{{Infobox sports season | logo = | title = 1971 Dixie Association season | league = Southern League <br> Texas League | sport = Baseball | duration = April 13 – September 6 | no_of_games = 142 | no_of_teams = 14 | season2 = Regular season | league_champs2 = '''Charlotte Hornets''' | second_place2 = | MVP2 = | MVP_link2 = | season3 = Playoffs | league_champs3 = '''Charlotte Hornets''' | second_place3 = Arkansas Travelers | MVP3 = | MVP_link3 = | playoffs = | conf1 = | conf1_link = | conf1_champ = | conf1_runner-up = | conf2 = | conf2_link = | conf2_champ = | conf2_runner-up = | finals = | finals_link = | finals_champ = | finals_runner-up = | finals_MVP = | finals_MVP_link = }}
The '''1971 Dixie Association''' was a Class AA baseball season played between April 13 and September 6. Fourteen teams played a 142-game schedule, with four teams qualifying for the post-season.
The Charlotte Hornets won the Dixie Association championship, defeating the Arkansas Travelers in the final round of the playoffs.
==League changes== The '''Dixie Association''' was an interleague partnership between the Texas League (TL) and the Southern League (SL) Double-A leagues of Minor League Baseball in 1971. The two leagues played an interlocking schedule.<ref name="Ref1">(January 20, 1971). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MVozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p-YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7214,2344114&dq= Texas, Southern Loops Join to Former Dixie Association], ''Lawrence Journal-World'' (Associated Press)</ref><ref name="Ref2">(June 29, 1971). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4AhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YU0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4375,2010671&dq= Dixie Association Appeared Doomed], ''Bonham Daily Favorite'' (Associated Press)</ref> The partnership was dissolved after the season.
Each league consisted of seven teams who were divided among the association's three divisions. The West Division was composed of four TL teams. The Central Division had three TL teams and one SL team. The East Division consisted of six SL teams. At the end of the season, the two top teams from the SL competed for the Southern League championship—the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Asheville Tourists, 2–1. The TL winners of the Central and West Divisions met for the Texas League championship—the Arkansas Travelers defeated the Amarillo Giants, 2–0. The individual league champions then competed for the Dixie Association championship—Charlotte defeated Arkansas, 3–0.<ref name=SCSL>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-SOUL/y-1971 |title=1971 Southern League (Dixie Association) Standings |website=Stats Crew |accessdate=May 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name=SCTL>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-TL/y-1971 |title=1971 Texas League (Dixie Association) Standings |website=Stats Crew |accessdate=May 4, 2020}}</ref>
==Team changes== ===Southern League teams=== *The Asheville Tourists join the league from the Southern League. The club ended their affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds and began a new affiliation with the Chicago White Sox. The club will play in the East Division. *The Birmingham Athletics join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the Central Division. *The Charlotte Hornets join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the East Division. *The Columbus Astros join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the East Division. *The Jacksonville Suns join the league from the Southern League. The club ended their affiliations with the Milwaukee Brewers and Montreal Expos and began a new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians. The club will play in the East Division. *The Mobile White Sox fold. *The Montgomery Rebels join the league from the Southern League. The club will play in the East Division. *The Savannah Indians join the league from the Southern League. The club ended their affiliation with the Cleveland Indians and began a new affiliation with the Atlanta Braves. The team was renamed to the Savannah Braves. The club will play in the East Division.
===Texas League teams=== *The Arkansas Travelers join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the East Division. *The Amarillo Giants join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. *The Albuquerque Dodgers join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. *The Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. *The El Paso Sun Kings took a leave of absence in 1971. *The Memphis Blues join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the East Division. *The San Antonio Missions join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the West Division. *The Shreveport Captains join the league from the Texas League. The club will play in the East Division. The club ended their affiliation with the Atlanta Braves and began a new affiliation with the California Angels.
