nashville Sounds (2nd)	2003	Carolina Mudcats (2nd)
1983	Birmingham Barons	2004	Mobile BayBears (2nd) Tennessee Smokies
1984	Charlotte Orioles (2nd)	2005	Jacksonville Suns (3rd)


	Years local team participated

			Teams of the Southern League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Asheville Orioles 1972 to 1975		Asheville Tourists 1964 to 1966; 1968 to 1971		Birmingham Athletics 1967 to 1975		Birmingham Barons 1964 to 1965		Charlotte Hornets 1964 to 1972

	NEED LOGO
	Chattanooga Lookouts 1964 to 1965		Columbus Astros 1970 to 1975		Columbus Confederate Yankees 1964 to 1966		Columbus White Sox 1969		Evansville White Sox 1966 to 1968


	Jacksonville Suns 1970 to 1975		Knoxville Smokies 1964 to 1967		Knoxville Sox 1972 to 1975		Lynchburg White Sox 1964 to 1965		Macon Peaches 1964; 1966 to 1967


	Mobile Athletics 1966		Mobile White Sox 1970		Montgomery Rebels 1965 to 1975		Orlando Twins 1973 to 1975		Savannah Braves 1972 to 1975

	NEED LOGO
	Savannah Indians 1970		Savannah Senators 1968 to 1969

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Last update: March 21, 2024