Macon was represented by professional baseball teams in the 19th century and joined the Sally League in 1904 as the Highlanders.
In 1980, a new Macon Peaches team formed and after 1982, this franchise adopted the name Redbirds and then Pirates.
From 1962–1964, the Peaches were an important upper-level affiliate (Double-A after 1962) of the Cincinnati Reds, producing Pete Rose, Tony Pérez, Lee May and Tommy Helms.
All four were members of Cincinnati's first "Big Red Machine" team, the 1970 National League champions.
Rose and Pérez would be cornerstones of the dynasty, while May and Helms would be traded to the Houston Astros after 1971 to obtain Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan, who would help lead the Reds to the NL pennant in 1972 and World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.