Southern Association

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Founded in 1901, the Southern Association was a second-tier minor league (what is now called AA) for most of its lifespan. It collapsed after the 1961 season; some attribute this to the league never having integrated. Over the years the Association was home to up-and-coming stars like Eddie Mathews and Luis Aparicio as well as one-armed Pete Gray, who won the league MVP award in 1944. Birmingham and Nashville competed for the full 61 year run of the league. Also, Atlanta and Memphis missed only one year, New Orleans missed only two, and Chattanooga and Little Rock were involved for over 50 years. Mobile was the eighth team for 41 years, making for an incredibly stable lineup.

From 1885-1886, and again from 1892-1896, the Southern League operated as a forerunner to the SA, with many of the same cities as the Southern Association.


Contents

[edit] Citites Represented

[edit] 1901 - 1961

[edit] Teams and Statistics

[edit] 1952 - 1953

1952 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Chattanooga Lookouts8666.566051591431.27766686758219.962
Atlanta Crackers8272.533552701518.28891727 803164.972
Mobile Bears8073.5236-52241499.28795709775177.969
Memphis Chicks8174.5236-51341373.26794687757227.962
New Orleans Pelicans8075.5167-51101316.258115658741220.962
Nashville Vols7379.4801352401510.288132730895 196.967
Little Rock Travelers6885.44418-50231294.25861542586166.970
Birmingham Barons6490.4162351561369.26687637706200.966


1952 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Chattanooga Lookouts Cal Ermer 252,703
Atlanta Crackers Dixie Walker 232,994
Mobile Bears Ed Head 158,989
Memphis Chicks Luke Appling 174,830
New Orleans Pelicans Danny Murtaugh, 232,043
Nashville Vols Hugh Poland 113,193
Little Rock Travelers Willis Hudlin 121,482
Birmingham Barons Al Vincent,Red Mathis 177,898
Total Attendance 1,464,132


1952 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Wade Browning,Mobile Bears14142.90Rance Pless,Nashville Vols538196.364
Jim PearceChattanooga Lookouts1252.98Junior Wooten,Atlanta Crackers496172.347
Mel Himes,Mobile Bears1163.04Chuck Tanner,Atlanta Crackers449121.269

Frank Thomas was voted the league's MVP.

In other important categories, Frank Thomas, New Orleans Pelicans hammered 35 home runs, had 131 RBI and scored 112 runs. Don Nicholas of the Memphis Chicks had 84 stolen bases to his credit. Al Sima pitching for the Chattanooga Lookouts chalked up 24 wins to lead the league in that category. Al Worthington, Nashville Vols led in striking out batters, with 152 in his pocket.

The Memphis Chicks walked off with the playoff title beating up on the Chattanooga Lookouts 4 games to 0, while the Mobile Bears were whipping the Atlanta Crackers 4 games to 2. The hard playing Memphis Chicks took out the Mobile Bears 4 wins to 2 to take home the playoff crown.

1953

1953 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Memphis Chicks8767.565051831409.272156771833191.968
Nashville Vols8569.552251831494.288142734787189.967
Atlanta Crackers8470.546350391365.271122712770182.968
Birmingham Barons7876.507953051446.273106697757198.966
New Orleans Pelicans7678.494115261 1429.27293704775183.969
Chattanooga Lookouts7381.4741451561399.27152619670168.970
Mobile Bears6687.43120-52201395.26773583645 177.970
Little Rock Travelers6687.43120-50851307.25789584643155.972


1953 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Memphis Chicks Luke Appling 202,577
Nashville Vols Hugh Poland 149,578
Atlanta Crackers Gene Mauch 290,510
Birmingham Barons Mayo Smith 207,612
New Orleans Pelicans Danny Murtaugh 123,905
Chattanooga Lookouts Cal Ermer 172,042
Mobile Bears Ed Head 77,261
Little Rock Travelers Paul Campbell 104,181
Total Attendance 1,327,926


1953 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Art Fowler,Atlanta Crackers18103.03Bill Taylor,Nashville Vols406142.350
Dick Strahs,Memphis Chicks1683.15Dick Sinovic,Atlanta Crackers587201.342
Tom HurdMemphis Chicks1072.65Ed White,Memphis Chicks488161.330

Jack Harshman was voted the league's MVP.

Bill Wilson of the Memphis Chicks pounded 34 home runs to top the league while Dick Sinovic, Atlanta Crackers knocked in 126. Robert Boring of the Nashville Vols scored 108 runs. Winingest pitcher was Jack Harshman of the Nashville Vols, with 23 to his credit. Jim Constable, of the Nashville Vols fanned 183 would be hitters.

