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The Nashville Vols were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1901 to 1963.[1] They were established as charter members of the Southern Association in 1901.[2] Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they became the Nashville Volunteers (regularly shortened to Vols) in 1908.[3] Nashville remained in the Southern Association until the circuit disbanded after the 1961 season.[2] The team sat out the 1962 campaign but returned for a final season in the South Atlantic League in 1963 before ceasing operations altogether.[1] Over 62 seasons, numerous players, managers, and coaches won awards, were selected for All-Star teams, or led their league in various statistical areas.
Eight Vols won the Southern Association Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, more than any other team in the league.[4] These were: Greek George, Ed Sauer, Chuck Workman, Carl Sawatski, Bob Schultz, Jack Harshman, Bob Lennon, and Stan Palys. The only Vol to win the Rookie of the Year Award was Jim O'Toole. Eighty-seven players and four managers and coaches were selected for midseason All-Star teams. Of these, 14 were selected twice with Nashville: Buddy Gilbert, Larry Gilbert, Oris Hockett, Bob Kelly, Pete Mallory, Rube Novotney, Hugh Poland, Hal Quick, Carl Sawatski, Phil Shartzer, Jim Shilling, Dick Sisler, Leo Twardy, and Ben Wade. Two players were chosen as the MVP for their contributions in All-Star games: Tommy Brown and Chuck Coles. Additionally, the Vols served as the competition for the Southern Association All-Stars on six occasions in games held at Nashville's Sulphur Dell.
Five players hold Southern Association records for single-season performances in major statistical categories. Les Fleming holds the batting average record (.414 in 1941), Charlie Gilbert the runs record (178 in 1948), Jim Poole the runs batted in (RBI) record (167 in 1930), Joe Dwyer the doubles record (65 in 1936), and Bob Lennon the home run record (64 in 1954). Lennon led the league in five major categories in 1954: batting average (.345), hits (210), runs (139), RBI (161), and home runs (64). Charlie English led the circuit in four areas in 1942: batting average (.341), hits (217), RBI (139), and doubles (50). Ed Sauer led the league in four categories in 1943: batting average (.368), runs (113), doubles (51), and stolen bases (30).
† | Southern Association record |
(#) | Number of wins by individuals who won an award multiple times |
---|---|
*(#) | Tie between two or more individuals; number indicates total number of individuals with same performance |
These players won Southern Association year-end awards during the club's membership from 1901 to 1961.
Award | Recipient | Season | Position | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Most Valuable Player | Greek George[n 1] | 1940 | Catcher | [5] |
Most Valuable Player | Ed Sauer | 1943 | Outfielder | [6] |
Most Valuable Player | Chuck Workman | 1948 | Outfielder | [7] |
Most Valuable Player | Carl Sawatski | 1949 | Catcher | [8] |
Most Valuable Player | Bob Schultz | 1950 | Pitcher | [9] |
Most Valuable Player | Jack Harshman | 1953 | Pitcher | [10] |
Most Valuable Player | Bob Lennon | 1954 | Outfielder | [11] |
Most Valuable Player | Stan Palys | 1957 | Outfielder | [12] |
Rookie of the Year | Jim O'Toole | 1958 | Pitcher | [13] |
Nashville Banner sportswriters Fred Russell and George Leonard created two rosters of the all-time greatest players, covering the periods of 1901 to 1919 and 1920 to 1963.[14]
Position | Fred Russell | George Leonard |
---|---|---|
Player | Player | |
First baseman | Les Fleming | Les Fleming |
Second baseman | John Mihalic | John Mihalic |
Shortstop | Lonny Frey | Woody Williams |
Third baseman | Charlie English | Rance Pless |
Outfielder | Kiki Cuyler | Babe Barna |
Outfielder | Phil Weintraub | Kiki Cuyler |
Catcher | Greek George | Smoky Burgess |
Catcher | Carl Sawatski | Carl Sawatski |
Right-handed pitcher | Tiny Chaplin | Red Lucas |
Right-handed pitcher | Red Lucas | Pete Mallory |
Right-handed pitcher | Jim Maloney | Jim Maloney |
Right-handed pitcher | Boots Poffenberger | Boots Poffenberger |
Left-handed pitcher | Jim O'Toole | Jack Harshman |
Left-handed pitcher | Bob Schultz | Jim O'Toole |
Left-handed pitcher | Boyd Tepler | Bob Schultz |
Manager | Larry Gilbert | Larry Gilbert |
These players, coaches, and managers were selected to participate in the Southern Association All-Star Game (1938–1961) or the South Atlantic League All-Star Game (1963). Additionally, the Vols served as the competition for the Southern Association All-Stars on six occasions (1940, 1943, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1957) in games held at Nashville's Sulphur Dell.[15]
These players won Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards for their contributions in the Southern Association All-Star Game (1938–1961).
Season | Player | Position | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1957 | Tommy Brown[n 3] | Third baseman | [43] |
1958 | Chuck Coles | First baseman | [44] |
These players led all other players in their league in distinct statistical batting categories in a single season.
These pitchers led all other pitchers in their league in distinct statistical pitching categories in a single season.
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