South Atlantic League (1904–1963)
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Baseball |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Ceased | 1963 |
| Replaced by | Southern League |
| Country | United States |
The South Atlantic League, nicknamed the SALLY League, was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the Southern United States intermittently from 1904 to 1963. Initially Class C league, it was elevated to Class B in 1921, Class A in 1946, and Double-A in 1963. The circuit dissolved after the 1963 season and was refounded as the Southern League.
History
The original South Atlantic League was founded in 1904 by Charles W. Boyer and J.B. Lucy as a Class C league, equivalent to an Advanced Rookie league in the pre-2021 minor league scheme.[1] After a year of dormancy in 1918, it continued at that classification from 1919 to 1920 before being elevated to Class B (equivalent to short-season Class A before 2021 and a Class A league today)in 1921.[2] The Great Depression caused the league to shut down from 1931 to 1935,[1] but it returned at Class B from 1936 to 1942.[2] Three more years of dormancy occurred during World War II, but the SALLY League was revived as a Class A circuit from 1946 to 1962.[2]
In 1963, it was reclassified as a Double-A league along with the other Class A leagues.[2] The circuit reorganized as the Southern League in 1964. To distance itself from its history at lower classifications, the newly-named league elected to start with a clean slate and not maintain records prior to the 1964 season. Thusly, the 51-year history of the league was retired with the South Atlantic League name.[1]
In 1980, the Western Carolinas League resurrected the name as it became the current South Atlantic League.[1][2]
Cities represented 1904–1963
- Albany, Georgia: Albany Babies (1911–1916)
- Asheville, North Carolina: Asheville Tourists (1924–1930, 1959–1963)
- Augusta, Georgia: Augusta Tourists (1904-1910, 1914–1917); Augusta Dollies (1919); Augusta Georgians (1920–1921); Augusta Tygers (1922–1929); Augusta Wolves (1930); Augusta Tigers (1936–1942, 1946–1952); Augusta Rams (1953–1954); Augusta Tigers (1955–1958); Augusta Yankees (1962–1963)
- Charleston, South Carolina: Charleston Sea Gulls (1904–1909, 1911, 1913–1917); Charleston Gulls (1919); Charleston Palmettos (1920); Charleston Pals (1921–1923); Charleston Rebels (1940–1942, 1946–1953); Charleston ChaSox (1959);Charleston White Sox (1960–1961)
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Charlotte Hornets (1919–1930, 1954–1963)
- Chattanooga, Tennessee: *Chattanooga Lookouts (1963)
- Columbia, South Carolina: Columbia Skyscrapers (1904); Columbia Gamecocks (1905-1910); Columbia Commies (1911); Columbia Comers (1912, 1914–1917, 1919–1923, 1925–1930); Columbia Senators (1936–1937); Columbia Reds (1938–1942, 1946–1955, 1960–1961); Columbia Gems (1956–1957)
- Columbus, Georgia: Columbus Foxes (1909–1917); Columbus Red (1936–1942); Cardinals (1946–1955); Columbus Foxes (1956–1957); Columbus Pirates (1959)
- Gastonia, North Carolina: Gastonia Comers (1923); Gastonia Pirates (1959)
- Greenville, South Carolina: Greenville Spinners (1919–1930, 1938-1942, 1946–1950, 1961–1962)
- Jacksonville, Florida: Jacksonville Jays (1904–1910); Jacksonville Tarpons (1911–1916); Jacksonville Roses (1917); Jacksonville Tars (1936–1942, 1946–1952); Jacksonville Braves (1953–1960); Jacksonville Jets (1961)
- Knoxville, Tennessee: Knoxville Appalachians (1909); Knoxville Smokies (1925–1929, 1956–1963)
- Lynchburg, Virginia: Lynchburg White Sox (1962–1963)
- Macon, Georgia: Macon Highlanders (1904); Macon Brigands (1905–1907); Macon Peaches (1908–1915); Macon Tigers (1916–1917); Macon Peaches (1923–1930, 1936–1942, 1946–1955); Macon Dodgers (1956–1960); Macon Peaches (1962–1963)
- Montgomery, Alabama: Montgomery Rebels (1916, 1951, 1954–1956); Montgomery Grays (1952–1953)
- Nashville, Tennessee: Nashville Vols (1963)
- Portsmouth, Virginia & Norfolk, Virginia: Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides (1961–1962)
- Savannah, Georgia: Savannah Pathfinders (1904–1905); Savannah Indians (1906–1912); Savannah Colts (1913–1915) Savannah Indians (1936–1942, 1946–1953); Savannah Athletics (1954–1955); Savannah Redlegs (1956–1958); Savannah Reds (1959); Savannah Pirates (1960); Savannah White Sox (1962)
- South Atlantic League Orphans
- Spartanburg, South Carolina: Spartanburg Pioneers (1919–1921); Spartanburg Spartans (1922–1929, 1938–1940)
Champions
League champions were determined by different means throughout the league's history.[3] Playoffs were held in most seasons, while in others the champions were simply the regular season pennant winners.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d "Southern League History". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "South Atlantic League (A) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ a b O'Neal, Bill (1994), The Southern League: Baseball in Dixie, 1885–1994, Eakin Press, pp. 320–321, ISBN 0890159521
- South Atlantic League (1904–1963)
- 1904 establishments in the United States
- 1963 disestablishments in the United States
- Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
- Sports leagues established in 1904
- Sports leagues disestablished in 1963
- Baseball leagues in Tennessee
- Baseball leagues in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Baseball leagues in South Carolina
- Baseball leagues in North Carolina
- Baseball leagues in Florida
- Baseball leagues in Virginia
- Baseball leagues in Alabama