The Lynchburg Hillcats are a Minor League Baseball team in

Lynchburg, Virginia Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch, the city's population was 79,009 at the 2020 census. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mounta ...

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 un ...

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, Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams classified at the Single-A level, one for each ...

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) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...

. 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) East division. The Braves were founded in ...

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; 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 (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 e ...

(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, 2005–06 * Rajai Davis, 2004 * Henry Owens, 2004 * Zach Duke, 2004 * Paul Maholm, 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 ...

, 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 pri ...

, 2000–02 * John Grabow, 2001 * Joe Beimel, 2000 * Bronson Arroyo (1997) MLB All-Star * Kris Benson (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-Star t ...

, 1997 MLB All-Star * Jose Guillen (1996) * Trot Nixon, 1994 *

Aaron Sele Aaron Helmer Sele (born June 25, 1970) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a special assignment scout for the Chicago Cubs. Early years His family moved to Poulsbo, Washington, a town on the Kitsap ...

(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. Before ...

(1991) * John Valentin (1989) * Scott Cooper (1988) 2 x MLB All-Star * Kevin Elster (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 th ...

(1984) 3 x MLB All-Star * Dave Magadan (1984) * Randy Myers (1984) 4 x MLB All-Star * Lenny Dykstra (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 ...

(1983, 1987)) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1984 NL Rookie of the Year; 1985 NL CY Young Award * Roger McDowell (1982) * Kevin Mitchell (1982) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1989 NL Most Valuable Player * Lloyd McClendon (1981–82) *

Darryl Strawberry Darryl Eugene Strawberry (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional baseball right fielder and author who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Throughout his career, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in th ...

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

Billy Beane William Lamar Beane III (born March 29, 1962) is an American former professional baseball player and current front office executive. He is the executive vice president of baseball operations and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics of M ...

(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 * Alex Trevino (1976) * Dave Goltz (1974) *

Al Fitzmorris Alan James Fitzmorris (born March 21, 1946), is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1969 to 1978. Fitzmorris signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Chicago White Sox in 1966. In October 1968, he left ...

(1968) * Carlos May (1968) 2 x MLB All-Star * Gail Hopkins, 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 m ...

(1963) 2 x MLB All-Star * Don Buford (1962) MLB All-Star * Dave DeBusschere (1962) 8 x NBA All-Star * Joe Hoerner (1962) MLB All-Star *

J.C. Martin J. C. Martin may refer to: * J. C. Martin (baseball), Major League Baseball player * J. C. Martin (Texas politician), mayor of Laredo, Texas {{hndis, Martin, J. C. ...

(1962) * John McNamara (1952) *

Stan Spence Stanley Orville Spence (March 20, 1915 – January 9, 1983) was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played from through for the Boston Red Sox (1940–41,1948–49), Washington Senators (1942–47) and St. Louis Browns (1949). Spence b ...

(1951) 4 x MLB All-Star * Ray Jablonski (1950) MLB All-Star * Wes Ferrell (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 Andrelton A. Simmons (born September 4, 1989) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Cubs. D ...

(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 professional baseball infielder in the San Francisco Giants organization. He previously played for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, and ...

(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