List of Memphis Chicks (Southern League) seasons
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The Memphis Chicks were a Minor League Baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, that played in the Southern League (SL), at the Double-A level, from 1978 to 1997. Memphis was affiliated with Major League Baseball's Montreal Expos (1978–1983), Kansas City Royals (1984–1994), San Diego Padres (1995–1996), and Seattle Mariners (1997).[1] The club played 2,858 regular-season games and compiled a win–loss record of 1,418–1,439 (.496). They appeared in the postseason on seven occasions in which they had a record of 15–21 (.417) in 36 games. Combining all 2,894 regular-season and postseason games, Memphis had an all-time record of 1,433–1,460 (.495).[2][3]
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Created as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League in 1978, the Chicks played in this league through their final 1997 season. With the arrival of the Memphis Redbirds, a Triple-A expansion team of the Pacific Coast League,[2] the Southern League Chicks franchise relocated to Jackson, Tennessee, after the season to become the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.[4]
The Chicks' best regular-season record occurred in 1996 when they finished 81–58 (.583).[2] Their lowest season record was 59–84 (.413), which they recorded in 1989.[2] Of the four Major League Baseball teams with which Memphis was affiliated, they experienced their best record as the Double-A farm club of the Padres from 1995 to 1996. In the two-year affiliation, the Chicks compiled a win–loss record of 149–132 (.530). They reached the postseason in both years, going 3–6 (.333), but failed to win a Southern League championship during that stretch. Conversely, Memphis incurred a 67–72 (.482) record over a single season with the Mariners in 1997 and did not reach the postseason. Over their complete 20-year run, the Chicks won two division titles (1980 and 1990) and one Southern League championship (1990).
Season-by-season records
| League | The team's final position in the league standings |
|---|---|
| Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings |
| GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season |
| ‡ | League champions |
| † | Division champions |
| * | Postseason berth |
| Season | Regular-season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | Ref. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | |||
| 1978 | 71–73 | .493 | 5th | 2nd | 17 | — | — | — | Montreal Expos | [5] |
| 1979
* |
82–62 | .569 | 4th | 2nd | 1 | 1–2 | .333 | Won First-Half Western Division title[n 1] Lost Western Division title vs. Nashville Sounds, 2–1[8] |
Montreal Expos | [9] |
| 1980 * † |
83–61 | .576 | 2nd | 2nd | 14+1⁄2 | 4–4 | .500 | Won First-Half Western Division title[10] Won Western Division title vs. Nashville Sounds, 3–1[11] Lost SL championship vs. Charlotte O's, 3–1[12] |
Montreal Expos | [13] |
| 1981 * |
77–66 | .538 | 3rd | 2nd | 4 | 0–3 | .000 | Won First-Half Western Division title[14] Lost Western Division title vs. Nashville Sounds, 3–0[15] |
Montreal Expos | [16] |
| 1982 | 70–74 | .486 | 6th (tie) | 3rd (tie) | 7 | — | — | — | Montreal Expos | [17] |
| 1983 | 61–85 | .418 | 10th | 5th | 30+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Montreal Expos | [18] |
| 1984 | 71–75 | .486 | 7th | 2nd | 2+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [19] |
| 1985 | 65–79 | .451 | 9th | 4th | 14+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [20] |
| 1986 | 69–75 | .479 | 9th | 4th | 10+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [21] |
| 1987 | 72–71 | .503 | 4th | 2nd | 1+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [22] |
| 1988 * |
79–64 | .552 | 3rd | 2nd | 2 | 1–3 | .250 | Won Second-Half Western Division title[23] Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–1[24] |
Kansas City Royals | [25] |
| 1989 | 59–84 | .413 | 10th | 5th | 29 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [26] |
| 1990 * † ‡ |
73–71 | .507 | 5th | 3rd | 6 | 6–3 | .667 | Won First-Half Western Division title[27] Won Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–1[28] Won SL championship vs. Orlando SunRays, 3–2[29] |
Kansas City Royals | [30] |
| 1991 | 61–83 | .424 | 9th (tie) | 4th (tie) | 16+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [31] |
| 1992 | 71–73 | .493 | 4th | 3rd | 19+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [32] |
| 1993 | 63–77 | .450 | 9th | 5th | 14 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [33] |
| 1994 | 75–62 | .547 | 2nd | 2nd | 5+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Kansas City Royals | [34] |
| 1995 * |
68–74 | .479 | 7th | 4th | 14+1⁄2 | 2–3 | .400 | Won First-Half Western Division title[35] Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–2[36] |
San Diego Padres | [37] |
| 1996 * |
81–58 | .583 | 1st | 1st | — | 1–3 | .250 | Won First-Half Western Division title[38] Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–1[39] |
San Diego Padres | [40] |
| 1997 | 67–72 | .482 | 7th | 5th | 10 | — | — | — | Seattle Mariners | [41] |
| Totals | 1,419–1,439 | .497 | — | — | — | 15–21 | .417 | — | — | — |
Franchise totals
By affiliation
| Affiliation | Regular-season | Postseason | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | Appearances | Record | Win % | |
| Montreal Expos (1978–1983) | 444–421 | .513 | 3 | 5–9 | .357 |
| Kansas City Royals (1984–1994) | 758–814 | .482 | 2 | 7–6 | .538 |
| San Diego Padres (1995–1996) | 149–132 | .530 | 2 | 3–6 | .333 |
| Seattle Mariners (1997) | 67–72 | .482 | — | — | — |
| Totals | 1,418–1,439 | .496 | 7 | 15–21 | .417 |
Notes
- The Chicks finished the 1979 first half tied for first place with the Montgomery Rebels.[6] The Chicks defeated the Rebels in a one-game playoff, 2–1, to win the first-half title.[7]