Southern League Hall of Fame

Billy Hitchcock played all four infield positions during a nine-year American League active career. He broke in with the 1942 Detroit Tigers, spent three years in the Army Air Force in the Pacific during World War II, and resumed his major league career from 1946-53. Hitchcock spent the next several years as a manager and coach with the Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. His career managing record was 274 wins, 261 losses (.514). Hitchcock then scouted for the Montreal Expos from 1968-71. In 1980 he was presented with the "King of Baseball" award given by Minor League Baseball. With Hitchcock as league president, the Southern League added teams, expanded the playoffs and introduced split-season play. Hitchcock led a rejuvenation of the league that included stadium refurbishments and a concerted effort to make the league more family-friendly. The league's attendance figures rose dramatically during his tenure, from 333,500 in 1971 to over 1.7 million in 1980.

Jimmy Bragan was an infielder, manager and league president in Minor League Baseball, a scout and coach at the Major League level, and a college baseball coach during a 40-plus year career in the game. He was the brother of Major League catcher, shortstop, manager and Coach Bobby Bragan. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Jimmy Bragan attended Mississippi State University and played baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system from 1950-1957. After his playing career ended, he was a coach and manager in the Dodgers, Reds and Expos organizations. He became head baseball coach of Mississippi State University in 1975, and a coach with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976-1977. In 1980, he succeeded Billy Hitchcock as President of the Southern League. He presided over a host of new stadiums in the league, including fields in Greenville, Huntsville, Birmingham and Charlotte. Southern League attendance steadily climbed toward two million in the 1980s. In 1994 he was presented with the "King of Baseball" award given by Minor League Baseball.

Mr. Bragan was part of a baseball family that included MLB player, coach and manager Bobby Bragan and former Southern League President Jimmy Bragan. A successful car dealer in Birmingham, Alabama, Mr. Bragan purchased the Jacksonville Suns in 1984 and as president and owner for over 25 years, he oversaw many years of financial and athletic success for the franchise, never afraid to pursue unique marketing and promotional initiatives. He successfully guided the completion of The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville which opened in 2003, and the field was named for him after his passing in 2012. Known for his larger-than-life personality and as a friend of the fans, his legacy was passed on to his son and former president/owner, Peter Bragan, Jr.

After several years of working in sports radio production, Frank Burke and his partners bought the Lookouts franchise in 1995. In 1999 they announced plans to build a new privately funded ballpark in downtown Chattanooga. The year 2000 saw the opening of AT&T Field, which replaced Historic Engel Stadium. As general manager, Burke introduced several marketing innovations and promotions that helped ensure the long term success of the franchise. He was awarded Southern League Executive of the Year in 2001 and 2011 as well as the Double-A Bob Frietas Award from Baseball America in 2002. Burke also served as the Southern League's representative on the National Association Board of Trustees and was the chair of the league's Advisory and Finance Committee. Over the years, Burke served on the Board of Trustees for several local businesses, representing the Lookouts' mission to be productive corporate citizens of Chattanooga.

Mike Darr, a Corona, California native, was a key player in the championship-winning 1998 Mobile BayBears season. He helped to lead the BayBears to an 85-54 record as an outfielder and switch-hitter. Darr posted a .310 batting average with 6 homeruns, 90 RBI and 28 stolen bases. At the time, his 90 RBI set a franchise record. Darr was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1994 but went on to work his way up through the San Diego Padres system after being traded in 1997. He played for the Triple-A Las Vegas Stars in 1999 and 2000 and then for the Padres in 2000 and 2001. He passed away in 2002 in an automobile accident during Spring Training.

Reggie Jackson (nicknamed "Mr. October") was born in Cheltenham Township in Pennsylvania. He was recruited by Arizona State University to play football but soon began playing baseball as well, as he had done in high school. He was recruited by the Kansas City A's and would go on to a remarkable career in both the Minor and Major leagues as an outfielder with several All-Star appearances, AL MVP awards and two Silver Sluggers. His 1967 season with the championship-winning Birmingham A's was no exception. In addition to a .293 batting average with 17 home runs and 58 RBI, he led the league in three batting categories that year: Most Runs (84), Most Triples (17) and Most Total Bases (232). Jackson is also a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He played with several Major League teams during a 21-year career in which he helped win six pennants and five World Series. Today, he serves as a special advisor for the New York Yankees.

