Nashville Vols
Encyclopedia
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball
team based in Nashville, Tennessee
from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The Volunteer State. The Vols played their home games at Sulphur Dell
, which opened in 1870.
They played as charter members of the Southern Association
(SA) through 1961 and in the South Atlantic League
(SAL) in 1963. 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 six major league
teams.
The 1940 Vols were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time. The Vols won the SA Championship in 1901, 1902, 1908, 1916, 1940, 1943, 1948, 1949, and 1953. They won the Dixie Series, a best-of-seven playoff series between the SA and Texas League
, in 1940, 1941, 1942, and 1949.
, the Nashville Volunteers (commonly known as the “Vols”) were a charter member of the newly formed Southern Association
. Their home ballpark was called Athletic Park, which would later come to be known as Sulphur Dell
. The Dell was a notorious hitter's park often called "Suffer Hell" by pitchers and outfielders.
The Vols won the first two Southern Association championships in 1901 and 1902
behind the leadership of manager Newt Fisher. During the 1902 season, Nashville’s Hugh Hill recorded a .416 batting average, a mark never topped in the league.
The Vols would not win another league pennant until 1908
under manager Bill Bernhard
. The championship was won on the final game of the season at Sulphur Dell. Going into the game, the Vols had the same number of losses (56) as the New Orleans Pelicans
. But the Pelicans were in first place with 76 wins to the Vols’ second-place 74. Several games that were cancelled due to rain were not made up that late in the season. Vols pitcher Vedder Sitton hurled a three-hit, 1-0 shutout, allowing Nashville to win their third championship by two percentage points.
Eight years later, on July 11, 1916
at the Dell, Vols pitcher Tom Rogers
delivered a perfect game against the Chattanooga Lookouts
. He retired all 27 batters in the 2-0 victory for the team’s only perfect game in its history. The Vols also won their third Southern Association crown behind Rogers’ league-leading 24 wins.
The first night game
at Sulphur Dell was held on May 18, 1931
. An estimated 7,000 fans attended the game.
Following the arrival of Larry Gilbert
as Vols manager in 1939
, the Vols won their first pennant in 24 years in 1940
with Johnny Sain
as pitcher and batter. During Major League Baseball
's Centennial in 2001
, the 1940 Nashville Vols were named as the 47th best minor league team of all time. The Vols also won the league championship in 1943
, 1944
, 1948
, and 1949
.
During the 1954
season, Vols outfielder Bob Lennon
hit 64 home runs, a league record never broken. Forty of the home runs were hit at Sulphur Dell.
Following the 1961
season, the Southern Association ceased operations. Sulphur Dell was empty the next year, but the Double-A South Atlantic League
came to Nashville in 1963
for one season. Poor attendance and financial problems forced team to leave Nashville at the conclusion of the 1963 season.
Professional baseball was absent from the Music City from 1964
to 1977
. But in 1978
, Vanderbilt University
baseball coach Larry Schmittou
led a group of local owners and founded the Nashville Sounds
of the Southern League
, abandoning the nickname "Vols" which was shared by the University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
. The Sounds became one of the most successful minor league franchises, moving to Class Triple-A in 1985
. They are currently members of the Pacific Coast League
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team based in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The Volunteer State. The Vols played their home games at Sulphur Dell
Sulphur Dell
Sulphur Dell is a former minor league baseball park in Nashville, Tennessee. It was used for baseball for nearly 100 years, from to . From to , it was the home of the Nashville Vols minor league team...
, which opened in 1870.
They played as charter members of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
(SA) through 1961 and in the South Atlantic League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
(SAL) in 1963. 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 six major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams.
The 1940 Vols were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time. The Vols won the SA Championship in 1901, 1902, 1908, 1916, 1940, 1943, 1948, 1949, and 1953. They won the Dixie Series, a best-of-seven playoff series between the SA and Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, in 1940, 1941, 1942, and 1949.
Team history
Beginning play in 19011901 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* American League: Chicago White Stockings* National League: Pittsburgh PiratesWorld Series: Not played due to AL-NL war over player contracts.-Other champions:* Minor leagues** California League: San Francisco Wasps...
, the Nashville Volunteers (commonly known as the “Vols”) were a charter member of the newly formed Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. Their home ballpark was called Athletic Park, which would later come to be known as Sulphur Dell
Sulphur Dell
Sulphur Dell is a former minor league baseball park in Nashville, Tennessee. It was used for baseball for nearly 100 years, from to . From to , it was the home of the Nashville Vols minor league team...
. The Dell was a notorious hitter's park often called "Suffer Hell" by pitchers and outfielders.
The Vols won the first two Southern Association championships in 1901 and 1902
1902 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* American League: Philadelphia Athletics* National League: Pittsburgh Pirates1902 World Series: Not played due to AL-NL war over player contracts.-American League:*Home Runs: Socks Seybold, Philadelphia Athletics: 16...
behind the leadership of manager Newt Fisher. During the 1902 season, Nashville’s Hugh Hill recorded a .416 batting average, a mark never topped in the league.
1908 in baseball
-Statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-January-March:*February 27 - The sacrifice fly rule is adopted. No time at bat is charged if a run scores after the catch of a fly ball...
under manager Bill Bernhard
Bill Bernhard
William Henry "Strawberry Bill" Bernhard was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in Clarence, New York.After his playing career ended, he became a manager in the Southern Association....