==Teams== {| class="wikitable" style="width:auto" |- | bgcolor="#DC143C" align="center" colspan="7"|'''<span style="color:white;">1971 Dixie Association</span>''' |- ! Division || Team || City || MLB Affiliate || Stadium |- ! rowspan="6" | East | Asheville Tourists | Asheville, North Carolina | Chicago White Sox | McCormick Field |- | Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte, North Carolina | Minnesota Twins | Clark Griffith Park |- | Columbus Astros | Columbus, Georgia | Houston Astros | Golden Park |- | Jacksonville Suns | Jacksonville, Florida | Cleveland Indians | Wolfson Park |- | Montgomery Rebels | Montgomery, Alabama | Detroit Tigers | Paterson Field |- | Savannah Braves | Savannah, Georgia | Atlanta Braves | Grayson Stadium |- ! rowspan="4" | Central | Arkansas Travelers | Little Rock, Arkansas | St. Louis Cardinals | Ray Winder Field |- | Birmingham Athletics | Birmingham, Alabama | Oakland Athletics | Rickwood Field |- | Memphis Blues | Memphis, Tennessee | New York Mets | Blues Stadium |- | Shreveport Captains | Shreveport, Louisiana | California Angels | SPAR Stadium |- ! rowspan="4" | West | Albuquerque Dodgers | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Los Angeles Dodgers | Albuquerque Sports Stadium |- | Amarillo Giants | Amarillo, Texas | San Francisco Giants | Potter County Memorial Stadium |- | Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs | Arlington, Texas | Baltimore Orioles | Turnpike Stadium |- | San Antonio Missions | San Antonio, Texas | Chicago Cubs | V. J. Keefe Memorial Stadium |}
==Map of teams== {{CSS crop |Location=left |Description=10px East Division 10px Central Division 10px West Division |bSize=1025 |cWidth=660 |cHeight=270 |oLeft=190 |oTop=300 |Content= {{Location map+ | USA | width = 1100 | caption = | places =
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 35.59 | lon_deg = -82.55 | mark = Black pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''Asheville''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 35.20 | lon_deg = -80.85 | mark = Black pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = right | label = '''Charlotte''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 32.45 | lon_deg = -84.99 | mark = Black pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = right | label = '''Columbus''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 30.33 | lon_deg = -81.64 | mark = Black pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = right | label = '''Jacksonville''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 32.38 | lon_deg = -86.29 | mark = Black pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''Montgomery''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 32.04 | lon_deg = -81.08 | mark = Black pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = right | label = '''Savannah''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 34.75 | lon_deg = -92.32 | mark = Red pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''Arkansas''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 33.50 | lon_deg = -86.86 | mark = Red pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''Birmingham''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 35.12 | lon_deg = -89.98 | mark = Red pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = right | label = '''Memphis''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 32.51 | lon_deg = -93.75 | mark = Red pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = right | label = '''Shreveport''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 35.07 | lon_deg = -106.63 | mark = Blue pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''Albuquerque''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 35.21 | lon_deg = -101.80 | mark = Blue pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''Amarillo''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 32.76 | lon_deg = -97.08 | mark = Blue pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''{{nowrap|Dallas-Fort Worth}}''' | background=#ffe}}
{{Location map~ | USA | lat_deg = 29.45 | lon_deg = -98.57 | mark = Blue pog.svg | label_size = 80 | position = left | label = '''{{nowrap|San Antonio}}''' | background=#ffe}}
}} }}
{{Clear}}
==Regular season== ===Summary=== * The Charlotte Hornets finished the season with the best record in the league.
