1961 Asheville Tourists Roster
Team Record: 87-50
Finished 1st in the SAL
Manager: Ray Hathaway (87-50)
Affiliation: Pittsburgh Pirates
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Ballpark: Old McCormick Field
Attendance: 97,065, Avg. 1,417
The Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League ended the 1961 season with a record of 87 wins and 50 losses, finishing first in the SAL.
The Tourists scored 774 runs, most in the league. Asheville conceded 638 runs. Gary Rushing led the squad with 25 home runs, while Rex Johnston, Orlando McFarlane, Duncan Campbell and Willie Stargell each walloped 15 or more as well. Gary Rushing drove in 99 runs and topped hitters with significant playing time by connecting at a .311 clip. James Hardison paced the team with 16 wins and a team-best 2.76 earned run average, tops among hurlers with significant time on the mound.
Members of the 1961 Asheville Tourists who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Red Witt, Tommie Sisk, Bob Lee, Bob Bailey, Gene Alley, Rex Johnston, Orlando McFarlane, Red Swanson, Bob Priddy, Larry Foss, Willie Stargell, Curt Raydon and George Perez.
Ray Hathaway served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Alley | R | R | July 10, 1940 | 5'10" | 160 | Richmond, VA US |
| Bob Bailey | R | R | October 13, 1942 | 6'1" | 180 | Long Beach, CA US |
| Joe Blasko | R | R | August 28, 1935 | 5'11" | 185 | Pittsburgh, PA US |
| Duncan Campbell | R | R | October 21, 1937 | 5'10" | 175 | Bluefields, NI |
| Don Corella | L | L | April 14, 1934 | 6'2" | 185 | San Luis Obispo, CA US |
| Dick Doepker | R | R | August 11, 1936 | 6'0" | 175 | Annahein, SK CA |
| Faust | ||||||
| Larry Foss | R | R | April 18, 1936 | 6'2" | 187 | Castleton, KS US |
| Reginaldo Grenald | R | R | 5'11" | 170 | ||
| Thomas Haake | R | R | October 24, 1937 | 6'2" | 200 | Germantown, IL US |
| Reginald Hamilton | R | R | August 4, 1936 | 5'6" | 150 | Washington, DC US |
| James Hardison | L | R | November 20, 1934 | 6'2" | 175 | Plymouth, NC US |
| Leonard Jackson | R | R | June 18, 1934 | 6'2" | 205 | Caroleen, NC US |
| Rex Johnston | S | R | November 8, 1937 | 6'1" | 202 | Colton, CA US |
| John Kelly | S | L | January 10, 1937 | 6'4" | 195 | Detroit, MI US |
| Don Kildoo | R | L | June 6, 1935 | 6'1" | 180 | Washington, DC US |
| Charles Kolakowski | R | R | December 22, 1932 | 6'1" | 205 | Sayreville, NJ US |
| Bob Lee | R | R | November 26, 1937 | 6'3" | 225 | Ottumwa, IA US |
| Charlie Leonard | L | L | May 6, 1940 | 6'0" | 185 | Bullsgap, TN US |
| LeRoy Luketich | R | R | 6'0" | 185 | ||
| Orlando McFarlane | R | R | June 28, 1935 | 6'0" | 180 | Oriente, CU |
| Edward Montgomery | R | R | 5'11" | 175 | ||
| Albert Muench | R | R | 6'0" | 172 | ||
| Ed Napoleon | R | R | September 13, 1937 | 5'9" | 170 | Baltimore, MD US |
| Don Nipp | R | R | February 7, 1938 | 6'0" | 194 | Blair, OK US |
| George Perez | R | R | December 29, 1937 | 6'2" | 200 | San Fernando, CA US |
| Bob Priddy | R | R | December 10, 1939 | 6'1" | 200 | Pittsburgh, PA US |
| Curt Raydon | R | R | November 18, 1933 | 6'4" | 190 | Bloomington, IL US |
| Benny Rich | R | R | 6'1" | 190 | ||
| Gary Rushing | R | R | May 11, 1938 | 6'4" | 220 | Nevada City, CA US |
| Peter Sala | L | L | 6'0" | 190 | ||
| Tommie Sisk | R | R | April 12, 1942 | 6'3" | 195 | Ardmore, OK US |
| Willie Stargell | L | L | March 6, 1940 | 6'2" | 188 | Earlsboro, OK US |
| Jim Stoll | R | R | November 12, 1937 | 6'0" | 180 | Stockton, CA US |
| Ed Strichek | R | R | July 4, 1935 | 5'11" | 165 | Youngstown, OH US |
| Red Swanson | R | R | October 15, 1936 | 6'1" | 175 | Baton Rouge, LA US |
| Red Witt | R | R | November 9, 1931 | 6'3" | 185 | Long Beach, CA US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
