***1980 THE SEASON OF A LIFETIME....RANKED IN THE TOP 100 IN MINOR LEAGUE'S 100 HISTORY*** 100-40 .719 BEST OVERALL RECORD IN CAROLINA LEAGUE HISTORY ***CHAMPIONS CAROLINA LEAGUE ** 1ST HALF RECORD 51-19 BEST IN CAROLINA LEAGUE HISTORY **CAROLINA LEAGUE SOUTH 1ST HALF CHAMPIONS *** 2ND HALF 49-21 ** CAROLINA LEAGUE SOUTH 2ND HALF CHAMPIONS ** PENINSULA SWEPT THE DURHAM BULLS 3-0 IN CAROLINA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ****

***1980 FAST FACT***THE 1980 PENINSULA PILOTS NEVER LOST MORE THAN 2 GAMES IN A ROW AND HAD TWO 11 GAME WIN STREAKS**

***"YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE SOME THIS YEAR BUT HANG IN AND WE WILL GIVE YOU A CONTENDER IN 1981"-Phillies Executive March 1980...***What a struggle it was. After losing their first game in Lynchburg, Peninsula won 100 of their next 139 regular season games and than swept the hated Durham Bulls in the League Championship Series. A team that never lost more than 2 in a row. A team that swept the first half but actually were in a tight race in the 2nd. The Pilots stood at 91-39 and would have to win 9 of 10 to get to the magic 100 wins and ensure the 2nd half title..WE DID.It was a season I will never forget. It would be a hard act to ever follow...Hats off on the 20th Anniversary *** WIL CULMER * JULIO FRANCO * NATIONAL ASSOCIATION CLASS A ALL STAR TEAM * RAY BORUCKI 3B * JULIO FRANCO SS * WIL CULMER DH * WALLY GOFF LHP * CAROLINA LEAGUE ALL LEAGUE TEAM ** JULIO FRANCO * CAROLINA LEAGUE MVP ** ROY SMITH ** CAROLINA LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE YEAR ** 28 YEAR OLD BILL DANCY MANAGES PENINSULA TO ONE OF THE BEST MINOR LEAGUE RECORDS IN HISTORY AND THE .719 WINNING PCT STILL HAS NOT BEEN MET SINCE THAT SEASON ** PENINSULA AWARD FOR BASEBALL EXCELLENCE RENAMED FOR DANCY ***