South Atlantic League (1904–1963)

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 was renamed the Southern League in 1964, and the league elected to maintain a new set of records from that season onward.

For the present league of the same name, see South Atlantic League. For the successor of this league, see Southern League (1964–present).
South Atlantic League
Classification
SportBaseball
Founded1904
Ceased1963
Replaced bySouthern League
CountryUnited States

History

The original South Atlantic League was founded in 1904 by Charles W. Boyer and J.B. Lucy as a Class C league.[1] After a year of dormancy in 1918, it continued at that classification from 1919 to 1920 before being elevated to Class B 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.[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]

All-time teams

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]

Year Champion Score Runner-up
1904 Macon Peaches ——
1905 Macon Peaches ——
1906 Savannah Indians ——
1907 Charleston Sea Gulls ——
1908 Jacksonville Jays ——
1909 Chattanooga Lookouts 4–3Augusta Tourists
1910 Columbus Foxes ——
1911 Columbus Foxes 4–2Columbia Commies
1912 Jacksonville Tarpons 4–1Columbus Foxes
1913 Savannah Colts ——
1914 Savannah Colts 4–2Albany Babies
1915 Columbia Comers 4–1–2Macon Peaches
1916 Augusta Tourists 4–0Columbia Comers
1917 Columbia Comers 4–2Charleston Sea Gulls
1918 Not in operation
1919 Columbia Comers ——
1920 Columbia Comers ——
1921 Columbia Comers ——
1922 Charleston Pals ——
1923 Charlotte Hornets 4–1Macon Peaches
1924 Augusta Tygers ——
1925 Spartanburg Spartans ——
1926 Greenville Spinners ——
1927 Greenville Spinners ——
1928 Asheville Tourists ——
1929 Knoxville Smokies —Asheville Tourists
1930 Greenville Spinners 4–2Macon Peaches
1931 Not in operation
1932 Not in operation
1933 Not in operation
1934 Not in operation
1935 Not in operation
1936 Columbus Red Birds 4–2Jacksonville Tars
1937 Savannah Indians 3–1Macon Peaches
1938 Macon Peaches 4–3Savannah Indians
1939 Augusta Tigers 4–0Savannah Indians
1940 Columbus Red Birds 4–2Macon Peaches
1941 Columbia Reds 4–2Macon Peaches
1942 Augusta Tigers 4–0Columbia Reds
1943 Not in operation
1944 Not in operation
1945 Not in operation
1946 Augusta Tigers ——
1947 Savannah Indians 4–1Augusta Tigers
1948 Greenville Spinners 4–1Columbia Reds
1949 Macon Peaches 4–1Greenville Spinners
1950 Macon Peaches 4–0Columbia Reds
1951 Montgomery Rebels 4–0Jacksonville Tars
1952 Montgomery Grays 4–2Macon Peaches
1953 Columbia Reds 4–3Jacksonville Braves
1954 Savannah Athletics 4–3Jacksonville Braves
1955 Augusta Tigers 2–1Montgomery Rebels
1956 Jacksonville Braves 2–0Columbus Foxes
1957 Charlotte Hornets 2–1Augusta Tigers
1958 Macon Dodgers 2–0Jacksonville Braves
1959 Gastonia Pirates 3–0Charleston ChaSox
1960 Savannah Pirates 3–0Knoxville Smokies
1961 Asheville Tourists ——
1962 Macon Peaches 3–1Knoxville Smokies
1963 Augusta Yankees ——

References
  1. "Southern League History". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  2. "South Atlantic League (A) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  3. O'Neal, Bill (1994), The Southern League: Baseball in Dixie, 1885–1994, Eakin Press, pp. 320–321, ISBN 0890159521
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