Nashville Vols seasons



The Nashville Vols were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1901 to 1963. They were established as charter members of the Southern Association (SA) in 1901. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they became the Nashville Volunteers (regularly shortened to Vols) in 1908. Nashville remained in the Southern Association until the circuit disbanded after the 1961 season. The team sat out the 1962 campaign but returned for a final season in the South Atlantic League (SAL) in 1963 before ceasing operations altogether. Over 62 seasons, the Vols played 9,015 regular-season games and compiled a win–loss record of 4,569–4,446 (.507). They qualified for postseason playoffs on 16 occasions in which they had a record of 108–74–1 (.593). Combining all 9,198 regular-season and postseason games, Nashville's all-time record was 4,677–4,520–1 (.509).

The Southern Association, of which the Volunteers were members for the entirety of its 61-season run, operated at the Class B (1901), Class A (1902–1935), Class A1 (1936–1945), and Double-A (1946–1961) levels of the minors. The South Atlantic League was at the Double-A level during Nashville's only year of membership. In 35 seasons, the Vols were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team. Across 27 seasons, they served as a farm club for six major league franchises: the New York Giants (1934–1935, 1952–1954), Cincinnati Reds (1936–1937, 1955–1960), Brooklyn Dodgers (1938–1940), Chicago Cubs (1943–1951), Minnesota Twins (1961), and Los Angeles Angels (1963). The Vols typically owned the majority of their players, and these major league clubs furnished Nashville with additional players to round out the roster.

Throughout the Southern Association's existence, the team with the best regular-season record was recognized as the pennant winner. Nashville won eight SA pennants. In some seasons, the circuit utilized a split-season schedule wherein the winners from each half qualified for postseason championship playoffs. In others, the loop used the Shaughnessy playoff system in which the top four teams at the end of the season participated in a tournament to determine a champion. The Vols qualified for the playoffs on 16 occasions and won nine SA playoff championships. From 1920 to 1958, the league's champions met those of the Texas League in the Dixie Series to crown a champion of the Southland. Nashville played in seven Dixie Series, winning four. The South Atlantic League used a split-season format, but the Vols did not qualify in their only season as members.

The team's best season record occurred in 1940 when they finished 101–47 (.682) while having a working agreement with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Their lowest season record was 45–92 (.328) in 1906 as an unaffiliated club. Of the six Major League Baseball teams with which Nashville was affiliated, the Vols experienced their best record with the Dodgers from 1938 to 1940. They had a composite season record of 270–181 (.599) and reached the postseason in all three years, winning one pennant, two playoff championships, and one Dixie Series. Including a postseason mark of 25–16 (.610), their overall record was 295–197 (.600). Conversely, the team's lowest record was with the Los Angeles Angels in 1963. The Vols incurred a 53–86 (.381) record and did not reach the postseason during the partnership. Over the 35 seasons in which they had no major league affiliation, Nashville went 2,428–2,534 (.489) in the regular-season and won four pennants, two playoff titles, and two Dixie Series. Adding in a postseason record of a 22–7 (.759) in two appearances, Nashville was 2,450–2,541 (.491) as an unaffiliated team.

Pre-playoff era (1901–1932)


The Nashville Baseball Club was created as a charter member of the Southern Association (SA) in 1901. The team did not become known as the Nashville Volunteers (regularly shortened to Vols) until 1908. The Southern Association was a Class B circuit in its inaugural season but was elevated to Class A status in 1902.

Through 1932, seasons concluded with the team in possession of the best regular-season record being recognized as the pennant winner. Nashville won the first Southern Association pennant in 1901 by finishing one game ahead of the second-place Little Rock Travelers with a league-best 78–45 (.634) win–loss record. They captured the 1902 pennant as well, finishing six games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans atop the league standings at 80–40 (.667). Despite this early success, the Nashvilles posted their all-time lowest winning percentage in 1906, when they went 45–92 (.328). Two years later, in 1908, the newly-named Volunteers won their third pennant with a 75–56 (.573) mark by .002 percentage points ahead of New Orleans. The Vols won their fourth and final pre-playoff title in 1916 by coming in nine games ahead of New Orleans at 84–54 (.609). During this era, the 1931 team incurred a franchise-high 102 losses.

Playoff era (1933–1961)
The Vols entered into their first working agreement with a Major League Baseball team in 1934 when they became the Class A farm club of the New York Giants. The Southern Association had begun staging annual postseason championship playoffs in 1933 using a split-season schedule wherein the winners from each half competed for the championship, though the league continued to also recognize regular-season pennant winners. Nashville first qualified for the postseason by winning the first-half of the 1934 season, but they lost the Southern Association playoff championship in a series versus New Orleans, winners of the second-half. In 1935, the circuit adopted the Shaughnessy playoff system in which the top four teams at the end of the season participated in a tournament to determine a champion. The Vols qualified via a fourth-place finish but were eliminated in the opening semi-final round by the Atlanta Crackers. The affiliation with New York ended after the season.

Nashville began an affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds in 1936 at the same time that the Southern Association was elevated to Class A1 status. The second-place Vols made the 1936 playoffs but were defeated in the semifinals by the Birmingham Barons. Their working agreement with Cincinnati ended after the 1937 season in which the team did not reach the playoffs.



