The Lynchburg Hillcats are a Minor League Baseball team in

Lynchburg, Virginia Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch (1740–1820), John Lynch, the city's populati ...

that plays in the

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...

and is the

Single-A Class A, also known as Single-A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A, Double-A (baseball), Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams classif ...

affiliate of the

Cleveland Guardians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central division. Since , they have ...

. They were a farm team of the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...

from 2011 to 2014, the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

in 2010, and the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

from 1995 to 2009. The Hillcats play home games at

Calvin Falwell Field Bank of the James Stadium, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, was originally constructed in 1939 to be used as a complex for professional baseball teams. The baseball stadium was built in conjunction with an adjacent 6,000-person football stadium. ...

; refurbished and renamed in 2004, the stadium seats 4,291 fans. In May 2016, the franchise announced that they would rebrand after the season. When put to a fan vote for a new moniker with "Derechos," "Doves," "Lamb Chops," "Love Apples," and "River Runners" as options, a majority of fans voted to retain the Hillcats name. They did, however, unveil new logos and a different color scheme, consisting of seven hills green, Blue Ridge blue, and midnight blue, for the 2017 season.

Division and league championships

* 1896 State League Champions, No playoffs. * 1906 Virginia League Champions, No playoffs. * 1940 Virginia League Champions, Senators over Harrisonburg, 3–2. * 1944 Piedmont League Champions, Cardinals over Portsmouth Cubs, 4–3. * 1948 Piedmont League Regular Season Champions, Cardinals lose to Newport News Dodgers, 0–4. * 1949 Piedmont League Champions, Cardinals over Portsmouth Cubs, 4–2. * 1962

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...

Regular Season Champions, White Sox lose to Macon, 0–3. * 1963 South Atlantic League 2nd-Half Champions, White Sox lose to Augusta, 2–3. * 1964 Southern League Champions, No playoffs. * 1973

1st-Half Champions, Twins lose to Winston-Salem, 2–3. * 1977 Carolina League 1st-Half Champions, Mets lose to Peninsula, 2–3. * 1978 Carolina League Champions, Mets over Peninsula, 3–0. * 1982 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Mets lose to Alexandria in one-game Divisional playoff. * 1983 Carolina League Champions, Mets sweep Northern Division and win over Winston-Salem, 3–0. * 1984 Carolina League Champions, Mets sweep Northern Division and win over Durham, 3–1. * 1985 Carolina League Northern Division Champions, Mets sweep Division lose to Winston-Salem, 1–3. * 1988 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Red Sox over Salem, 2–1, in playoffs, lose to Kinston, 2–3, in Championship. * 1989 Carolina League 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Red Sox lose to Prince William, 1–2, in playoffs. * 1991 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Red Sox over Prince William, 2–0, in playoffs, lose to Kinston, 0–3, in Championship. * 1992 Carolina League Northern Division Champions, Red Sox sweep Division lose to Peninsula, 2–3, in Championship. * 1997 Carolina League Champions, Hillcats win 2nd-Half Northern Division, over Frederick, 2–0, in playoffs, over Kinston, 3–1, in Championship. * 2000 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Frederick, 2–0, in playoffs, lose to Myrtle Beach, 0–3, in Championship. * 2002 Carolina League Champions, Hillcats win Northern Division Wildcard, over Wilmington, 2–1, in playoffs, over Kinston, 3–1, in Championship. * 2003 Carolina League 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Wilmington, 2–0, in playoffs, lose to Winston-Salem, 0–3, in Championship. * 2005 Carolina League 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats lose to Frederick, 0–2, in playoffs. * 2009 Carolina League Champions, 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Wilmington, 3–2, in playoffs, over Salem, 3–0, in Championship. * 2012 Carolina League Champions, 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Wilmington, 2–1, in playoffs, over Winston-Salem, 3–1, in Championship. * 2013 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Wild Card, Hillcats lose to Potomac, 0–2, in playoffs. * 2014 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Wild Card, Hillcats lose to Potomac, 0–2, in playoffs. * 2015 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats lose to Wilmington, 2–0, in playoffs. * 2016 Carolina League 1st-Half & 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Potomac, 2–1, in playoffs, lose to Myrtle Beach, 3–1, in Championship. * 2017 Carolina League Champions, Hillcats over Frederick in playoffs, 2–1, declared co-champions with Down East as a result of the playoffs being called off because of

Hurricane Irma Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful Cape Verde hurricane that caused widespread destruction across its path in September 2017. Irma was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Maria two ...

Roster

Notable Lynchburg alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...

alumni *

Red Schoendienst Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst (; February 2, 1923 – June 6, 2018) was an American professional baseball second baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB), and is largely known for his coaching, managing, and playing years wi ...

(1943) Inducted, 1989 Notable alumni *

Eli Morgan Elijah Allan Morgan (born May 13, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Morgan was selected by the Indians in the eigh ...

(2018) *

Neil Walker Neil Martin Andrew Walker (born September 10, 1985) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2009–2015), New York Mets (2016–17), Milwaukee Brewers ( ...

, 2005–06 *

Nyjer Morgan Nyjer Jamid Morgan (born July 2, 1980) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cleveland Indians, in Nippon Pro ...

