Dixie Association

After the 1970 season both the 8-team Texas League and the 8-team Southern League lost a member. With unbalanced numbers, they decided to join in 1971 to form the Dixie Association. The eastern division teams (all 6 from the SL) played each other and the central division teams. The western division teams (all 4 from the TL) played each other and the central division teams). The four central division teams (three from the TL plus the Birmingham A's from the SL) played each other and both other divisions. Then the top two SL and TL teams faced off in a playoff (the top two eastern teams met in the SL playoff, while the central and western teams met in the TL playoff) and finally the Charlotte Hornets beat the Arkansas Travelers in the only Dixie Association Championship. The TL and SL still maintained separate league leaders, All-Star teams and statistics despite some "interleague" play in the odd arrangement. The Dixie Association lasted just one year.

Teams and Statistics

1971 Southern Association

1971 AA Southern League (Dixie Association)
President: Sam C. Smith

Team Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Charlotte Hornets	92	50	.648	0	69,132	Harry Warner
Asheville Tourists	90	51	.638	1.5	46,976	Larry Sherry
Montgomery Rebels	73	69	.514	19	45,110	Dick Tracewski
Jacksonville Suns	63	77	.450	28	58,751	Ray Hathaway
Savannah Braves	57	84	.404	34.5	60,712	Eddie Haas
Columbus Astros	51	91	.359	41	19,950	Cliff Davis
Birmingham A's	48	93	.340	43.5	33,275	Phil Cavarretta

Played an interlocking schedule with the Texas league known as the Dixie Association.
Playoff: Charlotte 2 games, Asheville 1.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Minnie Mendoza	Charlotte	BA	.316		Jim MacDonnell	Asheville	W	17
Ken Hottman	Asheville	Runs	99		Dick Rusteck	Charlotte	W	17
Minnie Mendoza	Charlotte	Hits	163		Chris Floethe	Birmingham	SO	225
Ken Hottman	Asheville	RBI	116		Dick Rusteck	Charlotte	ERA	2.40
Ken Hottman	Asheville	HR	37

Teams and Statistics

1971 Texas League

1971 AA Texas League (Dixie Association)
President: Bobby Bragan

East Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Arkansas Travelers	75	64	.540	0	101,000	Jack Krol
Memphis Blues	69	70	.496	6	96,410	John Antonelli
Shreveport Captains	69	73	.486	7.5	44,662	Les Moss

West Standings	W	L	PCT	GB	Attend	Managers
Amarillo Giants	88	54	.620	0	66,117	Andy Gilbert
Dallas-Ft. Worth Spurs	82	59	.582	5.5	213,249	Cal Ripken, Sr.
Albuquerque Dodgers	67	75	.472	21	165,308	Monty Basgall
San Antonio Missions	63	77	.450	24	47,113	Walt Dixon

Played an interlocking schedule with the Southern league known as the Dixie Association.
Playoff: Arkansas 2 games, Amarillo 0.

Player Statistics

Player	Team	Stat	Tot		Player	Team	Stat	Tot
Enos Cabell	Dallas/Ft.Worth	BA	.311		Wayne Garland	Dallas/Ft. Worth	W	19
Billy North	San Antonio	Runs	91		Tommy Moore	Memphis	SO	160
Enos Cabell	Dallas/Ft. Worth	Hits	162		Wayne Garland	Dallas/Ft. Worth	ERA	1.71
Gary Matthews Sr.	Amarillo	RBI	86		Larry Fritz	Memphis	HR	20

Championship Playoff

The Charlotte Hornets beat the Arkansas Travelers for the first and only Dixie Association Championship.

Source

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Second Edition.