Nashville Vols seasons
The Nashville Vols minor league baseball team played 62 seasons from its creation in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1901 through its final season of 1963. The club played in 9,019 regular season games and compiled a win–loss record of 4,571–4,448 (.507).[1][2] They had a post-season record of 110–77–1 (.588).[3][4]
The Nashville Baseball Club was formed as a charter member of the newly organized Class B Southern Association (SA) in 1901.[5] The team did not receive their official moniker, the Nashville Volunteers, until 1908.[6] However, the team was, and is, commonly referred to as the Vols. Their last season in the Southern Association was 1961. After sitting out the 1962 season, the Vols returned for a final season as a part of the South Atlantic League (SAL) in 1963.[7] Over their 62-year existence, the Vols competed at four class levels: Class B (1901), Class A (1902–1935), Class A1 (1936–1945), and Double-A (1946–1961, 1963). They served as a farm club for eight major league teams.
The Vols won the Southern Association Pennant on eight occasions: 1901, 1902, 1908, 1916, 1940, 1943, 1948, and 1949. They won the Southern Association Championship as part of a two-to-four team playoff nine times: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1949, 1950, and 1953. The Vols won the Dixie Series, a best-of-seven playoff series between the Southern Association and Texas League, in four seasons: 1940, 1941, 1942, and 1949.[3][4]
The team's best season record occurred in 1940, when they finished 101–47 (.682). The 1940 team was ranked as the 47th best minor league of all time in a 2001 ranking by baseball historians.[7] Their lowest season record was 45–92 (.328) in 1906. Of the eight major league affiliations in Nashville's history, the team recorded its best record from 1938 to 1940 as a Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate. The team had a regular season record of 270–181 (.599) during that time. They reached the postseason in all three seasons, winning one Southern Association Pennant, two Southern Association Championships, and one Dixie Series Championship. Their postseason record was 25–16–1 (.610). Conversely, the team's lowest record was as a Los Angeles Angels affiliate in 1963. The Vols compiled a 53–86 (.381) record and failed to reach the post-season in their only year with the Angles and their final year of existence.
Season-by-season records
| Dixie Series champions (1920–1958) § |
Playoff champions (1928–1960)  |
Pennant winners (1901–1961, 1963)  |
Playoff berth (1928–1960) * |
| Year | Record[a] | Win % | Finish[b] | GB[c] | Post-season record[d] | Post-season win % | Result | MLB affiliate[e] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 78–45 | .634 | 1st | — | — | — | Won SA Pennant | Unaffiliated |
| 1902 | 82–42 | .661 | 1st | — | — | — | Won SA Pennant | Unaffiliated |
| 1903 | 60–62 | .492 | 5th | 1½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1904 | 72–67 | .518 | 5th | 11 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1905 | 47–88 | .348 | 7th | 40 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1906 | 45–92 | .328 | 7th | 43½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1907 | 59–78 | .431 | 8th | 21½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1908 | 75–56 | .573 | 1st | — | — | — | Won SA Pennant | Cleveland Indians |
| 1909 | 82–55 | .599 | 2nd | 5½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1910 | 64–76 | .457 | 5th | 23 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1911 | 69–64 | .519 | 4th | 9½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1912 | 67–70 | .489 | 5th | 18½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1913 | 62–76 | .449 | 7th | 19½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1914 | 77–72 | .517 | 5th | 10 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1915 | 75–78 | .490 | 4th | 15½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1916 | 84–54 | .609 | 1st | — | — | — | Won SA Pennant | Unaffiliated |
| 1917 | 77–73 | .513 | 5th | 19 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1918 | 30–40 | .429 | 7th | 19 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1919 | 55–83 | .399 | 8th | 30 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1920 | 65–89 | .422 | 7th | 26½ | — | — | — | Chicago White Sox |
| 1921 | 62–90 | .408 | 6th | 41½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1922 | 56–96 | .368 | 7th | 41 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1923 | 75–77 | .493 | 6th | 17 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1924 | 78–75 | .510 | 4th | 26 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1925 | 81–72 | .529 | 3rd | 5½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1926 | 83–68 | .550 | 4th | 16½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1927 | 84–69 | .549 | 4th | 12 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1928 | 59–94 | .386 | 8th | 40 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1929 | 90–63 | .588 | 2nd | 3 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1930 | 66–87 | .431 | 7th | 32 | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1931 | 51–102 | .333 | 8th | 46½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1932 * | 75–78 | .490 | 4th | 25 | 1–3 | .250 | Lost SA Championship vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3–1[4] | Unaffiliated |
| 1933 | 77–69 | .527 | 3rd | 14½ | — | — | — | Unaffiliated |
| 1934 * | 87–65 | .572 | 2nd | 6 | 2–3 | .400 | Lost SA Championship vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3–2 | New York Giants |
| 1935 * | 82–69 | .543 | 4th | 9 | 0–3 | .000 | Lost SA semi-finals vs Atlanta Crackers, 3–0 | New York Giants |