A two-sport superstar, Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a Bessemer, Alabama native. He turned down being drafted by the New York Yankees in 1982 to attend Auburn University where he excelled in both baseball and football. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1986. He had a remarkable season with the Memphis Chicks as an outfielder. He had a .277 batting average, 7 homeruns and 25 RBI in 212 plate appearances before he was called up to Kansas City in September of that year. Jackson went on to play in the NFL for four years and an 8-year MLB career that included being awarded as the MVP of the 1989 All-Star Game.

Dale Murphy was a legendary outfielder, first baseman and catcher for the Atlanta Braves, originally from Portland, Oregon. His 1976 season with the Savannah Braves was a successful one. Murphy had a .267 batting average, 12 home runs and 55 RBI in 104 games. He was also chosen as the catcher for the Official All-Star Team. He retired in 1994 after an 18-season Major League run that saw a lifetime .267 batting average, five All-Star Game starting appearances, two NL MVP awards, a Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, Roberto Clemente Award, five Golden Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. Since retiring from the game, Murphy has spent much of his time active in religious and charitable organizations and still frequents many Minor League Baseball events as a special guest for fans. He has authored three books, including an autobiography, on the subjects of both professional and youth sports.

Hall of Famer and Spokane, Washington native Ryne Sandberg came to the Southern League as a manager in 2009. In that season, he was able to uplift the Smokies from their position of last in the Southern League North Division in 2008 to first in the division in 2009. His team went all the way to the Southern League Championship series but was not quite able to hold off Jacksonville. Cumulatively, the 2009 Smokies batters had a .268 batting average, 1246 hits for 591 runs, 257 doubles, 27 triples 89 homeruns and 536 RBI. The pitchers had a cumulative 3.99 ERA and a combined 900 strikeouts in 1215.2 innings pitched. Overall the team had a .507 winning percentage. Six players from that team are on the Chicago Cubs current 40-Man roster. Sandberg is a ten-time All-Star, nine-time Golden Glove winner and seven-time Silver Slugger recipient. The second- baseman spent fifteen seasons playing for the Cubs before managing the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013-2015.

Tim Wakefield was a right-handed pitcher from Melbourne, Florida. He is known mostly for his 17-year tenure with the Boston Red Sox, but spent most of his minor league years pitching through the Pittsburgh Pirates system. His year spent with the Carolina Mudcats in the Southern League was memorable. He pitched for a 15-8 record in 26 games. He tied for Complete Games that season on a league level with 8. In the Mudcats inaugural season, Wakefield set some club records that still hold up today. He has the record for Wins in a Single Season (15), Complete Games in a Single Season (8) and Innings Pitched in a Single Season (183). Wakefield was also the club leader that year in ERA (.293) and Strikeouts (123). After two seasons with the Pirates, Wakefield signed as a free agent with the Red Sox in 1995. He was an All-Star in 2009 and the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010. After the 2011 season, Wakefield retired with a career 200 wins and 2,156 strikeouts.

A three-time World Series champion and the 1998 World Series MVP, Scott Brosius was born in Hillsboro, Oregon, and grew up in nearby Milwaukie, Oregon. After a successful college career at Linfield, the Oakland A's selected Brosius with their 20th round pick of the 1987 Draft. Breaking into the Southern League during the 1989 season, the infielder posted a respectable debut season with 125 hits, 22 doubles to add to his seven homeruns and 60 RBIs. One season later, he continued his strong momentum in a Stars uniform when he led the circuit with 162 hits, 274 total bases and 39 doubles, one short of the league record at the time, capped by his selection to the 1990 Post-Season All-Star team. Brosius earned attention on the national stage when he helped carry the Yankees through one of its most successful runs in franchise history, winning the American League pennant all four years he donned the pinstripes from 1998 through 2001.

With more home runs (473) and RBIs (1,512) than any other Puerto Rican slugger, Carlos Delgado is perhaps the greatest power-hitter from the proud Caribbean island that has produced a number of Hall of Famers. The Toronto Blue Jays signed Delgado out of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, in October of 1988. After producing pedestrian numbers over his first three professional seasons, Delgado broke through in 1992, as he was named USA Today Minor League Player of the Year before receiving his promotion to Double-A Knoxville one season later. Over the 1993 season, Delgado amassed 25 homeruns and 102 RBIs with 91 runs, 28 doubles and a .324 batting average. Playing in all 140 games that season, the left-handed slugger was named Southern League Most Valuable Player. Later that year, Delgado received the call to Toronto, where he earned a World Series ring. With his name dotting the Blue Jays record book, Delgado was inducted into Toronto's prestigious Level of Excellence during the 2013 season.