The Southeastern League was the name of four separate baseball leagues in minor league baseball which operated in the Southeastern and South Central United States in numerous seasons between 1897 and 2003. Two of these leagues were associated with organized baseball; the third and most recent incarnation was an independent league that operated for two seasons in 2002–03.
History Class D league (1910–12) After playing a season in 1897, the Southeastern League reformed and lasted for three years, from through . At Class D, it was considered on the lowest rung of the minor league ladder, and had six clubs located in the American states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Stung by the midseason collapse of two of its six franchises, this league disbanded on August 2, 1912.
Class B league (1926–50) In a new, Class B Southeastern League took the field, with six teams — representing Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida; and Albany, Columbus and Savannah, Georgia. Although this league would be periodically shut down by the Great Depression and World War II, it continued as a Class B circuit, four levels below Major League Baseball, through .
Its lineup of teams in its final season included the champion Pensacola Fliers, Meridian Millers, Montgomery Rebels, Jackson Senators, Vicksburg Billies, Selma Cloverleafs, Gadsden Pilots and Anniston Rams. Both Gadsden and Anniston withdrew from the league before the end of the season.
Independent league (2002–03) The most recent version of the Southeastern League was an independent circuit, with member teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team.
The league began play in 2002 after the demise of the All-American Association. For its inaugural season, it placed teams in Montgomery, Ozark, and Selma, Alabama, along with Pensacola, Florida, Americus, Georgia, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Ozark Patriots and Americus Arrows franchises folded at mid-season. The Pensacola Pelicans won the inaugural league championship.
After completing the season, the league added two franchises for 2003. The league had high hopes for its new team in Macon, Georgia, and Houma, Louisiana, along with the already successful clubs in Montgomery and Pensacola. However, after just two games the Selma Cloverleafs folded, forcing the league to operate the club as a road team for the duration of the season under the name "Southeastern Cloverleafs." The Macon Peaches also fared a lot worse than expected. Still, the league completed the year, with Pensacola compiling the league's best mark at 42-23 and Baton Rouge defeating Pensacola, 3 games to 1, in the league championship series.
Ultimately, the league could not survive the arrival of affiliated baseball to Montgomery. The Orlando Rays of the Southern League, who had played at Walt Disney World for four years, became the Montgomery Biscuits and effectively drove the Wings out of town. In addition, the Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks of the Central Baseball League moved to Pensacola and assumed the Pelicans name. As a result, the league folded prior to the 2004 season.
Cities represented Member teams (2003) Baton Rouge, LA: Baton Rouge Riverbats Houma, LA: Houma Hawks Macon, GA: Macon Peaches Montgomery, AL: Montgomery Wings Pensacola, FL:Pensacola Pelicans Selma, AL: Selma/Southeastern Cloverleafs
1910-1950