. The championship was won on the final game of the season at Sulphur Dell. Going into the game, the Vols had the same number of losses (56) as the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans were a Minor league professional baseball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Team history:Founded in 1887, the Pelicans became part of the Southern Association in 1901...
. But the Pelicans were in first place with 76 wins to the Vols’ second-place 74. Several games that were cancelled due to rain were not made up that late in the season. Vols pitcher Vedder Sitton hurled a three-hit, 1-0 shutout, allowing Nashville to win their third championship by two percentage points.
Eight years later, on July 11, 1916
1916 in baseball
left|thumb|300px|[[Woodrow Wilson]] throws out the ball on opening day.-Champions:*World Series: Boston Red Sox over Brooklyn Robins -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...
at the Dell, Vols pitcher Tom Rogers
Tom Rogers
Thomas Andrew Rogers was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1917 to 1921 for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Athletics, and New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Shotgun", Rogers was involved in an incident in 1916 in which he accidentally killed an opposing batter...
delivered a perfect game against the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
. He retired all 27 batters in the 2-0 victory for the team’s only perfect game in its history. The Vols also won their third Southern Association crown behind Rogers’ league-leading 24 wins.
The first night game
Night game
A night game is a sporting event that takes place, completely or partially, after the local sunset. Depending on the sport, this can be done either with floodlights or with the usual low-light conditions.-Cricket:...
at Sulphur Dell was held on May 18, 1931
1931 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics -Awards and honors:*MLB Most Valuable Player Award** Lefty Grove, Philadelphia Athletics, P** Frankie Frisch, St...
. An estimated 7,000 fans attended the game.
Following the arrival of Larry Gilbert
Larry Gilbert (MLB outfielder)
Lawrence William Gilbert was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball and a longtime manager in minor league baseball...
as Vols manager in 1939
1939 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*On May 17, 1939, Princeton University and Columbia University played the first televised baseball game. On August 26, the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers played the first televised Major League Baseball game...
, the Vols won their first pennant in 24 years in 1940
1940 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Detroit Tigers *All-Star Game, July 9 at Sportsman's Park: National League, 4-0-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player**Hank Greenberg - OF, Detroit Tigers...
with Johnny Sain
Johnny Sain
John Franklin Sain was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was best known for teaming with left-hander Warren Spahn on the Boston Braves teams from 1946 to 1951...
as pitcher and batter. During Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Centennial in 2001
2001 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Arizona Diamondbacks*Postseason - October 9 to November 4Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, the 1940 Nashville Vols were named as the 47th best minor league team of all time. The Vols also won the league championship in 1943
1943 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals *All-Star Game, July 13 at Shibe Park: American League, 5-3-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Homestead Grays over Birmingham Black Barons...
, 1944
1944 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over St. Louis Browns , in the "Streetcar Series"*All-Star Game, July 11 at Forbes Field: National League, 7-1-Other champions:...
, 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
, and 1949
1949 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 12 at Ebbets Field: American League, 11-7-Caribbean leagues:*Cuba - Almendares Scorpions*Panama - Spur Cola*Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Indians...
.
During the 1954
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
season, Vols outfielder Bob Lennon
Bob Lennon
Robert Albert Lennon , nicknamed "Archie," was an American professional baseball player. Although Lennon struggled at the Major League level in three different trials during the mid-1950s, he was a prolific home run hitter in minor league baseball, hitting 278 homers in a 16-year career and setting...
hit 64 home runs, a league record never broken. Forty of the home runs were hit at Sulphur Dell.
Following the 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
season, the Southern Association ceased operations. Sulphur Dell was empty the next year, but the Double-A South Atlantic League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
came to Nashville in 1963
1963 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York Yankees ; Sandy Koufax, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5–3; Willie Mays, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: USC...
for one season. Poor attendance and financial problems forced team to leave Nashville at the conclusion of the 1963 season.
Professional baseball was absent from the Music City from 1964
1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
to 1977
1977 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Reggie Jackson, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: None*National League Championship Series MVP: Dusty Baker...
. But in 1978
1978 in baseball
-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Indios de Mayagüez *College World Series: USC*Japan Series: Yakult Swallows over Hankyu Braves *Little League World Series: Pin-Kuang, Pin-Tung, Taiwan-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player...
, Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
baseball coach Larry Schmittou
Larry Schmittou
Larry Schmittou is an American entrepreneur. He currently owns a S&S Family Entertainment LLC, which operates a chain of bowling centers. He is a former coach of the Vanderbilt University baseball team. From the late 1970s to the mid 1990s, he was the owner of several minor league baseball teams...
led a group of local owners and founded the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
, abandoning the nickname "Vols" which was shared by the University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. The Sounds became one of the most successful minor league franchises, moving to Class Triple-A in 1985
1985 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Kansas City Royals over St. Louis Cardinals ; Bret Saberhagen, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: George Brett*National League Championship Series MVP: Ozzie Smith...
. They are currently members of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
Hall of Fame players
- Waite HoytWaite HoytWaite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...
, P, 1918, enshrined in 1969 - Hazen "Kiki" CuylerKiki CuylerHazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler was a Major League Baseball right fielder from 1921 until 1938. He was born in Harrisville, Michigan.Cuyler broke into the big leagues in 1921 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became a fixture in the lineup in 1924...
, OF, 1923, enshrined in 1968