Southern League (baseball)

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 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.

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).

In 2012, the Carolina Mudcats relocated to Pensacola, Florida to become the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In 2015, the Huntsville Stars relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi to become the Biloxi Shuckers.

League timeline
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 * In 1971, the Southern League and Texas League were both down to seven teams so they formed the Dixie Association for one season. They played interlocking schedules but held their own separate playoffs.

Complete list of teams (1964–present)

 * Asheville Orioles
 * Asheville Tourists
 * Biloxi Shuckers
 * Birmingham A's
 * Birmingham Barons
 * Carolina Mudcats
 * Charlotte Hornets
 * Charlotte Knights
 * Charlotte O's
 * Chattanooga Lookouts
 * Columbus Astros
 * Columbus Confederate Yankees
 * Columbus Mudcats
 * Columbus White Sox
 * Evansville White Sox
 * Greenville Braves


 * Huntsville Stars
 * Jackson Generals
 * Jacksonville Expos
 * Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
 * Jacksonville Suns
 * Knoxville Blue Jays
 * Knoxville Smokies
 * Knoxville Sox
 * Lynchburg White Sox
 * Macon Peaches
 * Memphis Chicks
 * Mississippi Braves
 * Mobile A's
 * Mobile BayBears
 * Mobile Bucks
 * Mobile Soldiers
 * Mobile White Sox


 * Montgomery Biscuits
 * Montgomery Rebels
 * Nashville Sounds
 * Nashville Xpress
 * Orlando Cubs
 * Orlando Rays
 * Orlando Sun Rays
 * Orlando Twins
 * Pensacola Blue Wahoos
 * Port City Roosters
 * Savannah Braves
 * Savannah Indians
 * Savannah Senators
 * Tennessee Smokies
 * West Tenn Diamond Jaxx

South Atlantic League teams (prior to 1964)

 * Albany Babies
 * Asheville Tourists
 * Augusta Dollies
 * Augusta Georgians
 * Augusta Rams
 * Augusta Tigers
 * Augusta Tygers
 * Augusta Tourists
 * Augusta Wolves
 * Augusta Yankees
 * Charleston ChaSox/White Sox
 * Charleston Palmettos/Pals
 * Charleston Rebels
 * Charleston Sea Gulls/Gulls
 * Charlotte Hornets
 * Chattanooga Lookouts
 * Columbia Comers/Commies/Combers
 * Columbia Gamecocks
 * Columbia Gems
 * Columbia Reds
 * Columbia Senators
 * Columbia Skyscrapers
 * Columbus Foxes
 * Columbus Pirates
 * Columbus Red Birds/Cardinals
 * Gastonia Combers
 * Gastonia Pirates
 * Greenville Spinners
 * Jacksonville Braves
 * Jacksonville Jays
 * Jacksonville Jets
 * Jacksonville Tarpons
 * Jacksonville Tars
 * Knoxville Appalachians
 * Knoxville Smokies
 * Lynchburg White Sox
 * Macon Brigands
 * Macon Dodgers
 * Macon Highlanders
 * Macon Peaches
 * Montgomery Grays
 * Montgomery Rebels
 * Nashville Vols
 * New Orleans Bucks/Kings (also in SL)
 * New Orleans Jacks/Generals (also in SL)
 * Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides
 * Savannah Athletics
 * Savannah Indians
 * Savannah Pirates
 * Savannah Redlegs/Reds
 * Savannah White Sox
 * South Atlantic League Orphans
 * Spartanburg Pioneers
 * Spartanburg Spartans

Past champions
League champions have been determined by different means since the Southern League's formation in 1964. Through 1970, champions were simply the regular season pennant winners. A postseason playoff series to crown a champion was established in 1979.

The Birmingham A's/Barons have won 7 Southern League championships, the most among all teams in the league, followed by the Jacksonville Suns (6) and the Montgomery Rebels (5). Among active franchises, Birmingham has won 7 championships, the most in the league, followed Jacksonville (6) and the Mobile BayBears (4).