{{Cleanup|reason=References|date=December 2022}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name = Macon Peaches | firstseason = 1892 | lastseason = 1967 | allyears = {{small|1892–1894, 1904–1917; 1923–1930; 1932; 1936–1942; 1946–1964; 1966–1967}} | city = Macon, Georgia | logo = | caplogo = | past class level = {{plainlist| *Double A (1963–1964; 1966–1967) *Class A (1962) *Class AA (1961) *Class A (1946–1960) *Class B (1923–1930; 1932; 1936–1942) *Class C (1904–1917) *Class B (1892–1894) }} | conference = | division = | past league = {{plainlist| *Southern League (1964; 1966–1967) *South Atlantic League (1962–1963) *Southern Association (1961) *South Atlantic League (1936–1942; 1946–1960) *Southeastern League (1932) *South Atlantic League (1904–1917, 1923–1930) *Southern League (1892–1894) }} | pastmajorleague = {{plainlist| *Pittsburgh Pirates (1967) *Philadelphia Phillies (1966) *Cincinnati Reds (1962–1964) *Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1956–1960) *Chicago Cubs (1941–1942, 1946–1949, 1952–1955) *Brooklyn Dodgers (1939–1940) *Cincinnati Reds (1936) *Brooklyn Dodgers (1929–1930) }} | pastnames = {{plainlist| *'''Macon Peaches''' (1962–1964, 1966–1967) *Macon Dodgers (1956–1960) *'''Macon Peaches''' (1923–1930, 1932, 1936–1942, 1946–1955) *Macon Tigers (1916–1917) *'''Macon Peaches''' (1908–1915) *Macon Brigands (1905–1907) *Macon Highlanders (1904) *Macon Hornets (1893–1894) *Macon Central City (1892–1893) }} | pastparks = {{plainlist| *Luther Williams Field (1926–1967) *Central City Park (1892–1926) }} | leaguenum = 9 | leaguechamps = {{hlist|1904|1905|1930|1938|1942|1949|1950|1958|1962}} | pennum = 1 | pennants = 1893 (2nd half) | divisionchamps = }}<!-- Infobox ends -->

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

==History==

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 {{baseball year|1907}} and {{baseball year|1955}}, except for 1916–1917. The Peaches nickname was also used from 1961–1964, 1966–1967, and 1980–1982.<ref>{{Cite book|editor1-last=Johnson|editor1-first=Lloyd|editor2-last=Wolff|editor2-first=Miles|title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball|edition=2nd|location=Durham, North Carolina|publisher=Baseball America|year=1997|isbn=978-0-9637189-8-3}}</ref> 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. 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, Macon's team was known as the '''Macon Dodgers''', adopting the name of their parent club.

===Reds' farm team produced Rose, Pérez, May and Helms=== From 1962–1964, the Peaches were an important upper-level affiliate (Double-A 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 {{baseball year|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 {{baseball year|1972}} and World Series titles in {{baseball year|1975}} and {{baseball year|1976}}.

Macon was Rose's last minor league address before he launched his Major League career as the {{baseball year|1963}} National League Rookie of the Year. He had batted .330 for the 1962 Peaches.<ref>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rose--003pet Information] at Baseball Reference</ref>

==After the Peaches==

In 1980, a new Macon Peaches team formed in the South Atlantic League and after 1982, this franchise adopted the name Redbirds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stratton |first1=Bob |title=A quiet farewell to a Macon tradition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-news-a-quiet-farewell-to-a-mac/191086110/ |access-date=11 February 2026 |work=The Macon News |date=18 January 1983 |page=4}}</ref> This team relocated to Savannah, Georgia, and became the Savannah Cardinals, but were replaced in Macon by the relocated Greenwood Pirates, who renamed themselves the Macon Pirates.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rappaport |first1=Michael |title=SAL Defers Anderson Decision |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-independent-mail-sal-defers-and/187121058/ |access-date=19 December 2025 |work=Anderson Independent-Mail |date=14 November 1983 |page=5}}</ref> The Macon Pirates would move to Augusta, Georgia, after the 1987 season, where they played as the Augusta Pirates.<ref>{{cite news |title=All-out promotional effort planned for Augusta Pirates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-index-journal-all-out-promotional-ef/190905538/ |access-date=9 February 2026 |work=The Greenwood Index-Journal |agency=AP |date=8 October 1987 |page=14}}</ref>

