Southern League (1964-Present)

Tombstone

Formed: December 9, 19631Harris, Ed. “South Atlantic Changes To Double-A Southern League”. The Journal (Knoxville, TN). December 10, 1963

First Game: April 17, 1964

Seasons: 56
States & Provinces: 9
(AL, FL, GA, IL, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA)

Leadership

President:

  • 1964 – 1971: Sam C. Smith, Jr.
  • 1972 – 1980: Billy Hitchcock
  • 1981 – ????:

Trophy Case

Southern League Most Valuable Player

YEARPLAYERPOSITIONTEAM
1972Mike ReinbachOutfielderAsheville Tourists
1973Jayson MoxeOutfielderColumbus Astros
1974Nyles NymanOutfielderKnoxville Sox
1975Mike SquiresFirst BasemanKnoxville Sox
1976Larry FosterOutfielderKnoxville Sox
1977Alan TrammellShortstopMontgomery Rebels
1978Eddie GatesOutfielderMemphis Chicks
1979 (co-winner)Danny HeepOutfielderColumbus Astros
1979 (co-winner)Alan KnicelyCatcherColumbus Astros
1980Steve BalboniFirst BasemanNashville Sounds
1981Tim LaudnerCatcherOrlando Twins
1982Brian DayettOutfielderNashville Sounds
1983John MorrisOutfielderJacksonville Suns
1984Andres GalarragaFirst BasemanJacksonville Suns
1985Jose CansecoOutfielderHuntsville Stars
1986Terry SteinbachCatcherHuntsville Stars
1987Tom DoddFirst BasemanCharlotte Orioles
1988Matt WintersOutfielderMemphis Chicks
1989Eric AnthonyOutfielderColumbus Mudcats
1990Jeff ConineFirst BasemanMemphis Chicks
1991Ryan KleskoFirst BasemanGreenville Braves
1992Javy LopezCatcherGreenville Braves
1993Carlos DelgadoCatcherKnoxville Smokies
1994Mark JohnsonFirst BasemanCarolina Mudcats
1995Jason KendallCatcherCarolina Mudcats
1996Derrek LeeFirst BasemanMemphis Chicks
1997Ben GrieveOutfielderHuntsville Stars
1998Gabe KaplerOutfielderJacksonville Suns
1999Brady ClarkOutfielderChattanooga Lookouts
2000Joe CredeThird BasemanBirmingham Barons
2001Josh PhelpsCatcherTennessee Smokies
2002Aaron MilesSecond BasemanBirmingham Barons
2003Corey HartThird BasemanHuntsville Stars
2004Richard LewisSecond BasemanWest Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
2005Delmon YoungOutfielderMontgomery Biscuits
2006Joey VottoFirst BasemanChattanooga Lookouts
2007Evan LongoriaThird BasemanMontgomery Biscuits
2008Gaby SanchezFirst BasemanCarolina Mudcats
2009Desmond JenningsOutfielderMontgomery Biscuits
2010Dave SappeltOutfielderCarolina Mudcats
2011Paul GoldschmittFirst BasemanMobile BayBears
2012Hunter MorrisFirst BasemanHuntsville Stars
2013Marcus SemienShortstopBirmingham Barons
2014Jake LambThird BasemanMobile BayBears
2015Max KeplerOutfielderChattanooga Lookouts
2016Tyler O'NeillOutfielderJackson Generals
2017Kevin CronFirst BasemanJackson Generals
2018Corey RayOutfielderBiloxi Shuckers
2019Drew WatersOutfielderMississippi Braves
2020No AwardSeason Cancelled - COVID 19
2021Jonathan ArandaFirst BasemanMontgomery Biscuits
2022Jakson ReetzCatcherBiloxi Shuckers
*No award was given from 1964 through 1971.