The playoffs were won by the Nashville Vols who beat the Birmingham Barons in the final round 4 games to 1. In the first round the Birmingham Barons took out the Memphis Chicks 4 games to 1 and the Nashville Vols beat the Atlanta Crackers 4 games to 2.

[edit] 1954 - 1955

1954 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Atlanta Crackers9460.610052301491.285165777841165.971
New Orleans Pelicans9262.597251651426.276137795860183.968
Birmingham Barons8170.53611-51841511.291115790851175.969
Memphis Chicks8074.5201452951477.279122771822203.966
Chattanooga Lookouts7576.49817-49691339.26952610670163.971
Little Rock Travelers6490.4163051881349.260115679730164.971
Nashville Vols6490.4163052891468.278184785837 209.964
Mobile Bears6391.4093150921349.265111637702181 .968


1954 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Atlanta Crackers Whit Wyatt 312,259
New Orleans Pelicans Danny Murtaugh 206,305
Birmingham Barons Mayo Smith 186,310
Memphis Chicks Don Gutteridge 108,898
Chattanooga Lookouts Cal Ermer 149,453
Little Rock Travelers Bill Norman, Stubby Overmire, Pat Mullin 74,449
Nashville Vols Hugh Poland 89,470
Mobile Bears Stan Wasiak,Greg Mulleavy 87,191
Total Attendance 1,214,335


1954 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Nellie King,New Orleans Pelicans1652.25Bob Lennon, Nashville Vols609210.345
Dick Donovan, Atlanta Crackers1882.79Eric Rodin, Nashville Vols473159.336
Jerry Lane,Chattanooga Lookouts1382.97Russ Sullivan,Little Rock Travelers457152.333

Bob Lennon was voted the league's MVP.

Nashville Vols Bob Lennon led the league in just about every hitting category there is. He busted the ball for 64 homers, knocked in 161 and also managed to score 139 times...all this to go with a league batting title. Leo Cristante, Atlanta Crackers led the league in wins with 24 while Joe Margoneri of The Nashville Vols struck out 184 big swingers.

The Atlanta Crackers made it a clean sweep by winning not only the league title but the playoffs along with it, beating the Memphis Chicks in the first round 4 games to 2. Then taking the last set against the New Orleans Pelicans, 4 games to 1.

1955

1955 Final Team Standings
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Memphis Chicks9063.588050961368.268105689754206.965
Birmingham Barons8865.575251981459.28180711784182.968
Chattanooga Lookouts8074.52010-52121401.26976698769200.966
Mobile Bears7975.51311-49811290.259121636702230.960
Nashville Vols7774.5101251091448.283123748820182.968
New Orleans Pelicans7675.5031349571311.264105705783202.965
Atlanta Crackers7084.45520-51951325.255124613689225.963
Little Rock Travelers52102.33838-50451279.25466521556192.967


1955 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Memphis Chicks Jack Cassini, Ted Lyons 134,823
Birmingham Barons Phil Page 201,570
Chattanooga Lookouts Cal Ermer 160,009
Mobile Bears Clay Bryant 94,214
Nashville Vols Joe Schultz 116,952
New Orleans Pelicans Andy Cohen 128,993
Atlanta Crackers George McQuinn,Marv Rackley,Clyde King 239,037
Little Rock Travelers Bob Mavis, Steve Souchock 51,514
Total Attendance 1,127,112


1955 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Ralph Mauriello,Mobile Bears1882.76Charlie Williams,Nashville Vols573211.368
Al Sima,Chattanooga Lookouts12113.04Ed White,Memphis Chicks558191.342
John Wingo,Birmingham Barons15103.06Ben Downs,Nashville Vols526179.340

Jerry Dahlke was voted the league's MVP

Bob Hazle of the Nashville Vols led the SA in home runs with 29 to his credit, also scoring 114 runs. Jim Lemon of the Chattanooga Lookouts and Jim Gentile of the Mobile Bears tied for the RBI lead with 109 each. Jerry Dahlke had the most victories with 19 pitching wins to his credit. Gene Host of the Little Rock Travelers fanned 184 swingers.

In the playoffs, the Mobile Bears whipped the Memphis Chicks 4 games to 3, and in the other first round match-up, the Birmingham Barons got to the Chattanooga Lookouts 4 to 2. The Mobile Bears then stopped the Birmingham Barons, also 4 games to 2.