===Standings=== <ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=a33d7a12 1971 Dixie Standings] at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 27, 2025</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="5"|East Division |- ! width="60%" | Team !! Win !! Loss !! % !! GB |- align=center bgcolor=ccffcc |align=left| Charlotte Hornets || 92 || 50 || {{Winning percentage|92|50}} || – |- align=center bgcolor=ccffcc |align=left| Asheville Tourists || 90 || 51 || {{Winning percentage|90|51}} || 1.5 |- align=center |align=left| Montgomery Rebels || 73 || 69 || {{Winning percentage|73|69}} || 19 |- align=center |align=left| Jacksonville Suns || 63 || 77 || {{Winning percentage|63|77}} || 28 |- align=center |align=left| Savannah Braves || 57 || 84 || {{Winning percentage|57|84}} || 34.5 |- align=center |align=left| Columbus Astros || 51 || 91 || {{Winning percentage|51|91}} || 41 |- ! colspan="5"|Central Division |- align=center bgcolor=ccffcc |align=left| Arkansas Travelers || 75 || 64 || {{Winning percentage|75|64}} || – |- align=center |align=left| Memphis Blues || 69 || 70 || {{Winning percentage|69|70}} || 6 |- align=center |align=left| Shreveport Captains || 69 || 73 || {{Winning percentage|69|73}} || 7.5 |- align=center |align=left| Birmingham Athletics || 48 || 93 || {{Winning percentage|48|93}} || 28 |- ! colspan="5"|West Division |- align=center bgcolor=ccffcc |align=left| Amarillo Giants || 88 || 54 || {{Winning percentage|88|54}} || – |- align=center |align=left| Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs || 82 || 59 || {{Winning percentage|82|59}} || 5.5 |- align=center |align=left| Albuquerque Dodgers || 67 || 75 || {{Winning percentage|67|75}} || 21 |- align=center |align=left| San Antonio Missions || 63 || 77 || {{Winning percentage|63|77}} || 24 |}
==League Leaders== ===Batting leaders=== <ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=a33d7a12 1971 DA Batting Leaders] at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 27, 2025</ref> {| class="wikitable" width="40%" style="text-align:center;" |- ! width="5%" | Stat ! width="60%" | Player ! width="5%" | Total |- | AVG || Minnie Mendoza, Charlotte Hornets || .316 |- | H || Minnie Mendoza, Charlotte Hornets || 163 |- | R || Ken Hottman, Asheville Tourists || 99 |- | 2B || Gary Matthews, Amarillo Giants || 37 |- | 3B || Leon Brown, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs || 10 |- | HR || Ken Hottman, Asheville Tourists || 37 |- | RBI || Ken Hottman, Asheville Tourists || 116 |- | SB || Bill North, San Antonio Missions || 47 |}
===Pitching leaders=== <ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=a33d7a12 1971 DA Pitching Leaders] at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed February 27, 2025</ref> {| class="wikitable" width="40%" style="text-align:center;" |- ! width="5%" | Stat ! width="60%" | Player ! width="5%" | Total |- | W || Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs || 19 |- | ERA || Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs || 1.71 |- | CG || Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs || 20 |- | SHO || Wayne Garland, Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs <br> Gary Ryerson, Amarillo Giants || 6 |- | SV || Jack Whillock, Montgomery Rebels || 15 |- | IP || Wes Scott, Amarillo Giants || 221.0 |- | SO || Chris Floethe, Birmingham Athletics || 225 |}
==Playoffs== *The semi-finals are a best-of-three series. *The finals are a best-of-five series. *The Charlotte Hornets won the Dixie Association championship, defeating the Arkansas Travelers in three games.
===Playoff bracket=== <section begin=Bracket/> {{4TeamBracket | RD1=Semi-finals | RD2=Finals
| RD1-seed1=E1 | RD1-team1='''Charlotte''' | RD1-score1='''2''' | RD1-seed2=E2 | RD1-team2=Asheville | RD1-score2=1 | RD1-seed3=W1 | RD1-team3=Amarillo | RD1-score3=0 | RD1-seed4=C1 | RD1-team4='''Arkansas''' | RD1-score4='''2''' | RD2-seed1=E1 | RD2-team1='''Charlotte''' | RD2-score1='''3''' | RD2-seed2=C1 | RD2-team2=Arkansas | RD2-score2=0 }}
==See also== * 1971 Major League Baseball season
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.mlb.com/milb Minor League Baseball official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:1971 Dixie Association season}} Dixie Association season Category:1971 in sports in Alabama Category:1971 in sports in Arkansas Category:1971 in sports in Florida Category:1971 in sports in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:1971 in sports in Louisiana Category:1971 in sports in North Carolina Category:1971 in sports in Tennessee Category:1971 in sports in Texas Category:1971 establishments in the United States Category:1971 disestablishments in the United States Category:Sports leagues established in 1971 Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 1971