After the 1990 season, the South Atlantic League returned to Macon with the relocation of the Sumter Braves and the Sumter Braves became the Macon Braves, Macon's last affiliated team and last South Atlantic League team. Many well known major league players came from the Macon Braves, such as Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Rafael Furcal, Tony Graffanino, John Rocker, John Smoltz, and Marcus Giles.<ref>''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', April 14, 2002 Sunday,, Home Edition, Sports;, Pg. 6D, 751 words, CARLOS FRIAS</ref> The Macon Braves relocated to Rome, Georgia and were renamed to the Rome Braves.

After losing the Macon Braves, Macon was home to an Independent professional team, the Macon Music in the South Coast League, for one season (2007) as well as a different independent league baseball team known as the Macon Pinetoppers (2010) that called Luther Williams Field "home".

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

==Notable alumni == {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Al Lopez Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 1997 * Tony Pérez (1963) Inducted Baseball Hall of Fame, 2000 * Rube Benton (1910) *Jim Brosnan (1966) *Jackie Brown *Smoky Burgess (1947) 9x MLB All-Star *Al Campanis (1940) *Bruce Dal Canton (1967) * Abner Dalrymple (1893) 1885 NL Home Run Leader *Dock Ellis (1967) MLB All-Star * Raymond Doster (1967-1968) * Phil Douglas (1911) *Chick Fullis (1927) *Tommy Helms (1962) 2x MLB All-Star; 1966 NL Rookie of the Year * Wes Helms (1995) *Bobo Holloman (1947–1948) *Gordon Maltzberger *Lee May (1963) 3x MLB All-Star; 1976 AL RBI Leader * Pepper Martin (1955, MGR) 4x MLB All-Star *Bob Moose (1963) *Billy Muffett (1955) *Bobo Newsom (1930) 4x MLB All-Star *Al Oliver (1967) 7x MLB All-Star; 1982 AL Batting Champion *Bob Oliver (1967) *Andy Pafko (1942) 5x MLB All-Star *Mel Queen (1962) *Paul Richards (1929-1930) *Pete Rose (1962) 17x MLB All-Star; 1963 NL Rookie of the Year; All-Time MLB Hits Leader *Johnny Rucker *Barney Schultz (1950) *Art Shamsky (1962) * John Smiley (1984-1985) 2x MLB All-Star *Eddie Stanky (1939, 1941) 3x MLB All-Star *Carl Taylor *Hippo Vaughn (1909) 1918 NL ERA, Wins, Strikeout Leader {{div col end}}

==See also== * Macon Bacon

==References== '''Notes''' {{reflist}} '''Sources''' {{refbegin}} * [http://www.macon.com/2012/03/28/1966555/robinson-made-memorable-appearance.html Jackie Robinson visits Macon to play the Peaches] *[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?city=Macon&state=GA&country=US&empty=0 Baseball Reference] {{refend}}

Category:Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Category:Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates Category:Defunct Southern League (1964–present) teams Category:Southern League (1885–1899) teams Category:Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliates Category:Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates Category:Professional baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Sports in Macon, Georgia Category:Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates Category:St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates Category:Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates Category:Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates Category:Los Angeles Dodgers minor league affiliates Category:1892 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:2002 disestablishments in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Baseball teams established in 1892 Category:Defunct independent baseball league teams Category:Southeastern League teams Category:South Atlantic League (1904–1963) teams Category:Defunct baseball teams in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Defunct South Atlantic League teams Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2003