Sumter Indians

• Location: Sumter, SC
• League: Western Carolinas League 1970
• Affiliation: Cleveland Indians 1970
• Ballpark:

In 1970, Sumter, SC was home to professional baseball for the first time in 20 years with the arrival of the Sumter Indians, who played in the Western Carolinas League. After a last-place, 23-43 first half, the Cleveland Indians farm club went 38-26 in the second half, only one and a half games behind the first-place Greenville Red Sox. Managed by Len Johnston, Sumter was outscored 694-648 on the year. The team had one All-Star, 1B Dan Covert (.295/~.396/.466), who was fifth in the league in average and tied for second with 16 homers. Future big-leaguers included 3B Buddy Bell (.265/~.333/.403, 81 runs, 75 RBI, .902 fielding), OF Tommy Smith (.366/~.396/.536 in 53 games, .844 fielding) and Jim Kern (5-6, 4.88, 70 walks and 71 K in 72 innings, a league-worst 25 wild pitches). Dan Hatchell (10-5, 3.25) was fourth in the circuit in ERA while Richard Ray (3-3, 13 Sv, 4.01) had the most saves. They drew 33,196 fans, 4th in the six-team WCL. The team switched affiliations in 1971 and became the Sumter Astros.

Source: 1971 Baseball Guide

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1970	61-68	4th	Len Johnston	none