[edit] 1956 - 1957

1956 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Atlanta Crackers8965.578052141359.261183741827180.970
Memphis Chicks8272.533750781298.256115628692166.971
Mobile Bears8273.5297-51361341.261105634715198.966
Birmingham Barons8174.5238-52921429.270106696752188.968
New Orleans Pelicans7975.5131050951390.273136748817165.971
Chattanooga Lookouts7678.4941351971476.28476669741226.960
Nashville Vols7579.4871451561418.27594690757182.967
Little Rock Travelers53101.3443649431206.244100640690192.967


1956 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Atlanta Crackers Clyde King, 265,578
Memphis Chicks Jack Cassini, Don Griffin 163,832
Mobile Bears Jo-Jo White 81,727
Birmingham Barons Phil Page 194,997
New Orleans Pelicans Andy Cohen 96,753
Chattanooga Lookouts Cal Ermer 99,091
Nashville Vols Ernie White 115,049
Little Rock Travelers Steve Souchock 71,104
Total Attendance 1,088,131


1956 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Bill Dailey,Mobile Bears1583.18S.Roseboro,Chattanooga Lookouts473161.340
Don RudolphMemphis Chicks11103.19Al GrunwaldNew Orleans Pelicans464154.332
Bill DuFour,Memphis Chicks10103.21Lyle LuttrellChattanooga Lookouts460149.324

Al Papai was voted the league's MVP

Johnny Powers of the New Orleans Pelicans led the league with 39 homers while also scoring 131 runs. Milt Graff, Birmingham Barons led the league in hits with 207 while Gordy Coleman of the Mobile Bears led with 118 RBI.

Al Papai with the Memphis Chicks won the most games for a pitcher, with 20 under his belt. Bob Kelly of the Nashville Vols led the pack with 180 strikeouts.

In the playoffs ,the Atlanta Crackers whipped the Birmingham Barons, 4 games to 0 and in the other first round match-up, the Memphis Chicks got to the Mobile Bears 4 to 3. The Atlanta Crackers then stopped the Memphis Chicks, in a real fight, 4 games to 3. This gave the Atlanta Crackers the league and playoff titles for 1956.


1957


1957 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Atlanta Crackers8767.565051621340.260127730776155.973
Memphis Chicks8667.562-50141309.261108656704180.969
Nashville Vols8369.546351311462.285108816882135.977
Chattanooga Lookouts8370.5433-51031400.27489687742180.969
Mobile Bears7578.49011-50711274.25187565630172.970
Birmingham Barons7479.48412-50951270.249108568718153.974
Little Rock Travelers6488.4212250041277.25577562610159.971
New Orleans Pelicans6094.3902750351267.25264614685195.966


1957 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Atlanta Crackers Bud Bates, 256,876
Memphis Chicks Lou Klein, 125,085
Nashville Vols Dick Sisler 152,203
Chattanooga Lookouts Cal Ermer 130,417
Mobile Bears Don Heffner 71,522
Birmingham Barons Johnny Pesky 133,913
Little Rock Travelers Al Evans 75,181
New Orleans Pelicans Peanuts Lowrey 67,287
Total Attendance 1,012,484


1957 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team PitchingWLERAAvr.
Hy Cohen, Memphis Chicks1572.72.682
Jim Atkins, Birmingham Barons1452.86.737
Don Minnick, Chattanooga Lookouts1763.09.739
Player & Team HittingAbHitsRunsAvr.
Stan Palys, Nashville Vols493177116.359
Vern Morgan, Chattanooga Lookouts544182107.335
Bob Coats, Memphis Chicks56318487.327

Hy Cohen was voted the league's MVP.

Harmon Killebrew, Chattanooga Lookouts, busted 29 four-baggers to lead the pack and his teammate, Jesse Levan had 114 RBI.

Bob Kelly of the Nashville Vols was the winningest pitcher with 24 victories to his credit. George Brunet, Little Rock Travelers pitcher, had 235 strikeouts on his tally.

The Atlanta Crackers were again winners in the play-offs, beating the Chattanooga Lookouts 4 wins against 2 in the first round and buried The Nashville Vols 4 games to none to win the big one. The Nashville Vols squad had beaten the Memphis Chicks 4 - 2, to make the final round.