, 2005–06 *

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, 2004 * Henry Owens, 2004 *

Zach Duke Zachary Thomas Duke (born April 19, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, St. ...

, 2004 *

Paul Maholm Paul Gurner Maholm (pronounced Mah-HALL-uhm; born June 25, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. Earl ...

, 2004 *

José Bautista José Antonio Bautista Santos (born October 19, 1980), nicknamed "Joey Bats", is a Dominican special advisor for the general manager of the Leones del Escogido and former professional baseball right fielder and third baseman. He played in Majo ...

, 2003 *

Nate McLouth Nathan Richard McLouth (born October 28, 1981) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. He was pr ...

, 2000–02 *

John Grabow John William Grabow, nicknamed "Grabes" (born November 4, 1978) is an American former professional baseball left-handed reliever. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs of the Major League Baseball (MLB). In his MLB career, he he ...

, 2001 *

Joe Beimel Joseph Ronald Beimel (pronounced "BUY mul") (born April 19, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, ...

, 2000 *

Bronson Arroyo Bronson Anthony Arroyo (born February 24, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and musician. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2000 and 2002, the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2005, the ...

(1997) MLB All-Star *

Kris Benson Kristin James Benson (born November 7, 1974) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played for several teams between 1999 and 2010. A highly touted prospect, Benson was drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996. ...

(1997) *

Aramis Ramírez Aramis Nin Ramírez (; born June 25, 1978) is a Dominican former professional baseball third baseman, who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was named an All-Sta ...

, 1997 MLB All-Star * Jose Guillen (1996) *

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, 1994 *

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(1992) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Scott Hatteberg Scott Allen Hatteberg (born December 14, 1969) is an American former professional first baseman and catcher. During his MLB career, spanning from 1995 through 2008, he played for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Cincinnati Reds. Befo ...

(1991) *

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(1989) * Scott Cooper (1988) 2 x MLB All-Star *

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(1985) *

Rick Aguilera Richard Warren Aguilera (born December 31, 1961) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1985 to 2000. Aguilera won a world championship as a member of the N ...

(1984) 3 x MLB All-Star *

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(1984) *

Randy Myers Randall Kirk Myers (born September 19, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Bl ...

(1984) 4 x MLB All-Star *

Lenny Dykstra Leonard Kyle Dykstra (; born February 10, 1963), is an American former professional baseball center fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets (1985–1989) and Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1996). Dykstra was a thre ...

(1983) 3 x MLB All-Star *

Dwight Gooden Dwight Eugene Gooden (born November 16, 1964), nicknamed "Dr. K" and "Doc", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Gooden pitched from 1984 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2000 for the N ...

(1983, 1987)) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1984 NL Rookie of the Year; 1985 NL CY Young Award *

Roger McDowell Roger Alan McDowell (born December 21, 1960) is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dod ...

(1982) * Kevin Mitchell (1982) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1989 NL Most Valuable Player *

Lloyd McClendon Lloyd Glenn McClendon (born January 11, 1959) is an American former professional baseball player, coach and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1987 to 1994 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and the ...

(1981–82) *

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(1981) 8 x MLB All-Star; 1983 NL Rookie of the Year *

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(1981) * Jody Davis (1978) 2 x MLB All-Star * Greg Harris (1978) *

Jeff Reardon Jeffrey James Reardon (born October 1, 1955) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1979–1994 with the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta B ...

(1977) 4 x MLB All-Star *

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(1976) *

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(1974) *

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(1968) *

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(1968) 2 x MLB All-Star *

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, 1967 *

Andy Etchebarren Andrew Auguste Etchebarren (June 20, 1943 – October 5, 2019) was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a catcher in and then from through , most notably as a mem ...

(1963) 2 x MLB All-Star *

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(1962) MLB All-Star *

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(1962) 8 x

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All-Star *

Joe Hoerner Joseph Walter Hoerner (November 12, 1936 – October 4, 1996) was an American professional baseball relief pitcher, who played 14 years in Major League Baseball (MLB), for seven different teams. A native of Dubuque, Iowa he grew up in nearby Key ...

(1962) MLB All-Star * J.C. Martin (1962) * John McNamara (1952) * Stan Spence (1951) 4 x MLB All-Star *

Ray Jablonski Raymond Leo Jablonski (December 17, 1926 – November 25, 1985) was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for all or parts of eight MLB seasons between 1953 and 1960. A National League All-Star, Jablonski appeared in 812 ...

(1950) MLB All-Star *

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(1942, 1946) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Al Orth Albert Lewis Orth (September 5, 1872 – October 8, 1948) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He later served as a major league umpire and college baseball coach. Early life Orth was born in Sedalia, Missouri and atten ...

(1909) 1906 AL Wins Leader * Andrelton Simmons (2011) 4 time gold glove winner *

Tommy La Stella Thomas Frank La Stella (born January 31, 1989), nicknamed TL and 3 AM, is an American Infielder, professional baseball infielder in the San Francisco Giants organization. He previously played for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Ang ...

(2016) World Series Champion * Willi Castro (2016) * Anthony Santander (2016) * Bobby Bradley (2016) * Yu Chang (2016) * Francisco Mejia (2016) * Greg Allen (2016)

References

External links