Bob Lennon led the
Southern Association in five major statistical categories, set its all-time
home run record, was named to the league All-Star team, and won the circuit's
MVP Award in 1954.
The
Nashville Vols were a
Minor League Baseball team that played in
Nashville, Tennessee , from 1901 to 1963.
[1] They were established as charter members of the
Southern Association in 1901.
[2] Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they became the Nashville Volunteers (regularly shortened to Vols) in 1908.
[3] Nashville remained in the Southern Association until the circuit disbanded after the 1961 season.
[2] The team sat out the 1962 campaign but returned for a final season in the
South Atlantic League in 1963 before ceasing operations altogether.
[1] Over 62 seasons, numerous players,
managers , and
coaches won awards, were selected for All-Star teams, or led their league in various statistical areas.
Eight Vols won the
Southern Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award , more than any other team in the league.
[4] These were:
Greek George ,
Ed Sauer ,
Chuck Workman ,
Carl Sawatski ,
Bob Schultz ,
Jack Harshman ,
Bob Lennon , and
Stan Palys . The only Vol to win the
Rookie of the Year Award was
Jim O'Toole . Eighty-seven players and four managers and coaches were selected for midseason All-Star teams. Of these, 14 were selected twice with Nashville:
Buddy Gilbert ,
Larry Gilbert ,
Oris Hockett ,
Bob Kelly , Pete Mallory,
Rube Novotney ,
Hugh Poland ,
Hal Quick , Carl Sawatski, Phil Shartzer,
Jim Shilling ,
Dick Sisler , Leo Twardy, and
Ben Wade . Two players were chosen as the MVP for their contributions in All-Star games:
Tommy Brown and
Chuck Coles . Additionally, the Vols served as the competition for the Southern Association All-Stars on six occasions in games held at Nashville's
Sulphur Dell .
Five players hold Southern Association records for single-season performances in major statistical categories.
Les Fleming holds the
batting average record (.414 in 1941),
Charlie Gilbert the
runs record (178 in 1948),
Jim Poole the
runs batted in (RBI) record (167 in 1930),
Joe Dwyer the
doubles record (65 in 1936), and Bob Lennon the
home run record (64 in 1954). Lennon led the league in five major categories in 1954: batting average (.345),
hits (210), runs (139), RBI (161), and home runs (64).
Charlie English led the circuit in four areas in 1942: batting average (.341), hits (217), RBI (139), and doubles (50). Ed Sauer led the league in four categories in 1943: batting average (.368), runs (113), doubles (51), and
stolen bases (30).
Key
Awards
League awards
Bob Schultz , 1950
Southern Association Most Valuable Player
These players won
Southern Association year-end awards during the club's membership from 1901 to 1961.
All-time Vols teams
Nashville Banner sportswriters
Fred Russell and George Leonard created two rosters of the all-time greatest players, covering the periods of 1901 to 1919 and 1920 to 1963.
[14]
1901–1919
Jake Daubert was named
first baseman on the 1901 to 1919 all-time Vols team by
Nashville Banner sportswriter
Fred Russell .
Doc Wiseman was selected as an
outfielder on the 1901 to 1919 all-time Vols team
1920–1963
Kiki Cuyler , was chosen as an
outfielder on the 1920 to 1963 all-time Vols teams by
Nashville Banner sportswriters
Fred Russell and George Leonard.
All-Stars
Midseason All-Stars
These players, coaches, and managers were selected to participate in the Southern Association All-Star Game (1938–1961) or the South Atlantic League All-Star Game (1963). Additionally, the Vols served as the competition for the Southern Association All-Stars on six occasions (1940, 1943, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1957) in games held at Nashville's
Sulphur Dell .
[15]
Larry Gilbert , 1941 and 1944 Southern Association All-Star
manager
Dick Culler , 1941 Southern Association All-Star
shortstop
Hal Jeffcoat , 1947 Southern Association All-Star
outfielder
Carl Sawatski , 1949 and 1950 Southern Association All-Star
catcher
Dusty Rhodes , 1952 Southern Association All-Star
outfielder
Matt Batts , 1956 Southern Association All-Star
catcher
Dick Sisler , 1957 Southern Association All-Star
first baseman and 1958 All-Star
manager
Jim Maloney , 1960 Southern Association All-Star
pitcher
Tommy Brown , 1957 Southern Association All-Star Game MVP
All-Star Game MVPs
These players won Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards for their contributions in the Southern Association All-Star Game (1938–1961).
League leaders
Batting leaders
Ed Abbaticchio led the Southern Association in
runs (127) in 1901 and in
triples (18) and
stolen bases (61) in 1902.
Dale Alexander led the Southern Association with 42
doubles in 1937.
Smoky Burgess led the Southern Association with a .384
batting average in 1948.
Charlie English led the Southern Association in
batting average (.341),
hits (217),
runs batted in (139), and
doubles (50) in 1942.
Les Fleming set the all-time Southern Association
batting average record of .414 in 1941.
Jack Harshman led the Southern Association with 47
home runs in 1951.
Lance Richbourg led the Southern Association in
doubles (46) and
stolen bases (30) in 1933.
Doug Taitt led the Southern Association in
batting average (.355),
hits (194), and
home runs (17) in 1935 and in
runs batted in (132) and home runs (20) in 1936.
Chuck Workman led the Southern Association in
home runs (29) in 1942 and in home runs (52) and
runs batted in (182) in 1948.
These players led all other players in their league in distinct statistical batting categories in a single season.
Pitching leaders
Bill Crouch co-led the Southern Association with 21
wins in 1938.
Oscar Fuhr co-led the Southern Association with 103
strikeouts in 1927.
