1982 Birmingham Barons
The 1982 Birmingham Barons was the second Birmingham Barons team to take the field since 1965. The team was a AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and competed in the western division of the Southern League. The Barons' president was Jack Levin and chairman of the board was John Walter Stowers. Will Womack handled public address duties and Gary Sanders provided play-by-play for 30 home games broadcast on WAPI-AM.
[{Ed Brinkmann]] served as manager of the team, taking over for Roy Majtyka who was promoted to the AAA Evansville Triplets. The 1982 season, notable for not having any rain outs, brought 242,805 fans to Rickwood Field, the 8th highest season attendance to that time. 6,371 attended the opener and a record 11,067 came to Colonial Bank night on May 15. June 12 featured an "Old-Timers Game" with veterans Joe Sewall, Ben Chapman, Bubba Church, Virgil Trucks, Al Lary, Frank Lary, Norm Zauchin, Piper Davis, Jim Pyburn, Billy Hitchcock, Jimmy Bragan and Harry Walker taking the field in vintage uniforms.
The 1982 Barons started hot out of the gate, leading the Western Division for 10 of the first 14 weeks of the season, but then slid down to 5th place for the 1st half. The second half started well, also, with Birmingham at the top of the standings for six consecutive weeks. They finished behind the Nashville Sounds for 2nd in the Western Division, but were eliminated from the playoffs in the final week. The Sounds went on to win the championship, defeating the Jacksonville Suns 3 games to 1. On July 22 the Southern League All-Stars, with Barons Kenny Baker, Barbaro Garbey and Paul Gibson, beat the Atlanta Braves 7-4 in an exhibition game at Rickwood Field.
Kenny Baker led the team, and the Southern League, with a .342 batting average. Garbey finished the year with 99 RBI and a .299 average. Gibson was named the top left-handed pitcher in the league while Dave Gumpert was voted the Barons' "Most Valuable Pitcher" for his 14 saves. Stan Poole knocked in 7 runs, including a grand slam to help the Barons beat Knoxville on July 15. Mark Williams pitched a 1-hit shutout to Chattanooga on June 10. General manager Art Clarkson was named the Southern League and Sporting News "Executive of the Year" after the 1982 season.
Schedule (69-74)
- April 9-10: vs Chattanooga Lookouts (won 2, lost 1)
- April 12-14: vs Memphis Chicks (won 2, lost 1)
- April 15-18: at Chattanooga (won 2, lost 1)
- April 20: at Memphis (won 1, lost 1)
- April 21-23: vs Charlotte Orioles (won 1, lost 2)
- April 24-26: at Savannah Braves (won 1, lost 2)
- April 28-29: at Charlotte (won 1, lost 2)
- April 30-May 2: at Columbus Astros (won 1, lost 2)
- May 3-5: vs Knoxville Blue Jays (won 2, lost 1)
- May 6-8: at Orlando Twins (lost 3)
- May 9-11: at Jacksonville Suns (won 1, lost 2)
- May 12-14: vs Orlando (won 1, lost 2)
- May 15-17: vs Savannah (won 2, lost 1)
- May 18-20: at Nashville Sounds (won 2, lost 1)
- May 21-23: at Knoxville (won 1, lost 2)
- May 24-26: vs Nashville (won 2, lost 1)
- May 27-29: vs Jacksonville (won 1, lost 2)
- May 30-June 1: vs Columbus (won 1, lost 2)
- June 2-3: at Columbus (won 1, lost 1)
- June 4-5: at Nahsville (won 1, lost 1)
- June 6-7: at Knoxville (won 1, lost 1)
- June 8-9: at Chattanooga (lost 3)
- June 10-11: vs. Chattanooga (won 1, lost 1)
- June 12-13: vs. Columbus (lost 2)
- June 14-15: vs. Knoxville (won 1, lost 1)
- June 16-17: vs Memphis Chicks (won 1, lost 1)
- June 18-19: at Memphis (won 1, lost 1)
- June 21-22: vs Chattanooga (won 1, lost 1)
- June 23-25: vs Memphis (won 3)
- June 26-28: at Chattanooga (won 1, lost 2)
- June 29-40: at Memphis (won 2, lost 1)
- July 1-3: vs Charlotte (won 3)
- July 5: at Savannah (won 1, lost 1)
- July 7-8: at Charlotte (won 1, lost 1)
- July 12: at Columbus (won 1, lost 1)
- July 13-15: vs Knoxville (won 2, lost 1)
- July 16-18: at Jacksonville Suns (won 1, lost 2)
- July 21: at Orlando Twins (lost 2)
- July 23-25: vs Orlando (won 2, lost 2)
- July 26-28: vs Savannah (lost 4)
- July 29-31: at Nashville (won 1 lost 2)
- August 1-3: at Knoxville (won 2, lost 1)
- August 5-7: vs Nashville (won 1, lost 2)
- August 8-10: vs Jacksonville (won 1, lost 2)
- August 11-13: vs Columbus (won 3)
- August 15: at Columbus (won 2)
- August 16-17: vs Nashville (won 2)
- August 18-19: at Knoxville (lost 2)
- August 20-21: at Chattanooga (won 1, lost 1)
- August 22-23: vs Chattanooga (won 2)
- August 24-25: vs Columbus (lost 3)
- August 26-27: vs Knoxville (won 2)
- August 28-29: vs Memphis (won 1, lost 1)
- August 30-31: at Memphis (lost 2)
Roster
- Infielders: Gary Bozich, Vern Followell, Frank Hunsaker, Howard Johnson, Mike Laga, Bob Nandin, Darell Woodard
- Outfielders: Ken Baker, Barbaro Garbey, Jeff Kenaga, Glenn Wilson, Stan Younger
- Catchers: Emilio Carrasquel, Stine Poole, Dwight Lowry
- Pitchers: Mike Beecroft, Mike Chris, Mark Dacko, Will George, Dave Gumpert, John Lackey, Ron Mathis, Nick O'Connor, Dick Pole, Steve Quealey, Kevin Richards, Bruce Robbins, Augie Ruiz, Jack Smith
- Manager: Roy Majtyka
- Coaches/Trainers: Bill Armstrong
Of the players on the 1981 roster, several went on to the Major Leagues. Howard Johnson played for 14 years, mostly with the New York Mets. Glenn Wilson played for 10 seasons, largely with Philadelphia. Mike Laga played sparingly for 9 seasons in Detroit, St Louis and San Francisco. Dwight Lowry was promoted to the Tigers in 1984 and played 4 seasons in the Majors. Barbaro Garbey played three seasons for the Tigers. Dave Gumpert went 3-2 in 86 appearances over 5 seasons. Ron Mathis went 3-6 in 31 appearances with Houston. Mike Chris went on to San Francisco and appeared in 16 games.