| 1936 * | 86–65 | .570 | 2nd | 7 | 2–3 | .400 | Lost SA semi-finals vs Birmingham Barons, 3–2 | Cincinnati Reds |
| 1937 | 80–73 | .523 | 5th | 17½ | — | — | — | Cincinnati Reds |
| 1938 * | 84–66 | .560 | 2nd | 5½ | 4–6–1 | .400 | Won SA semi-finals vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3–2 Lost SA Championship vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–1–1 | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 1939 | 85–68 | .556 | 3rd | 1½ | 10–7 | .588 | Won SA semi-finals vs Memphis Chicks, 3–0 Won SA Championship vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–3 Lost Dixie Series vs Fort Worth Cats, 4–3 | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 1940 § | 101–47 | .682 | 1st | — | 11–3 | .786 | Won SA Pennant Won SA semi-finals vs Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–0 Won SA Championship vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–2 Won Dixie Series vs Houston Buffaloes, 4–1 | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| 1941 § | 83–70 | .542 | 2nd | 15½ | 11–4 | .733 | Won SA semi-finals vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3–1 Won SA Championship vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–3 Won Dixie Series vs Dallas Rebels, 4–0 | Unaffiliated |
| 1942 § | 85–66 | .563 | 2nd | 4½ | 11–3 | .786 | Won SA semi-finals vs Birmingham Barons, 3–1 Won SA Championship vs Little Rock Travelers, 4–0 Won Dixie Series vs Shreveport Sports, 4–2 | Unaffiliated |
| 1943 | 83–55 | .601 | 1st | — | 4–1 | .800 | Won SA Pennant Won SA Championship vs New Orleans Pelicans, 4–1 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1944 | 79–61 | .564 | 3rd | 7½ | 4–3 | .571 | Won SA Championship vs Memphis Chicks, 4–3 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1945 | 55–84 | .396 | 7th | 38½ | — | — | — | Chicago Cubs |
| 1946 | 73–78 | .483 | 6th | 20½ | — | — | — | Chicago Cubs |
| 1947 * | 80–73 | .523 | 3rd | 14 | 7–5 | .583 | Won SA semi-finals vs New Orleans Pelicans, 4–1 Lost SA Championship vs Mobile Bears, 4–3 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1948 * | 94–58 | .618 | 1st | — | 6–7 | .462 | Won SA Pennant Won SA semi-finals vs Mobile Bears, 4–3 Lost SA Championship vs Birmingham Barons, 4–2 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1949 § | 95–57 | .625 | 1st | — | 12–7 | .632 | Won SA Pennant Won SA semi-finals vs New Orleans Pelicans, 4–2 Won SA Championship vs Mobile Bears, 4–2 Won Dixie Series vs Tulsa Oilers, 4–3 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1950 | 86–64 | .573 | 3rd | 5½ | 11–6 | .647 | Won SA semi-finals vs Birmingham Barons, 4–1 Won SA Championship vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–1 Lost Dixie Series vs San Antonio Missions, 4–3 | Chicago Cubs |
| 1951 | 78–76 | .506 | 5th | 15½ | — | — | — | Chicago Cubs |
| 1952 | 73–79 | .480 | 6th | 13 | — | — | — | New York Giants |
| 1953 | 85–69 | .552 | 2nd | 2 | 10–7 | .588 | Won SA semi-finals vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–2 Won SA Championship vs Birmingham, 4–1 Lost Dixie Series vs Dallas Eagles, 4–2 | New York Giants |
| 1954 | 64–90 | .416 | 6th (tie) | 30 | — | — | — | New York Giants |
| 1955 | 77–74 | .510 | 5th | 12 | — | — | — | Cincinnati Redlegs |
| 1956 | 75–79 | .487 | 7th | 14 | — | — | — | Cincinnati Redlegs |
| 1957 * | 86–69 | .555 | 3rd | 3 | 4–6 | .400 | Won SA semi-finals vs Memphis Chicks, 4–2 Lost SA Championship vs Atlanta Crackers, 4–0 | Cincinnati Redlegs |
| 1958 | 76–78 | .494 | 5th | 15½ | — | — | — | Cincinnati Redlegs |
| 1959 | 84–64 | .568 | 3rd | 5½ | — | — | — | Cincinnati Redlegs |
| 1960 | 71–82 | .464 | 6th | 15½ | — | — | — | Cincinnati Reds |
| 1961 | 69–83 | .454 | 6th | 21 | — | — | — | Minnesota Twins |
| 1963 | 53–86 | .381 | 8th | 27½ | — | — | — | Los Angeles Angels |
| Totals | 4,571–4,448 | .507 | — | — | 110–77–1 | .588 | – | — |
Franchise totals
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Notes
- a The Record column indicates wins and losses during the regular season and excludes any post-season play.
- b The Finish column indicates position in the league standings.
- c The GB column indicates "Games Behind" the team that finished in first place in the division that season. It is determined by finding the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two.
- d The Record column indicates wins and losses during the post-season.
- e All minor league teams are affiliated with a Major League Baseball team. The purpose of a minor league club is to develop players for the major league team. For more information, see minor league baseball.
References
- General
- "Timeline" (PDF). Southern Association Baseball. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- "Nashville Vols Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). 2015 Nashville Sounds Media Guide. Nashville Sounds. 2015. pp. 200–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- Specific
- ↑ "Nashville Vols Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). 2015 Nashville Sounds Media Guide. Nashville Sounds. 2015. pp. 200–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Timeline" (PDF). Southern Association Baseball. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- 1 2 O'Neal, Bill (1994), The Southern League: Baseball in Dixie, 1885–1994, Eakin Press, pp. 306–308, ISBN 0890159521
- 1 2 3 Nipper, Skip (2007), Baseball in Nashville, Arcadia Publishing, p. 25, ISBN 9780738543918
- ↑ Traughber, Bill (May 23, 2011). "Looking Back: The 1901 Nashville Vols". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ↑ Nipper, Skip (October 1, 2013). "Name That Team". 262 Down Right. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- 1 2 Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "Top 100 Teams". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 11, 2015.