Dutch McCall led the Southern Association in with 179
strikeouts in 1946.
Jim O'Toole led the Southern Association in
innings pitched (280) and co-led in
wins (20) in 1958.
Tom Rogers co-led the league with 24
wins in 1916.
These pitchers led all other pitchers in their league in distinct statistical pitching categories in a single season.
Notes
References
^
a
b
"Nashville, Tennessee Encyclopedia" . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^
a
b Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001).
"47. 1940 Nashville Vols" . Minor League Baseball . Archived from
the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2015 .
^
" 'Volunteers' is the New Name for Nashville's Baseball Club" . The Nashville American . Nashville. February 29, 1908. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"Palys Eighth Vol to Get Southern's MVP Accolade" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. January 23, 1958. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b Russell, Fred (August 13, 1940).
"League's Most Valuable" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Russell, Fred (August 24, 1943).
"Sideline Sidelights" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"Most Valuable to Workman" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. Associated Press. January 19, 1949. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"Southern League Picks Sawatski Most Valuable" . The Commercial Appeal . Memphis. International News Service. February 19, 1950. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"Schultz Voted Southern's Most Valuable for 1950" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. November 23, 1950. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"Harshman Voted SA's Most Valuable Player" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. January 12, 1954. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Leonard, George K. (January 11, 1955).
"No Surprise, This: Lennon Is Elected Most Valuable" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Williams, F. M. (January 23, 1958).
"Stan Palys Selected Most Valuable in SL" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Williams, F. M. (November 13, 1958).
"Nashville Reaps Jim O'Toole's Harvest" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Seely, Chad; Perry, Collin; Scopel, Doug (2022).
2022 Nashville Sounds Media Guide (PDF) . p. 217–218.
Archived (PDF) from the original on April 5, 2022 – via Minor League Baseball.
^
"Southern Association All-Star History" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. July 16, 1958. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
"Here are Dixie's All-Stars" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. Associated Press. July 3, 1938. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"How All-Stars and Crax Line Up" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. July 7, 1938. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
"This All-Star Game Faces Chicks in Second Edition of Classic" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. Associated Press. July 2, 1939. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
"All-Star Team Selected: Glitter Group Lists Vol Trio" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. Associated Press. June 30, 1940. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
"Crax Place Six, Dellers 4 on Team" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. Associated Press. June 29, 1941. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com.
^
"S. L. All-Stars Seek 2nd Straight Win Tonight" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. Associated Press. July 7, 1941. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
"Nashvols Place Four on Southern's All-Star Team" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. Associated Press. June 28, 1942. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
"Gardner, Sauer, Hamrick on League All-Star Team" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. July 2, 1943. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
"Four Players Picked Unanimously for Southern Loop All-Star Team" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. Associated Press. July 6, 1944. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e Massey, James R. (July 19, 1946).
"Crackers Win Almost Half All-Star Positions" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. Associated Press. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g Russell, Fred (July 22, 1947).
"Ben Wade to Start for All-Stars" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e Leonard, George K. (July 19, 1948).
"Vols May (It's Hoped) Regard All-Star Game Here as Chance to Step Up Morale in Flag Fight" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
"Sawatski is Unanimous Choice on All-Star Squad" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. July 6, 1949. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c Melvin, Russ (July 18, 1950).
"Wyatt Probable Cracker Choice to Face All-Stars" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f Leonard, George K. (July 6, 1951).
"Ludwig, Atchley, Brady on Southern All-Stars" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f Leonard, George K. (July 9, 1952).
"Piersall Steals All-Star Show, Invades Officials' Session in Absentia" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c Burns, Bud (July 3, 1953).
"Harshman Unanimous Southern All-Star Choice" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c Burns, Bud (July 9, 1954).
"Lennon, Rodin Represent Vols on Southern All-Star Squad" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f Williams, F. M. (July 14, 1955).
"Writers Impressed by Crippled Dellers" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
"Barons Replaced on All-Star Roster" . The Commercial Appeal . Memphis. Associated Press. July 14, 1956. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
"Vols Land 3 Players on SA Twinkle Team" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. July 12, 1956. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h Williams, F. M. (July 12, 1957).
"Sisler Would Change All-Star Mound Staff" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f Leonard, George (July 14, 1958).
"Three, Maybe 4, Vols to Start" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e Leonard, George (July 10, 1959).
"Five Vols Picked as SA All-Stars" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c Williams, F. M. (July 24, 1960).
"Domination of Travelers Vols' Bright Spot of Year" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c Leonard, George (July 4, 1961).
"Buddy Gilbert Is Only Vol Selected Southern All-Star" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b Williams, F. M. (July 16, 1963).
"Staehle, Gatewood Make All-Stars" . The Nashville Tennessean . Nashville. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b Leonard, George (July 18, 1957).
"Brown Gets Award as Nashville Loses All-Star Tilt, 7-6" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Leonard, George (July 17, 1958).
"One Jinx Cracked, Will Crax Avoid Another?" . The Nashville Banner . Nashville. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
"League Records: Single Season Batting Average" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
"1963 South Atlantic League Batting Leaders" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
"League Records: Single Season Hits" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
"League Records: Single Season Runs" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
"League Records: Single Season RBI" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
"League Records: Single Season Doubles" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
"League Records: Single Season Triples" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
"League Records: Single Season Home Runs" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"League Records: Single Season Stolen Bases" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
"League Records: Single Season Wins" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
"League Records: Single Season Losses" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"League Records: Single Season Innings Pitched" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
"League Records: Single Season Strikeouts" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
"League Records: Single Season Bases on Balls" . Southern Association Baseball . Retrieved December 19, 2023 .
Franchise Ballpark Culture
Seasons
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963