Albany, GA: Albany Nuts (1926-1928) Anniston, AL: Anniston Models (1911-1912); Anniston Rams (1938-1942, 1946-1950) Asheville, NC: Asheville Moonshiners (1910) Bessemer, AL: Bessemer Pipemakers (1912) Columbus, GA: Columbus Foxes (1926-1930, 1932) Decatur, AL: Decatur Twins (1911) Gadsden, AL: Gadsden Steel Makers (1910-1912); Gadsden Pilots (1938-1941, 1946-1948); Gadsden Chiefs (1949); Gadsden Pilots (1950) Huntsville, AL: Huntsville Westerns (1911); Huntsville Mountaineers (1912) Jackson, MS: Jackson Senators (1932, 1937-1942, 1946-1950) Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville Tars (1926-1930) Johnson City, TN: Johnson City Soldiers (1910) Knoxville, TN: Knoxville Appalachians (1910) Macon, GA: Macon Peaches (1932) Meridian, MS: Meridian Scrappers (1937-1939); Meridian Bears (1940); Meridian Eagles (1941-1942); Meridian Peps (1946-1948); Meridian Millers (1949-1950) Mobile, AL: Mobile Red Warriors (1932; Mobile Shippers 1937-1942) Montgomery, AL: Montgomery Lions (1926-1930); Montgomery Capitals (1932); Montgomery Bombers (1937-1938); Montgomery Rebels (1939-1942, 1946-1950) Morristown, TN: Morristown Jobbers (1910) Pensacola, FL: Pensacola Pilots (1927); Pensacola Fliers (1928-1930); Pensacola Pilots (1937-1942); Pensacola Fliers (1946-1950) Rome, GA: Rome Romans (1910); Rome Hillies (1911); Rome Romans (1912) Savannah, GA: Savannah Indians (1926-1928) St. Augustine, FL: St. Augustine Saints (1926-1927) Selma, AL: Selma Centralites (1911-1912); Selma Selmians (1927); Selma Cloverleafs (1928-1930, 1932, 1937-1941, 1946-1950) Talladega, AL: Talladega Highlanders (1912) Tampa, FL: Tampa Krewes (1928); Tampa Smokers (1929-1930) Vicksburg, MS: Vicksburg Billies (1946-1949); Vicksburg Hill Billies (1950) Waycross, GA: Waycross Saints (1927)
Standings & statistics Year 1897
1897 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersKnoxville Indians2210.688- Frank MoffettAtlanta Crackers1910.6551½ Jack SheridanChattanooga Blues726.21215½ A.M. GiffordColumbus Babies 36.333NA James Smith Jr.Asheville Moonshiners 1110.524NA John Jobe Columbus disbanded April 29; Asheville entered the league May 6
Years 1910-1912
1910 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Knoxville Appalachians 5030.625- Frank Moffett Morristown Jobbers 4637.5545½ E. Fisher / E. Sherrill Johnson City Soldiers 4539.5367 Nat Taylor / Ed Garner Asheville Moonshiners 4441.5188½ David Gaston Rome Romans 4341.5129 Joe Patton / C.G. Milford Gadsden Steel Makers 2161.25630 Paul Stevenson / J. Foreman Baldorf +Player statistics Player TeamStat Tot Roy Thrasher Asheville/RomeBA.324 E.H. Graham MorristownRuns55 Roy Thrasher Asheville/RomeHits96 Sephia Silvers KnoxvilleHR3 Roy Thrasher Asheville/RomeSB
1911 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Anniston Models 6839.636-Walter Ford / Thomas Fisher Gadsden Steel Makers 6242.5964½King Bailey Selma Centralites 5351.51013½ Bill May / C.L. Howell Frank Anderson / Ralph Savidge Rome Hillies 4757.45219½ Carlton Beusse / Don Burt Huntsville Westerns 4656.45119½ V. Campbell / Bill Watkins Newt Horn / Wild Bill Evans / Arthur Riggs Decatur Twins 3768.35230 Don Burt / Gordon Hickman Con Harlow
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Tommy Long GadsdenBA.364 Clarence Smith AnnistonW24 Tommy Long GadsdenRuns97 Clarence Smith AnnistonSO248 Tommy Long GadsdenHits149 Sam Nelson AnnistonPCT.750 12-4 Tommy Long GadsdenHR18
1912 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Gadsden Steel Makers 4333.566- Johnny Siegle Selma Centralites 4235.5451½ Lindsay Stickney Anniston Models 4135.5392 Thomas Fisher Rome Romans 3736.5074½ Harry Matthews Huntsville Mountaineers / Talladega Highlanders 3344.42910.5 Arthur Riggs Bessemer Pipemakers 2942.40811½ Gordon Hickman Huntsville (24-29) moved to Talladega July 9; Bessemer disbanded July 14; Anniston disbanded July 19 Second half started July 22. The league disbanded August 2 with the following official second half standings: Gadsden (7-4), Talladega (5-5), Selma (5-6), and Rome (5-7). +Player statistics Player TeamStat Tot Earl Hanna SelmaBA.345 Earl Hanna SelmaRuns62 Earl Hanna SelmaHits115 John Cochran Bessemer / AnnistonHR12
Years 1926-1930, 1932
1926 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersColumbus Foxes7249.595- Hardin Herndon Montgomery Lions7049.588½ Joe Brennan / Charles Leonard Jacksonville Tars6460.5169½ Bob Fisher / [Red SmithAlbany Nuts5364.45312 George Stinson / Sumpter ClarkeSt. Augustine Saints5570.44019Fred Graf / Bob FolmarSavannah Indians4971.40822½ Bill Robertsor / William Holland Army Magness