[edit] 1958 - 1959

1958 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Birmingham Barons9162.595051941381.266138699765141.975
Mobile Bears8468.5526-49511283.25999614677167.970
Atlanta Crackers8470.5457-51801371.265123686740168.971
Chattanooga Lookouts7776.5031451051416.27789650731186.967
Nashville Vols7678.49315-51011341.263120705777175.970
Little Rock Travelers7480.48017-50701236.244128616673197.966
Memphis Chicks6984.4512249431211.24597564606156.972
New Orleans Pelicans5794.3773350261371.273180703776210 .964


1958 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Birmingham Barons Cal Ermer 184,682
Mobile Bears Mel McGaha 81,593
Atlanta Crackers Bud Bates 178,791
Chattanooga Lookouts Red Marion 86,328
Nashville Vols Dick Sisler 92,199
Little Rock Travelers Les Peden 67,810
Memphis Chicks Sheriff Robinson 62,403
New Orleans Pelicans Charlie Silvera/Ray Yochim 50,369
Total Attendance 804,175


1958 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Bob Davis,Little Rock Travelers1182.17Jim Fridley,Nashville Vols515179.348
Jim O'Toole,Nashville Vols2082.44Les Peden,Little Rock Travelers458153.334
Dick Stigman,Mobile Bears1572.44Bob Thorpe,Birmingham Barons481156.324

Bill Harrington was voted the league's MVP

Kent Hadley of the Little Rock Travelers led the pack with 34 home runs and Chuck Coles of the Nashville Vols came up with 107 RBI. Jack Reed of the New Orleans Pelicans had 198 base hits to go along with scoring 120 runs.

Bill Harrington (Birmingham Barons), Bob Hartman (Atlanta Crackers) and Jim O'Toole (Nashville Vols) all chalked up 20 wins to their teams' credit. Joe Grzenda (Birmingham Barons) and Jim O'Toole of the Nashville Vols both garnered 189 strike-outs for their teams.

The Birmingham Barons not only walked off with the league title, but they captured the play-off crown also, beating the Chattanooga Lookouts 4 games to 1 and then taking the Mobile Bears to the woodshed by the same count. The Mobile Bears had beaten the Atlanta Crackers 4 zip to make the final round.

1959

1959 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Birmingham Barons9261.601051071382.271108682735145.974
Mobile Bears8963.5862-51331403.27392623699175.969
Nashville Vols8464.5685-48681301.267120661654143.974
Memphis Chicks7677.4971649561271.25687594657150.973
Shreveport Sports7579.48717-52471462.279135690756184.969
New Orleans Pelicans6881.4562249421271.257103605693190.966
Chattanooga Lookouts6786.4382552501365.26094561619 164.972
Atlanta Crackers5696.36835-49701278.257101565605218 .962


1959 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Birmingham Barons Skeeter Newsome 120,618
Mobile Bears Mel McGaha 64,309
Nashville Vols Dick Sisler 129,125
Memphis Chicks Luke Appling 49,682
Shreveport Sports Les Peden 47,636
New Orleans Pelicans Mel Parnell 71,577
Chattanooga Lookouts Red Marion 60,128
Atlanta Crackers Bud Bates/Bob Montag 71,139
Total Attendance 614,214


1959 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Bill Dailey,Mobile Bears1152.41Gordy Coleman,Mobile Bears507179.353
Wynn Hawkins,Mobile Bears1492.55Don Saner,Mobile484156.322
Wally Seward,Mobile Bears942.88Jay Hankins,Shreveport Sports588186.316

Gordy Coleman was voted the league's MVP.

Gordy Coleman not only led the league in the batting average race, he busted 30 homers and had 110 RBI. The Shreveport Sports' Lou Klimchock had 192 hits and John Water of the Mobile Bears scored 103 runs. Don Brady, New Orleans Pelicans had 19 wins on the mound and Carl Mathis from the Mobile Bears struck out 183 would be hitters. It could be said that the Mobile Bears boys won every thing but the pennant, loosing that by just 2 1/2 games to the Birmingham Barons. Not to be outdone the runner-ups in the regular season whacked the first place finishers 4 games to 1, in what was to be the last play-off series ever played in the league. There was no all-star game or "Dixie Series" played in this season, either.


