The Sumter Braves were a minor league baseball team located in Sumter, South Carolina. The team played in the

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 ...

, and were affiliated with 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) East division. The Braves were founded in B ...

. Their home stadium was

Riley Park Riley Park is an urban park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located in the neighbourhood of Hillhurst, bounded by 8th Ave. NW, 10th St. NW, 5th Ave. NW and 12th St. NW. The park plays is host to Calgary's Cricket Leagues and Calgary Concert B ...

History

In 1984, the Anderson Braves relocated to Sumter. In 1991, the affiliate shifted to Macon, Georgia and became known as the

Macon Braves Macon may refer to: Places Belgium *Macon, Belgium France *Mâcon **Ancient Diocese of Mâcon **Mâcon, another name for the Mâconnais wine from that region United States of America *Macon, Alabama *Macon, Georgia *Macon, Illinois *Macon, Mis ...

,http://digitalballparks.com/SALLY/Sumter17.html Sumter Braves relocate to Macon and Sumter gets a new franchise, Digitalballparks.com eventually becoming today's

Rome Braves The Rome Braves are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They are located in Rome, Georgia, and play their home games at AdventHealth Stadium. From 2003 to 2020, the team served ...

Rome, Georgia Rome is the largest city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all ...

. An expansion team was awarded to Sumter right after the Sumter Braves relocated and as an affiliate of the

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They p ...

, and Sumter became known as the Sumter Flyers. In 1992, the franchise relocated to

Albany, Georgia Albany ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located on the Flint River, it is the seat of Dougherty County, and is the sole incorporated city in that county. Located in southwest Georgia, it is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia m ...

as the

Albany Polecats The Albany Polecats were a minor league baseball team in Albany, Georgia. They were a low-A-class team that played in the South Atlantic League and were a farm team affiliated with both the Montreal Expos and the Baltimore Orioles during the fr ...

, eventually becoming today's

Delmarva Shorebirds The Delmarva Shorebirds are a Minor League Baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are members of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Their home games are played at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The Shor ...

Salisbury, Maryland Salisbury () is a city in and the county seat of Wicomico County, Maryland, United States, and the largest city in the state's Eastern Shore region. The population was 33,050 at the 2020 census. Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury ...

. Notably, 2014

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 ...

inductee

Tom Glavine Thomas Michael Glavine (born March 25, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, for the Atlanta Braves (1987–2002, 2008) and New York Mets (2003–2007). With 164 victories durin ...

pitched for Sumter in 1985.

The ballpark

Sumner teams played at

. Located at Church Street & DuBose Street, 29150. It is still in use today as home to the University of South Carolina Sumter Fire Ants and

Morris College Morris College (MC) is a private, Baptist historically black college in Sumter, South Carolina. It was founded and is operated by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. History Morris College was founded in 190 ...

Hornet baseball teams. The

Sumter Chicks The Sumter Chicks were a minor league baseball team based in Sumter, South Carolina, United States that played in the Tri-State League in 1949 and 1950. History The Sumter Chicks were preceded by the Sumter Game Cocks, who played as members of th ...

(1949–1950) of the Tri-State League,

Sumter Indians The Sumter Indians was a minor league baseball team, based in Sumter, South Carolina, as a member of the Western Carolinas League. History The team was formed when the Cleveland Indians relocated their Class-A affiliate, the Monroe Indians, to ...

(1970) and Sumter Astros (1971) of the

Western Carolinas League Portion of plaque displaying likeness of John Henry Moss at Municipal Stadium, Hagerstown, Maryland The Western Carolinas League was a Class D (1948–52; 1960–62) and a low Class A (1963–79) full-season league in American minor league base ...

and the Sumter Braves (1985–1990) and Sumter Flyers (1991) of the

all played at Riley Park.

Notable 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 ...
alumni

(1985) Inducted, 2014

Notable alumni

Shane Andrews Darrell Shane Andrews (born August 28, 1971) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. He graduated from Carlsbad New Mexico High School in 1990. Andrews began his minor-league career in 1990 with the Gulf Coast Expos. In 1992, he led ...

(1991) *

Jeff Blauser Jeff is a masculine name, often a short form (hypocorism) of the English given name Jefferson or Jeffrey, which comes from a medieval variant of Geoffrey. Music * DJ Jazzy Jeff, American DJ/turntablist record producer Jeffrey Allen Townes ...

(1985) 2 x MLB All-Star * Jolbert Cabrera (1991) * Vinny Castilla (1990) 2 x MLB All-Star * Kevin Foster (1991) *

Ron Gant Ronald Edwin Gant (born March 2, 1965) is an American television news anchor and former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves (1987–1993), Cincinnati Reds (1995), St. Louis Cardinals ...

(1985, 1989) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Ryan Klesko Ryan Anthony Klesko (born June 12, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and corner outfielder who played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. He attended Westminster High School in Westminster, ...

(1989-1990) MLB All-Star *

Mark Lemke Mark Alan Lemke (born August 13, 1965) is a former Major League Baseball player and current broadcaster. Nicknamed "the Lemmer", he was a popular second baseman for the Atlanta Braves from to . He won the 1995 World Series with the Braves over ...

(1985) * Al Martin (1986-1987) * Carlos Perez (1991) MLB All-Star * Eddie Perez (1989-1990) NLCS Most Valuable Player * Kirk Rueter (1991) *

Brian Snitker Brian Gerald Snitker (born October 17, 1955) is an American professional baseball coach and former player who is the manager of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Snitker has been in the Braves organization in different roles si ...

(1986, MGR) *

Rondell White Rondell Bernard White (born February 23, 1972) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and designated hitter. As well as being a solid defensive player, White also had a batting ave ...

(1991) MLB All-Star * Mark Wohlers (1989-1990) MLB All-Star *

Ned Yost Edgar Frederick Yost III (; born August 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. He played for the Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos. Early life Yost was born on ...

(1988-1990, MGR) Manager: 2015 World Series Champion

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...

Year-by-year record

Sumter Braves

Sumter Flyers

References

Defunct South Atlantic League teams Professional baseball teams in South Carolina Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates Montreal Expos minor league affiliates Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams established in 1985 Sports clubs disestablished in 1991 1985 establishments in South Carolina 1991 disestablishments in South Carolina Defunct baseball teams in South Carolina Baseball teams disestablished in 1991 Sumter, South Carolina {{SouthCarolina-baseball-team-stub

History

The ballpark

Notable 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 ... alumni

Notable alumni

Year-by-year record

Sumter Braves

Sumter Flyers

References

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 ...
alumni