 

Editor's Pick

One Season in Rocket City

How the 1985 Huntsville Stars Brought Minor League Baseball Fever to Alabama
By Dale Tafoya
It’s 1984. Minor League Baseball mogul Larry Schmittou needs a new home for his Southern League Nashville Sounds franchise. Walt Jocketty, an Oakland A’s executive, searches for a new town for his Double-A club. Fate brings them together in Huntsville, Alabama, a city in need of an outlet to unite its residents. Thus the Huntsville Stars are born. One Season in Rocket City brings to life the baseball renaissance that shook up Huntsville, a city many doubted would support professional baseball.

Through interviews with former players, managers, executives, coaches, and beat writers who witnessed the Stars take the Southern League by storm, Dale Tafoya depicts the city’s romance with the club, success on the field, and push for a championship.


When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

 

Background

The Southern League formed in 1964 as the result of a name change by the old South Atlantic League, or “Sally League”.  The history of the original Sally League history traces back to the turn of the 20th century. (A newer, Class-A league has played under the South Atlantic League banner since 1980).

The teams listed here are only those that played under the Southern League banner since 1964. Some of these teams also existed prior to 1964 in the Sally League and came over with the name change.

In 2019, the Southern League consists of ball clubs in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.  Historically, the Southern League has had clubs as far north as Virginia and as far West as Illinois.

 

Southern League Franchise List

Franchise Years Active Southern League Champions
Asheville Orioles 1972-1975 None
Asheville Tourists 1964-1966 & 1968-1971 1968
Biloxi Shuckers 2015-Present None
Birmingham A's 1967-1975 1967
Birmingham Barons 1964-1965 None
Birmingham Barons 1981-Present 1983-1987-1989-1993-2002-2013
Carolina Mudcats 1991-2011 1995-2003
Charlotte Hornets 1964-1972 1969-1971
Charlotte Knights 1989-1992 None
Charlotte Orioles 1976-1987 1980-1984
Chattanooga Lookouts 1964-1965 None
Chattanooga Lookouts 1976-Present 1988-2015-2017 (Co-Champions)
Columbus Astros 1970-1988 1970-1986
Columbus Confederate Yankees 1964-1966 1965
Columbus Mudcats 1989-1990 None
Columbus White Sox 1969 None
Evansville White Sox 1966-1968 None
Greenville Braves 1984-2004 1992-1997
Huntsville Stars 1985-2014 1985-1994-2001 (Co-Champions)
Jackson Generals 2011-2019 2016
Jacksonville Expos 1985-1990 None
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 2017-2019 None
Jacksonville Suns 1970-1984 & 1991-2016 1996-2001 (Co-Champions)-2005-2009-2010-2014
Knoxville Blue Jays 1980-1992 None
Knoxville Smokies 1964-1967 None
Knoxville Smokies 1993-1999 None
Knoxville Sox 1972-1979 1974-1978
Lynchburg White Sox 1964-1965 1964
Macon Peaches 1964 & 1966-1967 None
Memphis Chicks 1978-1997 1990
Mississippi Braves 2005-Present 2008-2021
Mobile Athletics 1966 1966
Mobile Bay Bears 1997-2019 1998-2004 (Co-Champions)-2011-2012
Mobile White Sox 1970 None
Montgomery Biscuits 2004-Present 2006-2007
Montgomery Rebels 1965-1980 1972-1973-1975-1976-1977
Nashville Sounds 1978-1984 1979-1982
Nashville Xpress 1993-1994 None
Orlando Cubs 1993-1996 None
Orlando Rays 1997-2003 1999
Orlando SunRays 1990-1992 1991
Orlando Twins 1973-1989 1981
Pensacola Blue Wahoos 2012-Present 2017 (Co-Champions)-2022
Port City Roosters 1995-1996 None
Richmond Virginians 1964 None
Rocket City Trash Pandas 2021-Present None
Savannah Braves 1971-1983 None
Savannah Indians 1970 None
Savannah Senators 1968-1969 None
Tennessee Smokies 2000-Present 2004 (Co-Champions)
West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx 1998-2010 2000

 

Southern League Shop

 

##

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share