[edit] 1960 - 1961

1960 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Atlanta Crackers8767.565051331412.275120757840182.968
Shreveport Sports8667.562-51401446.281147779831210.964
Little Rock Travelers8269.5433-49121278.26061681739166.971
Birmingham Barons8370.5423-51401340.261127688753182.969
Mobile Bears7972.5236-51061389.27289643685168 .971
Nashville Vols7182.46415-51651366.264125650712189.968
Memphis Chicks5987.4042448601272.26267555625 211.960
Chattanooga Lookouts6093.39226-50681319.26070606654170.970


1960 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Atlanta Crackers Rube Walker 154,143
Shreveport Sports Les Peden 53,498
Little Rock Travelers Fred Hatfield 179,471
Birmingham Barons Skeeter Newsome 119,140
Mobile Bears Al Hollingsworth/Johnny Lipon 67,846
Nashville Vols Jim Turner 99,721
Memphis Chicks Joe Schultz 48,487
Chattanooga Lookouts Spook Jacobs 58,010
Total Attendance 779,866


1960 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Ron Nischwitz,Birmingham Barons1472.31Stan Palys,Birmingham Barons540200.370
Charles Ready,Little Rock Travelers1572.65Jack Kubiszyn,Mobile Bears449151.336
Dave WickershamShreveport Sports1072.65Ernie Oravetz ,Mobile Bears600196.327

Stan Palys sas voted the league's MVP.

Jim McManus of the Shreveport Sports had 32 home runs to lead the league in that category; his teammates Leo Posada (122 RBI) and Jay Hankins (116 runs) also led the league in key offensive stats. Pete Richert of the Atlanta Crackers had 19 wins and fanned 251 swingers. For the first time in years, there were no play-off or all-star games played and the "Dixie Series" looked like a thing of the past.


1961


1961 Final Team Standings'
TeamWLPct%GBABHitsBat%HRRBIRunsErrFld%
Chattanooga Lookouts9062.592051231411.27595657753178.969
Birmingham Barons8963.585152411452.27790778854172.970
Little Rock Travelers8073.52310-49731296.26195637711207.964
Atlanta Crackers7774.51012-50211316.26294661728153.973
Macon Peaches7579.4871651791332.25786607674204.966
Nashville Vols6983.4542150351390.276105702764164.971
Shreveport Sports6984.45121-52641419.272116708783 196.965
Mobile Bears6192.39929-50711214.23960509569197 .966


1961 Teams, Managers and Attendance
TeamManagersAttendance
Chattanooga Lookouts Frank Lucchesi 107,419
Birmingham Barons Frank Skaff 112,217
Little Rock Travelers Fred Hatfield 136,316
Atlanta Crackers Rube Walker 59,061
Macon Peaches Max Macon, Jerry Snyder 91,136
Nashville Vols Spencer Robbins 64,460
Shreveport Sports Les Peden 23,349
Mobile Bears Ernie White 48,843
Total Attendance 647,831


1961 Individual Pitching, Hitting Leaders
Player & Team, PitchingWLERAplayer & Team, HittingABHitsAvr
Jack Smith,Atlanta Crackers1272.09Don Saner,Little Rock Travelers404141.349
Howie Koplitz,Birmingham Barons2332.11Joe Christian,Nashville Vols545183.336
Don EricksonChattanooga Lookouts642.21Stan Palys,Birmingham Barons492164.333

Howie Koplitz was voted the league's MVP.

In other important categories, Gabe Gabler (Macon Peaches) hammered 30 home runs, Wayne Graham of the Chattanooga Lookouts had 199 hits and Legrant Scott of the Birmingham Barons scored 128 runs. Not to be outdone the famed "Bo Belinsky" of the Little Rock Travelers led the league by fanning 182 would-be hitters.

The final year. This indeed was the last go-around for the famed league and President Hal Totten formally announced after the seasons end that the league would not be formed for 1962. There was no playoffs or All-Star games again and the famed "Dixie Series", sometimes, called the "Minor League World Series" was gone with the rest.

Regardless of all the discussion on why baseball was changing, and there are a ton of reasons why, both pro and con, it changed. The Southern Association, a backbone of Minor League Baseball for 61 years, was finished. The league ended with the last game of the 1961 season...the league died with its spikes on and ready to play, but it was over, and the mother of them all..... was gone.

Many argue that the lack of integration by the SA led to its demise as the more progressive leagues all survived.

[edit] SOURCE

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball and the Baseball Guide and Record Book.
Image is user created not original.


[edit] Hall of Fame Alumni

[edit] Further Reading

  • Warren Corbett: "Why, They'll Bet on a Foul Ball: The Southern Association Scandal of 1959", in The National Pastime - A Review of Baseball History, Society for American Baseball Research, Cleveland, OH, number 26 (May, 2006), pp. 54-60.
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