Editing Southern League (1964–present) (section)

===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/>