Southern League (baseball)

This article is about the present Double-A minor league (1964–present). For the original Southern League that operated from 1885 to 1899, see Southern League (1885–99). For the 1901 to 1961 league of a similar name, see Southern Association.
Southern League

Southern League logo
Sport Baseball
Founded 1964
No. of teams 10
Country USA
Most recent
champion(s)		 Jackson Generals
Classification Double-A
Official website www.southernleague.com

The Southern League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the Southern United States. Classified a Double-A league, it is headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta. The league acquired its name in 1964, after the South Atlantic League, which had started in 1936, renamed itself to Southern League.

Origins

The original Southern League existed from 1885 to 1899. A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in 1901, consisting of twelve teams. The association shut down after the 1961 season.

In 1964, the original South Atlantic League (nicknamed the Sally League and not related to the current league of the same name, formerly the Western Carolinas League) changed its name to the Southern League. The original South Atlantic League was a mid- to higher-classification circuit that played from 1904 to 1917, 1919 to 1930 (when it was known as the South Atlantic Association), 1936 to 1942, and 1946 to 1963. The old South Atlantic League grew from Class C status to Class B (through 1942) and then Class A (until 1962). In its final season, it was elevated to Double-A.

Makeup

The Southern League is divided into two divisions, North and South. Before 2005, the divisions were East and West; however, the move of the Greenville Braves to the Jackson, Mississippi, area after the 2004 season led to a realignment.

The current league president is Lori Webb; the position was held by Steve DeSalvo as interim President for a few months due to the March 2012 death of former major league first baseman Don Mincher, who had held the position from 2000 to 2011 (the first year as an interim President).[1][2]

In 2012, the Carolina Mudcats relocated to Pensacola, Florida to become the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.[3] In 2015, the Huntsville Stars relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi to become the Biloxi Shuckers joined the league, replacing Huntsville.

Current teams

Map of current Southern League teams
Division Team MLB Affiliation City Stadium Capacity
North Birmingham Barons Chicago White Sox Birmingham, Alabama Regions Field 8,500 [4]
Chattanooga Lookouts Minnesota Twins Chattanooga, Tennessee AT&T Field 6,362 [5]
Jackson Generals Arizona Diamondbacks Jackson, Tennessee The Ballpark at Jackson 6,000 [6]
Montgomery Biscuits Tampa Bay Rays Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium 7,000 [7]
Tennessee Smokies Chicago Cubs Kodak, Tennessee Smokies Park 6,412 [8]
South Biloxi Shuckers Milwaukee Brewers Biloxi, Mississippi MGM Park 6,076 [9]
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Miami Marlins Jacksonville, Florida Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville 11,000 [10]
Mississippi Braves Atlanta Braves Pearl, Mississippi Trustmark Park 8,480 [11]
Mobile BayBears Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Mobile, Alabama Hank Aaron Stadium 6,000 [12]
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Cincinnati Reds Pensacola, Florida Blue Wahoos Stadium 5,038 [13]

Current team rosters

League Timeline

Mobile BayBears Biloxi Shuckers Pacific Coast League American Association (20th century) Nashville Sounds Jackson Generals Memphis Chicks International League Charlotte Knights Montgomery Biscuits Mississippi Braves Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Savannah Indians Mobile A's Montgomery Rebels (baseball team) Pensacola Blue Wahoos South Atlantic League South Atlantic League Macon Peaches Tennessee Smokies Columbus Confederate Yankees Chattanooga Lookouts Charlotte Hornets (baseball) Birmingham Barons South Atlantic League Asheville Tourists

League members Other Current League Other Defunct League

Complete list of teams (1964–present)

South Atlantic League teams (prior to 1964)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Southern League Names First Woman President". www.chattanoogan.com. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Don Mincher Bio". southern.league.milb.com. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Blue Wahoos Get Approval from MLB". www.milb.com. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Regions Field Birmingham Barons". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Knight, Graham (July 27, 2010). "AT&T Field". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Knight, Graham. "The Ballpark at Jackson". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Riverwalk Stadium Information". Minor League Baseball. Montgomery Biscuits. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (1 May 2015). "Smokies Park / Tennessee Smokies". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Harris, Chris (February 12, 2015). "A Walking Tour of MGM Park". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Knight, Graham (August 16, 2003). "Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville – Jacksonville Suns". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Mississippi Braves Stadium Information". Minor League Baseball. November 13, 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Hank Aaron Stadium Info". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Pillon, Dennis (April 20, 2012). "Pensacola's Class AA Baseball Fever Still Going Strong". Press-Register. Mobile. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
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