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.

History

The original South Atlantic League was founded in 1904 by Charles W. Boyer and J.B. Lucy as a Class C league. After a year of dormancy in 1918, it continued at that classification from 1919 to 1920 before being elevated to Class B in 1921. The Great Depression caused the league to shut down from 1931 to 1935, but it returned at Class B from 1936 to 1942. Three more years of dormancy occurred during World War Two, but the SALLY League was revived as a Class A circuit from 1946 to 1962.
In 1963, it was reclassified as a Double-A league. The circuit was renamed the Southern League in 1964 to separate it from its history at lower classifications. To further differentiate itself, 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.
In 1980, the Western Carolinas League resurrected the name as it became the current South Atlantic League.

All-time teams

League champions were determined by different means throughout the league's history. Playoffs were held in most seasons, while in others the champions were simply the regular season pennant winners.