Western Carolinas League

In 1963 the Western Carolina League was renamed the Western Carolinas League. After 17 years using that title, the league was renamed once more, reviving the abandoned South Atlantic League name. Throughout this period, the league remained a mid-level class A circuit. In 1975 and 1976, the league only fielded four teams. During these two years the league played an interlocking schedule with the Carolina League which was also down to four teams.

League Champions

• 1963 Greenville Braves
• 1964 Salisbury Dodgers
• 1965 Rock Hill Cardinals
• 1966 Spartanburg Phillies
• 1967 Spartanburg Phillies
• 1968 Greenwood Braves
• 1969 Greenwood Braves
• 1970 Greenville Red Sox
• 1971 Greenwood Braves
• 1972 Spartanburg Phillies
• 1973 Spartanburg Phillies
• 1974 Gastonia Rangers
• 1975 Spartanburg Phillies
• 1976 Greenwood Braves
• 1977 Gastonia Cardinals
• 1978 Greenwood Braves
• 1979 Greenwood Braves

Cities Represented (1960-1979)

• Anderson, SC: Anderson Senators 1970-1971; Anderson Giants 1972; Anderson Tigers 1973; Anderson Mets 1974; Anderson Rangers 1975
• Asheville, NC: Asheville Tourists 1976-1979, moved to South Atlantic League 1980-present
• Belmont, NC: Belmont Chiefs 1961
• Charleston, SC: Charleston Pirates 1973-1975; Charleston Patriots 1976-1977; Charleston Pirates 1978
• Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Twins 1972
• Gastonia, NC: Gastonia Rippers 1960; Gastonia Pirates 1963-1970; Gastonia Pirates 1972; Gastonia Rangers 1973-1974; Gastonia Cardinals 1977-1979, moved to South Atlantic League 1980-1982
• Greensboro, NC: Greensboro Hornets 1979
• Greenville, SC: Greenville Braves 1963-1964; Greenville Mets 1965-1966; Greenville Red Sox 1967-1971; Greenville Rangers 1972
• Greenwood, SC: Greenwood Braves 1968-1979
• Hickory, NC: Hickory Rebels 1960
• Lexington, NC: Lexington Indians 1960-1961; Lexington Giants 1963-1966; Lexington Braves 1967
• Monroe, NC: Monroe Indians 1969; Monroe Pirates 1971
• Newton, NC & Conover, NC: Newton-Conover Twins 1960-1962
• Orangeburg, SC: Orangeburg Cardinals 1973; Orangeburg Dodgers 1974
• Rock Hill, SC: Rock Hill Wrens 1963; Rock Hill Cardinals 1964-1966; Rock Hill Indians 1967-1968
• Salisbury, NC: Salisbury Braves 1960-1962; Salisbury Dodgers 1963-1964; Salisbury Astros 1965-1966; Salisbury Senators 1968
• Shelby, NC: Shelby Colonels 1960-1963; Shelby Yankees 1964; Shelby Rebels 1965; Shelby Senators 1969; Shelby Reds 1977-1978; Shelby Pirates 1979, moved to South Atlantic League 1980
• Spartanburg, SC: Spartanburg Phillies 1963-1979, moved to South Atlantic League 1980
• Spindale, NC: Rutherford County Owls 1960
• Statesville, NC: Statesville Owls 1960-1963; Statesville Colts 1964; Statesville Tigers 1966-1967; Statesville Indians 1969
• Sumter, SC: Sumter Indians 1970; Sumter Astros 1971
• Thomasville, NC: Thomasville Hi-Toms 1965-1966

Hall of Fame Alumni

• Sparky Anderson, 1965 Manager, Rock Hill Cardinals
• Steve Carlton, 1964 Rock Hill Cardinals
• Nolan Ryan, 1966 Greenville Mets
• Ryne Sandberg, 1979 Spartanburg Phillies

Other Notable Alumni

• Tony Armas Sr., 1971/1972 Monroe Pirates/Gastonia Pirates
• Dusty Baker, 1968 Greenwood Braves
• Steve Bedrosian, 1978 Greenwood Braves
• George Bell , 1979 Spartanburg Phillies
• Bobby Bonds, 1965 Lexington Giants
• Lyman Bostock, 1972 Charlotte Twins
• Joe Charboneau, 1976 Spartanburg Phillies
• Cecil Cooper, 1969 Greenville Red Sox
• Dwight Evans, (1970 Greenville Red Sox
• Cito Gaston, 1964 Greenville Braves
• Pedro Guerrero, 1974 Orangeburg Dodgers
• Willie Hernandez, 1974 Spartanburg Phillies
• Don Mattingly, 1980 Greensboro Hornets
• Dale Murphy, 1975 Greenwood Braves
• Ben Oglivie, 1969 Greenville Red Sox
• Al Oliver, 1965 Gastonia Pirates
• Dave Parker, 1971 Monroe Pirates