The Vols became the Class A1 affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938. As the league runner-up, the 1938 team advanced past New Orleans in the semifinals but was defeated by Atlanta in the championship round. The next season marked the beginning of one of the most successful periods, in terms of winning percentage and championships, in team history under manager Larry Gilbert, who led the Vols from 1939 to 1948. The third-place 1939 Vols beat the Memphis Chicks in the opening round before winning their first playoff championship against Atlanta. This was the first of six consecutive playoff titles for the Volunteers. Since 1920, the champions of the Southern Association had been meeting the champions of the Texas League in the Dixie Series, a best-of-seven series to crown a champion of the Southland. In their first Dixie appearance, Nashville lost to the Texas League champion Fort Worth Cats. The Vols won their fifth regular-season pennant in 1940 with a franchise-high 101–47 (.682) record, nine-and-a-half games ahead of Atlanta. They beat the Chattanooga Lookouts in the semifinals before winning a second playoff title versus Atlanta. Nashville then defeated the Houston Buffaloes for their first Dixie Series title. In a 2001 ranking, the 1940 Vols were evaluated as the 47th greatest minor league team of all time. Of the six major league teams with which Nashville was affiliated, the Volunteers experienced their best record with the Dodgers from 1938 to 1940. They were 270–181 (.599) in the regular-season and 25–16 (.610) in postseason play, giving them a composite record of 295–197 (.600).

The club operated without major league working agreements in 1941 and 1942. In the 1941 playoffs, the second-place Vols defeated New Orleans on the way to winning their third playoff championship over Atlanta. The season was capped with a second-straight Dixie Series victory over the Dallas Rebels. The 1942 team, which had placed second, downed Birmingham in the semifinals and won a fourth playoff title against Little Rock. Facing the Shreveport Sports, Nashville won a third consecutive Dixie Series title.

In 1943, the Volunteers became the Class A1 affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. With a split-season schedule in place, they won the first-half of the season and later clinched their sixth regular-season pennant with a league-best 83–55 (.601) record, four games ahead of New Orleans. In an abbreviated postseason, Nashville won their fifth consecutive playoff title over New Orleans, winners of the second-half. The Dixie Series was suspended due to World War II. The 1944 Vols won the second-half title on way to capturing their sixth consecutive playoff championship by defeating first-half pennant winners Memphis. The Dixie Series was still on wartime hiatus. In 1946, the Southern Association was reclassified as a Double-A circuit. Nashville next qualified for the playoffs in 1947 with a third-place finish and moved past the semifinals versus New Orleans but were defeated for the league title by the Mobile Bears. Nashville won a seventh regular-season flag in 1948 at 95–58 (.621), besting Memphis by three games. Similar to the previous campaign, they reached the finals with a semifinal win over Mobile but lost the championship to Birmingham. The 1949 squad won their eighth league pennant by four-and-a-half games over Birmingham with a 95–57 (.625) season. Nashville advanced past New Orleans in the semifinals and then won their seventh playoff championship versus Mobile. They followed up with a Dixie Series victory over the Tulsa Oilers. Placing third in 1950, the Vols won their semifinal bout over Birmingham and then beat Atlanta to win an eighth playoff title. They lost the Dixie Series, however, to the San Antonio Missions. The Chicago affiliation was discontinued after the 1951 season, in which Nashville missed the postseason for the first time in five years.



The Vols returned to the New York Giants organization as their Double-A affiliate from 1952 to 1954. While the 1952 and 1954 teams posted losing records, the 1953 club finished second, defeated Atlanta in the semifinals, and won Nashville's ninth and final Southern Association championship over Birmingham. In their last of seven Dixie Series appearances, they were defeated by the Dallas Eagles.

Nashville repartnered with the Cincinnati Reds, who were known as the Cincinnati Redlegs at the time, from 1955 to 1960. Through the six-year partnership, the Vols had an equal number of winning and losing seasons, never finishing higher than third. That was in 1957 when the Vols made their final playoff appearance. After eliminating Memphis, they were beaten by Atlanta.

The Volunteers became the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins in 1961. They finished well-behind pennant-winning Chattanooga. Following the campaign, the Southern Association disbanding after 61 seasons due to the loss of some of its teams and the inability of others to secure major league working agreements for 1962.

South Atlantic League (1963)
The Vols sat out the 1962 campaign, primarily due to the Southern Association's collapse, but returned for a final season in 1963 as the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the South Atlantic League. The Vols placed last out of eight teams at 53–86 (.381), a franchise-low among all affiliations, and did not with either half of the Sally League's split-season.

Poor attendance and financial problems resulted in the team's board of directors voting unanimously to surrender the franchise to the league following the season. After 62 seasons in Nashville, the Vols had played 9,015 regular-season games and compiled a win–loss record of 4,569–4,446 (.507). They qualified for postseason playoffs on 16 occasions in which they had a record of 108–74–1 (.593). Combining all 9,198 regular-season and postseason games, Nashville's all-time record was 4,677–4,520–1 (.509).

Split-season records
The Southern Association sporadically used a split-season schedule wherein the winners from each half qualified for postseason championship playoffs. The South Atlantic League utilized the same format in the Vols' only season of membership.