1963 Knoxville Smokies Roster
Team Record: 71-68
Finished 5th in the SAL
Manager: Frank Carswell (0-0), Frank Lary (0-0), Frank Skaff (0-0)
Affiliation: Detroit Tigers
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Ballpark: Smithson Stadium
Attendance: 43,894, Avg. 632
The Knoxville Smokies of the South Atlantic League ended the 1963 season with a record of 71 wins and 68 losses, finishing fifth in the SAL.
The Smokies plated 626 runs and gave up 599 runs. Willie Horton paced Knoxville with 14 home runs and drove in 70 runs, while leading batters with significant playing time by connecting at a .333 clip. Johnny Ison topped the squad with 11 wins, and Fritz Fisher recorded a 2.97 ERA, tops among pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Members of the 1963 Knoxville Smokies who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Frank Lary, Vern Holtgrave, Andy Kosco, Fritz Fisher, Mickey Stanley, Leo Marentette, Elder White, Tommy Matchick, Joe Sparma, Willie Horton, Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson, Don Bryant, Jim Northrup, Tom Timmermann, Jim Proctor, Lorencito Fernández, Nate Smith, Pete Craig, Arlo Brunsberg and Denny McLain.
Frank Carswell, Frank Lary and Frank Skaff served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rufus Anderson | R | R | December 19, 1938 | 5'11" | 155 | Valdosta, GA US |
| Al Baker | R | R | December 8, 1936 | 6'0" | 165 | Colerain, NC US |
| Arlo Brunsberg | L | R | August 15, 1940 | 6'0" | 195 | Fertile, MN US |
| Don Bryant | R | R | July 13, 1941 | 6'5" | 200 | Jasper, FL US |
| Darrell Clark | L | R | October 7, 1941 | 6'2" | 196 | |
| Pete Craig | L | R | July 10, 1940 | 6'5" | 220 | LaSalle, ON CA |
| Mike Cuellar | L | L | May 8, 1937 | 6'0" | 165 | Las Villas, CU |
| Ricardo Delgado | R | R | February 7, 1940 | 6'3" | 195 | Mayaguez, PR |
| Pat Dobson | R | R | February 12, 1942 | 6'3" | 190 | Buffalo, NY US |
| Lorencito Fernández | R | R | June 23, 1939 | 5'10" | 160 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| Fritz Fisher | L | L | November 28, 1941 | 6'1" | 180 | Adrian, MI US |
| Wilbert Franklin | L | R | January 4, 1939 | 5'11" | 185 | Pontotoc, MS US |
| Tom Hinkle | R | R | July 0, 1942 | 6'0" | 185 | Kansas City, MO US |
| Vern Holtgrave | R | R | October 18, 1942 | 6'1" | 183 | Aviston, IL US |
| Willie Horton | R | R | October 18, 1942 | 5'11" | 209 | Arno, VA US |
| Johnny Ison | R | R | November 11, 1939 | 6'0" | 180 | Olive Hill, KY US |
| Andy Kosco | R | R | October 5, 1941 | 6'3" | 205 | Youngstown, OH US |
| Frank Lary | R | R | April 10, 1930 | 5'11" | 175 | Northport, AL US |
| Ken Magown | L | L | January 19, 1943 | 6'2" | 195 | Cambridge, MA US |
| Leo Marentette | R | R | February 18, 1941 | 6'2" | 200 | Detroit, MI US |
| Tommy Matchick | L | R | September 7, 1943 | 6'1" | 173 | Hazleton, PA US |
| Joel McDaniel | S | R | April 10, 1939 | 5'11" | 165 | Rutherfordton, NC US |
| Denny McLain | R | R | March 29, 1944 | 6'1" | 185 | Chicago, IL US |
| Jim Northrup | L | R | November 24, 1939 | 6'3" | 190 | Breckenridge, MI US |
| Tom Orton | L | R | July 4, 1938 | 6'2" | 190 | Algonac, MI US |
| Jim Proctor | R | R | September 9, 1935 | 6'0" | 165 | Brandywine, MD US |
| Joe Pulliam | R | R | April 25, 1939 | 5'10" | 167 | Baltimore, MD US |
| Quineth Roberts | R | R | October 15, 1938 | 6'1" | 185 | Chattanooga, TN US |
| Larry Rojas | R | R | February 2, 1942 | 5'11" | 182 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| John Ryan | L | R | December 4, 1939 | 5'10" | 170 | Oshawa, ON CA |
| Bennie Sandlin | R | R | May 12, 1941 | 5'11" | 175 | Cullman, AL US |
| Charlie Smiley | L | L | November 1, 1935 | 6'0" | 190 | Danville, VA US |
| Leo Smith | L | R | May 5, 1938 | 6'2" | 210 | Mobile, AL US |
| Nate Smith | R | R | April 26, 1935 | 5'11" | 170 | Chicago, IL US |
| Joe Sparma | R | R | February 4, 1942 | 6'1" | 190 | Massillon, OH US |
| Mickey Stanley | R | R | July 20, 1942 | 6'1" | 185 | Grand Rapids, MI US |
| John Teeter | L | L | October 8, 1941 | 5'10" | 165 | Glen Dale, WV US |
| Tommy Thompson | L | R | January 17, 1939 | 6'0" | 185 | Kane, PA US |
| Tom Timmermann | R | R | May 12, 1940 | 6'4" | 215 | Breese, IL US |
| Elder White | R | R | December 23, 1933 | 5'11" | 165 | Colerain, NC 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.
