Southern League (1964–present)
Classification | Double-A |
---|---|
Sport | Baseball |
Founded | 1964 |
No. of teams | 8 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Tennessee Smokies (2023) |
Most titles | Birmingham Barons (7) |
Official website | www.southernleague.com |
The Southern League is a
The league traces its roots to the original Southern League (1885–1899), the Southern Association (1901–1961), and the original South Atlantic League (1904–1963). The later circuit was renamed the Southern League in 1964, and the league elected to maintain records from that season onward. Following MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues in 2021, it operated as the Double-A South for one season before switching back to its previous moniker in 2022. In its inaugural 1964 season, the Southern League consisted of eight teams from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Following contractions, expansions, and relocations, the league consists of eight teams in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
A league champion is determined at the end of each season. The
History
Predecessor leagues (1885–1963)
The original
The
The original
The modern league (1964–present)
The Double-A SALLY League was reorganized as the Southern League in 1964. It elected to start with a clean slate and not maintain records prior to the 1964 season. The newly minted league wanted to distance itself from the SALLY League's past history in the low minors (Class C was roughly equivalent to an Advanced Rookie league today, while Class B was roughly equivalent to short-season Class A). Additionally, many leagues had contributed to its legacy.
From 1967 to 1969, the league was reduced to six teams.[1] It went back to eight clubs in 1970, but dropped to seven in 1971.[1][5] With an odd number of teams, the Southern League joined forces with the Double-A Texas League as the Dixie Association in 1971. The two leagues played an interlocking schedule with individual league champions determined at the end of the season. Up to this point, the Southern League champions had been simply the regular season pennant winners.[6] For the first time, the top two Southern League teams met in a best-of-three series to determine champions.[6] The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Asheville Tourists, 2–1, and then defeated the Texas League champion Arkansas Travelers, 3–0, to win the Dixie Association championship.[7] The partnership was dissolved after the season.[7]
President Smith died suddenly in April 1971, and
Jim Bragan became president in 1981 after Hitchcock's retirement.[3] Over his 14 years leading the Southern League, attendance continued to grow as several cities built new ballparks.[3] In 1994, Arnie Fielkow succeeded Bragan as president, and Don Mincher took over in 2000.[3] Lori Webb became president in 2012 after Mincher's death that March.[3][10]
Takeover by Major League Baseball (2020–present)
The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[11][12] As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Southern League was reduced to eight teams and temporarily renamed the "Double-A South" for the 2021 season.[13] Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the Double-A South was renamed the Southern League effective with the 2022 season.[14]
Current teams
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Structure and season
The Southern League is currently divided into two divisions, North and South, of four teams each.[23] Previously, from 1972 to 2004, the league was split into Eastern and Western divisions. There were no divisions in place from 1964 to 1970.[6] As of 2020, each club had 140 games scheduled per season. Utilizing a split-season schedule, each half consisted of 70 games. The season typically began during the first or second week of April and concluded in the first week of September on Labor Day.[24]
All-Star Game
The
Teams timeline
League members Dixie Association Other active league Other Defunct League
All-time teams
A "^" indicates that team's article redirects to an article of an active team formerly of the Southern League
- Asheville Orioles
- Asheville Tourists^
- Biloxi Shuckers
- Birmingham A's
- Birmingham Barons
- Carolina Mudcats^
- Charlotte Hornets
- Charlotte Knights^
- Charlotte O's
- Chattanooga Lookouts
- Columbus Astros
- Columbus Confederate Yankees
- Columbus Mudcats
- Columbus White Sox
- Evansville White Sox
- Greenville Braves
- Huntsville Stars
- Jackson Generals
- Jacksonville Expos
- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp^
- Jacksonville Suns
- Knoxville Blue Jays
- Knoxville Smokies
- Knoxville Sox
- Lynchburg White Sox
- Macon Peaches
- Memphis Chicks
- Mississippi Braves
- Mobile A's
- Mobile BayBears
- Mobile White Sox
- Montgomery Biscuits
- Montgomery Rebels
- Nashville Sounds^
- Nashville Xpress
- Orlando Cubs
- Orlando Rays
- Orlando Sun Rays
- Orlando Twins
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Port City Roosters
- Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Savannah Braves
- Savannah Indians
- Savannah Senators
- Tennessee Smokies
- West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
Champions
League champions have been determined by different means since the Southern League's formation in 1964.
The
Awards
The SL recognizes outstanding players and team personnel annually near the end of each season.
MVP Award
The Most Valuable Player Award is given to honor the best player in the league.
Pitcher of the Year Award
The Pitcher of the Year Award, originally known as the Most Outstanding Pitcher Award, serves to recognize the league's best pitcher.
Manager of the Year Award
The Manager of the Year Award is given to the league's top manager.
Top MLB Prospect Award
The Top MLB Prospect Award, created in 2021, is given to the league's top rookie prospect.
Season | Winner | Team | Organization | Position | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Shea Langeliers | Mississippi Braves | Atlanta Braves | Catcher | [30][31] |
2022 | Taj Bradley | Montgomery Biscuits | Tampa Bay Rays | Pitcher | [32][33] |
2023 | Junior Caminero | Montgomery Biscuits | Tampa Bay Rays | Third baseman | [34][35] |
Presidents
Six presidents led the Southern League since its formation:[36]
- 1964–1971: Sam C. Smith
- 1971–1980: Billy Hitchcock
- 1981–1994: Jim Bragan
- 1994–2000: Arnie Fielkow
- 2000–2011: Don Mincher
- 2012–2020: Lori Webb
See also
- Southern League Hall of Fame
- List of Southern League stadiums
- Sports league attendances
References
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e "Southern League (AA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Southern Association (AA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Southern League History". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "South Atlantic League (A) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "1971 Dixie Association". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Southern League Media Guide 2019, pp. 132–140.
- ^ a b "1971 Southern League (Dixie Association) Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ "Southern League Award Winners". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Southern League Postseason All-Star Teams". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Southern League Names First Woman President". The Chattanoogan. July 20, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Regions Field Birmingham Barons". Minor League Baseball. January 27, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Knight, Graham (July 27, 2010). "AT&T Field". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Gattis, Paul (April 15, 2019). "Countdown is on: 1 year from today until first Trash Pandas game in Madison". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (May 1, 2015). "Smokies Park / Tennessee Smokies". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Harris, Chris (February 12, 2015). "A Walking Tour of MGM Park". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Mississippi Braves Stadium Information". Minor League Baseball. November 13, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Riverwalk Stadium Information". Minor League Baseball. February 25, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ Pillon, Dennis (April 20, 2012). "Pensacola's Class AA Baseball Fever Still Going Strong". Press-Register. Mobile. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Standings". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Southern League 2020 Schedule". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. August 1, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "SL Sets First All-Star Tilt". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery. July 13, 1964. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Southern League Media Guide 2019, p. 141.
- ^ a b "Southern League Past Champions". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Heneghan, Kelsie (July 1, 2021). "Playoffs Return to the Minor Leagues". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "MiLB Playoff Procedures". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ "Postseason All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Shea Langeliers Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ Terranova, Rob (November 8, 2022). "Double-A Award Winners and All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ "Taj Bradley Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ Trezza, Joe. "The 2023 Double-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Junior Caminero Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Southern League President Lori Webb". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- General
- "2019 Southern League Media Guide". Southern League. Retrieved May 18, 2020.