The original Southern League existed from 1885 to 1899. A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in 1901, consisting of twelve teams. The Southern 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.
History[[[Southern League (baseball)|edit]]]
The original league was formed in 1885 and also played in 1887-1889. It was a non-classification organization. It disbanded in1899.
1885 Atlanta GA, Augusta GA, Birmingham AL, Chattanooga TN, Columbus GA, Macon GA, Memphis TN and Nashville TN
1887 Birmingham AL, Charleston SC, Memphis TN, Mobile AL, Nashville TN, New Orleans LA, and Savannah GA
1888 Birmingham AL, Charleston SC, Memphis TN, New Orleans LA
1889 Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Charleston/Atlanta SC/GA, Chattanooga TN, Memphis TN, Mobile AL, New Orleans LA
A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in 1900, consisting of twelve teams. The Association shut down after the 1961 campaign.
In 1964, the original South Atlantic League (nicknamed the "Sally League" and not related to the current league of the same name) 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), then Class A (until 1962). In its final season, it was elevated to Double-A.
Makeup[[[Southern League (baseball)|edit]]]
The Southern League is divided into two divisions, North and South. Before 2005, the divisions were East and West, but the move of the Greenville Braves to Mississippi after the 2004 season led to a realignment. The current league president is Lori Webb,[[|[1]]] 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).[[|[2]]]
The Southern League maintains its headquarters in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Georgia. Starting in the 2012 season, the Carolina Mudcats relocated to Pensacola, Florida to become the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.[[|[3]]] They will retain their Cincinnati Reds affiliation.
It is known popularly for the long bus rides players endure - leading to the injury Southern League Neck.
Current teams[[[Southern League (baseball)|edit]]] as of July 8 2013
[[]]EnlargeMap of current Southern League teams[[]]Enlarge2011 game between the Carolina Mudcats and the Montgomery Biscuits
| Division | Team | MLB Affiliation | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Birmingham, Alabama | Regions Field | 8,500 |
| Chattanooga Lookouts | Los Angeles Dodgers | Chattanooga, Tennessee | AT&T Field | 6,340 | |
| Huntsville Stars | Milwaukee Brewers | Huntsville, Alabama | Joe W. Davis Stadium | 10,200 | |
| Jackson Generals | Seattle Mariners | Jackson, Tennessee | Generals Park | 6,000 | |
| Tennessee Smokies | Chicago Cubs | Sevierville, Tennessee | Smokies Park | 6,412 | |
| South | Jacksonville Suns | Miami Marlins | Jacksonville, Florida | Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville | 11,000 |
| Mississippi Braves | Atlanta Braves | Pearl, Mississippi | Trustmark Park | 8,480 | |
| Mobile BayBears | Arizona Diamondbacks | Mobile, Alabama | Hank Aaron Stadium | 6,000 | |
| Montgomery Biscuits | Tampa Bay Rays | Montgomery, Alabama | Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium | 7,000 | |
| Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Cincinnati Reds | Pensacola, Florida | Pensacola Bayfront Stadium | 5,038 |
South Atlantic League 1904 -1962
1904 Augusta Ga, Charleston SC, Columbia SC, Jacksonville Fl, Macon GA, Savannah GA
1905-1908 No Teams enter or left the league.
1909 Chattanooga Tn and Columbus Ga enter the league
1910 Chareston and Chattanooga has left the league
1911 Albany Ga and Charleston SC enter the league.
1912 Augusta and Charleston left the league
1913 Charleston SC enter the league and Columbia has left the league
1914 Augusta Ga and Columbia SC enter the league
1915 No Teams enter or left the league.
1916 Montgomery Al enter the league and Savannah has left the league.
1917 Albany and Montgomery has left the league.
1918 Suspended Opeations
1919 Charlotte NC, Greenvile SC, and Spartanburg SC enter the league and Columbus, Jacksonville and Macon has left the league.
1920-1922 No Teams enter or left the league.
