Editing Southern League (1964–present) (section)

==History==

===Predecessor leagues (1885–1963)===

The original [[Southern League (1885–99)|Southern League]] was formed prior to the 1885 season as an eight-team circuit playing in the [[Southern United States]]. It operated at various times as a [[Class B (baseball)|Class B]] league (equivalent to short-season Class A before 2021, and [[Low-A]] since 2021).<ref name=SL-AA>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SOUL&class=AA|title=Southern League (AA) Encyclopedia and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name=SA-AA>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SOUA&class=AA|title=Southern Association (AA) Encyclopedia and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> Fraught with financial problems, teams regularly dropped out before the season's end. After being nonoperational in 1891, 1892, and 1897, it disbanded permanently after halting play during the 1899 season.<ref name=History>{{cite web |title=Southern League History|url=https://www.milb.com/southern/history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402222815/https://www.milb.com/southern/history|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2019|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Southern Association]] was formed in 1901 as a Class B circuit operating in nearly the same footprint as the first Southern League. It was elevated to [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] in 1902, [[Class A1 (baseball)|Class A1]] in 1936, and [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] in 1946.<ref name=SA-AA/> The Southern Association remained a premier Southern baseball league until [[Major League Baseball]] radio and television broadcasts began to undercut attendance in the 1950s. The league disbanded after 1961.<ref name=History/>

The original [[South Atlantic League (1904–1963)|South Atlantic League]], nicknamed the "SALLY League" and not related to the current [[South Atlantic League]] (formerly the [[Western Carolinas League]]), was formed in 1904. It operated at [[Class C (baseball)|Class C]] until it was elevated to Class B in 1921 and Class A in 1946.<ref name=SAL-A>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SALL&class=A|title=South Atlantic League (A) Encyclopedia and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> A year after the Southern Association's disbandment, the SALLY League took its place at the Double-A level in 1963.<ref name=SAL-A/>

===The modern league (1964–present)===

[[File:Billy Hitchcock 1978.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|[[Billy Hitchcock]] instituted several changes to modernize the league during his 1971 to 1980 presidency.]]

The Double-A SALLY League dissolved after the 1963 season and refounded itself as the Southern League. The newly minted league wanted to distance itself from the SALLY League's past history in the low minors. Additionally, many leagues had contributed to its legacy. For these reasons, it elected to start with a clean slate and does not claim the original SALLY League's history or records as its own.<ref name=History/> In its inaugural campaign, the six-team Southern League consisted of the [[Asheville Tourists]], [[Birmingham Barons]], [[Charlotte Hornets (baseball)|Charlotte Hornets]], [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], [[Columbus Confederate Yankees]], [[Knoxville Smokies]], [[Lynchburg White Sox]], and [[Macon Peaches]].<ref name=SL-AA/> Sam C. Smith, the last president of the SALLY League, served as president of the new Southern League.<ref name=History/> 

From 1967 to 1969, the league was reduced to six teams.<ref name=SL-AA/> It went back to eight clubs in 1970, but dropped to seven in 1971.<ref name=SL-AA/><ref name=DA>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=a33d7a12|title=1971 Dixie Association|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> With an odd number of teams, the Southern League joined forces with the Double-A [[Texas League]] as the [[Dixie Association]] in 1971. The two leagues played an interlocking schedule with individual league champions determined at the end of the season. Up to this point, the [[List of Southern League champions|Southern League pennant]] had simply gone to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season.{{sfn|Southern League Media Guide|2019|pages=132–140}} For the first time, the top two Southern League teams met in a best-of-three series to determine champions.{{sfn|Southern League Media Guide|2019|pages=132–140}} The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Asheville Tourists, 2–1, and then defeated the Texas League champion [[Arkansas Travelers]], 3–0, to win the Dixie Association championship.<ref name=SCSL>{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-SOUL/y-1971 |title=1971 Southern League (Dixie Association) Standings |website=Stats Crew |access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> The partnership was dissolved after the season.<ref name=SCSL/>

President Smith died suddenly in April 1971, and [[Billy Hitchcock]] became the new president that August.<ref name=History/> Hitchcock introduced a number of changes that are still in use today. In 1972, the Southern League was split into two divisions, Eastern and Western.{{sfn|Southern League Media Guide|2019|pages=132–140}} The playoffs, which began in the Dixie Association, were continued and expanded to a best-of-five series.{{sfn|Southern League Media Guide|2019|pages=132–140}} The league also began selecting postseason All-Star teams and issuing awards for the [[Southern League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]], [[Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award|Most Outstanding Pitcher]], and [[Southern League Manager of the Year Award|Manager of the Year]].<ref name=SLawards>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/southern/history/league-award-winners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219003813/https://www.milb.com/southern/history/league-award-winners|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 19, 2019|title=Southern League Award Winners|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/southern/history/postseason-all-star-teams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926205128/https://www.milb.com/southern/history/postseason-all-star-teams|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2020|title=Southern League Postseason All-Star Teams|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> In 1976, it introduced a split-season format with the schedule divided in half and first and second half champions from each division being crowned. This expanded the playoffs to two rounds with the winners of each half competing for each division's championship and those winners meeting for the league championship.{{sfn|Southern League Media Guide|2019|pages=132–140}} With the addition of two teams in 1978, the Southern League grew to 10&nbsp;teams.<ref name=SL-AA/> Other improvements under Hitchcock's presidency included stadium refurbishments and efforts to make the league more family-friendly. Attendance figures rose dramatically during his tenure.<ref name=History/>

[[Jim Bragan]] became president in 1981 after Hitchcock's retirement.<ref name=History/> Over his 14&nbsp;years leading the Southern League, attendance continued to grow as several cities built new ballparks.<ref name=History/> In 1994, [[Arnie Fielkow]] succeeded Bragan as president, and [[Don Mincher]] took over in 2000.<ref name=History/> Lori Webb became president in 2012 after Mincher's death that March.<ref name=History/><ref>{{cite web|title=Southern League Names First Woman President|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/7/20/230749/Southern-League-Names-First-Woman-President.aspx|website=The Chattanoogan|date=July 20, 2012|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

===COVID-19 impact and takeover by Major League Baseball (2020–present)===
The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name=2020can>{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Southern League was reduced to eight teams and temporarily renamed the "Double-A South" for the 2021 season.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the historical names of the minor leagues, the Double-A South was renamed the Southern League effective with the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>