1996 Birmingham Barons Roster
Team Record: 74-65
Finished 4th in the SL's West Division
Manager: Mike Heath (74-65)
Affiliation: Chicago White Sox
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Ballpark: Hoover Metropolitan Stadium
Attendance: 296,131, Avg. 4,292 in 69 home dates
The Birmingham Barons of the Southern League ended the 1996 season with a record of 74 wins and 65 losses, finishing fourth in the league's West Division.
The Barons scored 670 runs and surrendered 624 runs. Mike Cameron led Birmingham with 28 home runs, while Magglio Ordóñez and Jimmy Hurst walloped 15 or more, too. Jimmy Hurst drove in 88 runs. Mike Cameron paced batters with significant playing time by connecting at a .300 clip. Rich Pratt topped the squad with 13 wins, and Nelson Cruz recorded a 3.2 ERA, best among pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Members of the 1996 Birmingham Barons who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Robert Ellis, Pete Rose, Todd Rizzo, Craig Wilson, Nelson Cruz, Magglio Ordóñez, Greg Norton, Mike Heathcott, Chuck Smith, Mario Valdez, John Snyder, Jimmy Hurst, Scott Eyre, Stacy Jones, Robert Machado, Frank Menechino, Jason Bere, Mike Cameron, Chris Clemons and Tom Fordham.
Mike Heath served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Bere | R | R | May 26, 1971 | 6'3" | 185 | Cambridge, MA US |
| Mike Cameron | R | R | January 8, 1973 | 6'2" | 210 | La Grange, GA US |
| Chris Clemons | R | R | October 31, 1972 | 6'4" | 220 | Baytown, TX US |
| Nelson Cruz | R | R | September 13, 1972 | 6'1" | 175 | Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata DO |
| Glenn Disarcina | L | R | April 29, 1970 | 6'1" | 180 | Malden, MA US |
| Gabe Duross | L | L | April 6, 1972 | 6'1" | 195 | Plattsburg, NY US |
| Robert Ellis | R | R | December 15, 1970 | 6'5" | 220 | Baton Rouge, LA US |
| Scott Eyre | L | L | May 30, 1972 | 6'1" | 160 | Inglewood, CA US |
| Tom Fordham | L | L | February 20, 1974 | 6'2" | 210 | San Diego, CA US |
| Troy Fryman | L | R | October 2, 1971 | 6'3" | 190 | Pensacola, FL US |
| Mike Heathcott | R | R | May 16, 1969 | 6'3" | 180 | Chicago, IL US |
| Jimmy Hurst | R | R | March 1, 1972 | 6'6" | 225 | Tuscaloosa, AL US |
| Barry Johnson | R | R | August 21, 1969 | 6'4" | 200 | Wichita, KS US |
| Stacy Jones | R | R | May 26, 1967 | 6'6" | 225 | Gadsden, AL US |
| Ed Larregui | R | R | December 1, 1972 | 6'0" | 185 | Santurce, PR |
| Robert Machado | R | R | June 3, 1973 | 6'1" | 205 | Puerto Cabello, Carabobo VE |
| Frank Menechino | R | R | January 7, 1971 | 5'9" | 175 | Staten Island, NY US |
| Tim Moore | R | R | September 4, 1970 | 6'4" | 190 | Irving, TX US |
| Greg Norton | S | R | July 6, 1972 | 6'1" | 190 | San Leandro, CA US |
| Magglio Ordóñez | R | R | January 28, 1974 | 6'0" | 215 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Eddie Pearson | S | R | January 31, 1974 | 6'3" | 225 | Mobile, AL US |
| Greg Perschke | R | R | August 3, 1967 | 6'3" | 180 | La Porte, IN US |
| Mike Place | R | R | August 13, 1970 | 6'3" | 180 | |
| Wil Polidor | S | R | September 23, 1973 | 6'1" | 158 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Rich Pratt | L | L | May 7, 1971 | 6'3" | 201 | East Hartford, CT US |
| Todd Rizzo | R | L | May 24, 1971 | 6'3" | 220 | Media, PA US |
| Nilson Robledo | R | R | November 3, 1968 | 6'1" | 165 | Entrega, PA |
| Pete Rose | L | R | November 16, 1969 | 6'1" | 180 | Cincinnati, OH US |
| Warren Sawkiw | S | R | January 19, 1968 | 5'11" | 185 | Toronto, ON CA |
| Chuck Smith | R | R | October 21, 1969 | 6'1" | 185 | Memphis, TN US |
| John Snyder | R | R | August 16, 1974 | 6'3" | 185 | Southfield, MI US |
| Mario Valdez | L | L | November 19, 1974 | 6'1" | 215 | Ciudad Obregon, Sonora MX |
| Archie Vazquez | R | R | April 11, 1972 | 6'4" | 233 | |
| Scott Vollmer | R | R | February 9, 1971 | 6'1" | 185 | Murrieta, CA US |
| Harold Williams | L | R | February 14, 1971 | 6'4" | 200 | Garyville, LA US |
| Craig Wilson | R | R | September 3, 1970 | 6'0" | 185 | Chicago, IL US |
| Brian Woods | L | R | June 7, 1971 | 6'6" | 212 | Belleville, NJ US |
| Steve Worrell | L | L | November 25, 1969 | 6'2" | 200 | Ridley Park, PA 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.
