Katana VentraIP

Classification

1964 (1964)

8

United States

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 Birmingham Barons have won 7 Southern League titles, the most among all teams in the league, followed by the Jacksonville Suns (6) and the Montgomery Rebels (5).

History[edit]

Predecessor leagues (1885–1963)[edit]

The original Southern League was formed prior to the 1885 season as an eight-team circuit playing in the Southern United States. It operated at various times as a Class B league.[1][2] Fraught with financial problems, teams regularly dropped out before the season's end. After being nonoperational in 1891, 1892, and 1897, it disbanded permanently after halting play during the 1899 season.[3]


The Southern Association was formed in 1901 as a Class B circuit operating in nearly the same footprint as the first Southern League. It was elevated to Class A in 1902, Class A1 in 1936, and Double-A in 1946.[2] The Southern Association remained a premier Southern baseball league until Major League Baseball radio and television broadcasts began to undercut attendance in the 1950s. The league disbanded after 1961.[3]


The original South Atlantic League, nicknamed the "SALLY League" and not related to the current South Atlantic League (formerly the Western Carolinas League), was formed in 1904. It operated at Class C until it was elevated to Class B in 1921 and Class A in 1946.[4] A year after the Southern Association's disbandment, the SALLY League took its place at the Double-A level in 1963.[4]

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

Six presidents led the Southern League since its formation:[36]

Southern League Hall of Fame

List of Southern League stadiums

Sports league attendances

. Southern League. Retrieved May 18, 2020.

"2019 Southern League Media Guide"

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Official website