South Atlantic League (1904–1963)

The South Atlantic League, nicknamed the SALLY League, was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the Southern United States intermittently from 1904 to 1963. Initially Class C league, it was elevated to Class B in 1921, Class A in 1946, and Double-A in 1963. The circuit dissolved after the 1963 season and was refounded as the Southern League.

The original South Atlantic League was founded in 1904 by Charles W. Boyer and J.B. Lucy as a Class C league, equivalent to an Advanced Rookie league in the pre-2021 minor league scheme.^[1] After a year of dormancy in 1918, it continued at that classification from 1919 to 1920 before being elevated to Class B (equivalent to short-season Class A before 2021 and a Class A league today)in 1921.^[2] The Great Depression caused the league to shut down from 1931 to 1935,^[1] but it returned at Class B from 1936 to 1942.^[2] Three more years of dormancy occurred during World War II, but the SALLY League was revived as a Class A circuit from 1946 to 1962.^[2]

In 1963, it was reclassified as a Double-A league along with the other Class A leagues.^[2] The circuit reorganized as the Southern League in 1964. To distance itself from its history at lower classifications, the newly-named league elected to start with a clean slate and not maintain records prior to the 1964 season. Thusly, the 51-year history of the league was retired with the South Atlantic League name.^[1]

In 1980, the Western Carolinas League resurrected the name as it became the current South Atlantic League.^[1][2]

League champions were determined by different means throughout the league's history.^[3] Playoffs were held in most seasons, while in others the champions were simply the regular season pennant winners.^[3]