Playoff: Columbus 4 games, Montgomery 1
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotJohn KlozaMontgomeryBA.380 Lawton McWhirter MontgomeryW19 Burney Acton MontgomeryRuns103 Paul Doss ColumbusSO110 Henry Parrish ColumbusHits174 Lawton McWhirter MontgomeryPCT.792 19-5 Henry Parrish ColumbusHR28
1927 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersJacksonville Tars9063.588- Tommy McMillanMontgomery Lions8667.5624 Charles Leonard / Bill PierreColumbus Foxes8071.5309 Hardin Herndon Pensacola Pilots7973.52010½Bill Holden / Jim Johnston Savannah Indians7279.47717 Joe Brennan / Harry Snyder Albany Nuts6981.46019½Sumpter ClarkeSt. Augustine Saints / Waycross Saints 6685.43723 Bob Folmar / Roy EllamSelma Selmians6588.42525Fred Graf / Tex Hoffman St. Augustine (42-53) moved to Waycross July 25
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotJohn KlozaAlbanyBA.404Ben CantwellJacksonvilleW25 Henry Parrish ColumbusRuns114Bill ClowersPensacolaSO172Mel SimonsMontgomeryHits198Ben CantwellJacksonvillePCT.833 25-4 Henry Parrish ColumbusHR34
1928 Southeastern League Team StandingsWLPCTGB ManagersPensacola Fliers9254.630- Jim Johnston Montgomery Lions9157.6152 Bill Pierre Tampa Krewes7276.48621 Roy EllamJacksonville Tars7178.47722½ Art Bourg / Hardin Herndon Columbus Foxes6184.42130½ Hardin Herndon / Bill White Selma Cloverleafs5983.41531Polly McLarry / Zinn BeckAlbany Nuts 6260.508NAJoe Schepner / Tommy McMillanSavannah Indians 4965.430NARay Schmandt Albany and Savannah disbanded August 12 Playoff: Montgomery 4 games, Pensacola 2
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotMoose ClabaughJacksonvilleBA.366 Floyd Van Pelt MontgomeryW26 Tom Pyle PensacolaRuns110 Floyd Van Pelt MontgomerySO183 Tom Pyle PensacolaHits197 Ralph Stewart MontgomeryERA2.24 Parker Perry Albany / SelmaRBI118 Floyd Van Pelt MontgomeryPCT.703 26-11 Sam Stuart ColumbusHR17
1929 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersTampa Smokers7956.585- Pop Kitchens Selma Cloverleafs7760.5623Zinn BeckMontgomery Lions7364.5337 Roy EllamJacksonville Tars6868.5009½ Tommy McMillan / Rube MarquardColumbus Foxes5874.43919.5 Frank Kohlbecker / Bill WhitePensacola Fliers5285.38028 Jim Johnston / Tom Pyle
Playoff: Montgomery 4 games, Tampa 3
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Dick Tangeman PensacolaBA.373 Roy Appleton TampaW26 Art Bourg JacksonvilleRuns108 Ray Phelps JacksonvilleSO136 Tom Pyle PensacolaHits190 Edward Chambers Montgomery / PensacolaERA2.16 Parker Perry SelmaRBI107 Roy Appleton TampaPCT.735 25-9 Parker Perry SelmaHR12
1930 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersSelma Cloverleafs9443.686-Zinn BeckTampa Smokers7365.52921½ Pop Kitchens Jacksonville Tars6966.51124 Rube MarquardMontgomery Lions6173.45531½ Roy EllamColumbus Foxes6379.44434½ Bill White / Bobby LennoxPensacola Pilots5387.37942½ Tom Pyle / Ray Kennedy
+Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTotRip RadcliffSelmaBA.369 Henry Brewer SelmaW25 Ralph Dunbar ColumbusRuns104Thornton LeeTampaSO145Rip RadcliffSelmaHits199 Roy Appleton TampaERA2.22Rip RadcliffSelmaRBI116 Leo Mackey SelmaPCT.875 14-2Rip RadcliffSelmaHR15
1932 Southeastern League Team standingsWLPCTGB ManagersMobile Red Warriors1913.594-Clay HopperColumbus Foxes1914.576 ½ Jack SheehanSelma Cloverleafs1616.5003 Art PhelanMacon Peaches1518.4554½ Sheery Smith Jackson Senators1518.4554½ Hank DeBerryMontgomery Capitals1318.4195½ Jim Johnston The league folded May 21 +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Robert Schleischer SelmaBA.398 Albert Fisher MobileW6Jack Sheehan Clarence Beasley ColumbusColumbusRuns37Jackie ReidJacksonSO47Buster MillsMobileHits47 Albert Fisher MobileERA2.14 J.W. McKee ColumbusRBI39Fred SingtonColumbusHR6
References Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3d edition. Durham, N.C: Baseball America, 2007.