1923 Macon Ga enter the league and Charleston left the league
1924 Asheville NC enter the league and Columbia has left the league.
1925 Columbia SC and Knoxville Tn entr the league
1926-1929 No Teams enter or left the league.
1930 Knoxville and Spartanburg has left the league
1931-1935 Suspended Operations
1936 Columbus Ga, JacksonvilleFl and Savannah Ga enter the league and Asheville, Charlotte NC and Greenville has left the league
1937 No Teams enter or left the league.
1938 Greenville and Spartanburg enter the elague
1939-1940 No Teams enter or left the league.
1942 Charleston SC enter the league and Spartanburg has left the league
1943-1945 Suspended Operations
1946-1950 No Teams enter or left the league.
1951 Montgomery Al enter the league and Greenville has left the league
1952-1953 No Teams enter or left the league.
1954 Charlotte NC enter the league and Charleston left the league
1955-1956 No Teams enter or left the league.
1957 Knoxville Tn enter the league and Montgomery Al has left the league
1958 Columbia and Columbus has left the league
1959 Asheville NC, Charleston SC, and Columbus Ga enter the league and Augusta has left the League. During the Season, Columbus team move to Gastonia NC
1960 Columbia Sc enter the league and Gastonia has left the league.
1961 Greenville SC and Norfolk-Portsmouth VA enter the league and Macon and Savannah has left the league
1962 Augusta Ga, Macon Ga and and Savannah Ga enter the elague and Columbia, Charleston and jacksonville has left the league. During the season, Savannah move to Lynchburg VA
1963 Chattanooga Tn and Nashville Tn enter the league and Greenville and Norfolk has left the league
Southern League 1964-Present
1964 Asheville NC, Birmingham Al, Charlotte NC, Chattanooga Tn, Columbus Ga, Knoxville Tn, Lynchburg Va, Macon Ga
1965 Montgomery Al, enter the league and Macon has left the league.
1966 Evansville In, Macon Ga and Mobile Al enter the league and Birmingham, Chattanooga and Lynchburg has left the league.
1967 Birmingham Al enter the league and Asheville Columbus and Mobile has left the league.
1968 Asheville NC and Savannah Ga enter the league and Knoxville and Macon has left the league
1969 Columbus Ga enter the league and Evansville has left the league.
1970 Jacksonville Fl and Mobile Al enter the league.
1971 Mobile has left the league
1972 Knoxville Tn enter the league
1973 Orlando Fl enter the league adn Charlotte has left the League.
1974-1975 No Teams enter or left the league.
1976 Charlotte NC and Chattanooga Tn enter the league and Asheville and Birmingham has left the league
1977 No Teams enter or left the league.
1978 Memphis Tn and Nashville Tn enter the league.
1979-1980 No Teams enter or left the league.
1981 Birmingham Al enter the league and Montgomery has left the league.
1982-1983 No Teams enter or left the league.
1984 Greenville SC enter the league and Savannah has left the league.
1985 Huntsville Al enter the league and Nashville has left the league.
1986-1990 No Teams enter or left the league.
1991 Zebulon NC enter the league and Columbus has left the league.
1992 No Teams enter or left the league.
1993 Nashville Tn enter the league and Charlotte has left the league.
1994 No Teams enter or left the league.
1995 Wilmington NC enter the league and Nashville left the league.
1996 No Teams enter or left the league.
1997 Mobile Al enter the league and Wilmington has left the league.
1998 Jackson Tn enter the league and Memphis has left the league.
1999-2003 No Teams enter or left the league.
2004 Montgomery Al enter the league and Orlando has left the league
2005 Pearl Ms enter the league and Greenville has left the league.
2006-2011 No Teams enter or left the league.
2012 Pensacola Fl enter the league and Zeublon has left the league.
2013-2014 No Teams enter or left the League
2015 Biloxi Ms enter the League and Huntsville has left the League
2016 - Present No teams enter or left the League