List of Nashville Vols awards, All-Stars, and league leaders explained

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).

Key

col width="30px" bgcolor="#FFFF99"
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

Awards

League awards

These players won Southern Association year-end awards during the club's membership from 1901 to 1961.

Award! scope="col" width="105px" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#17468E 5px solid; border-bottom:#17468E 5px solid; color:#17468E"
RecipientSeasonPosition
Most Valuable Player1940Catcher
Most Valuable Player1943Outfielder[5]
Most Valuable Player1948Outfielder[6]
Most Valuable Player1949Catcher[7]
Most Valuable Player1950Pitcher[8]
Most Valuable Player1953Pitcher[9]
Most Valuable Player1954Outfielder[10]
Most Valuable Player1957Outfielder[11]
Rookie of the Year1958Pitcher[12]

All-time Vols teams

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.[13]

1920–1963

All-Stars

Midseason All-Stars

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.[14]

Season!width="125px" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#17468E 5px solid; border-bottom:#17468E 5px solid; color:#17468E"
PlayerPosition
1938Pitcher[15]
1938Outfielder
1938Second baseman[16]
1938Outfielder
1939Catcher[17]
1939Outfielder
1940Catcher[18]
1940Outfielder
1940Pitcher
1941Shortstop[19]
1941First baseman
1941Manager[20]
1941Outfielder
1941Pitcher
1942Outfielder[21]
1942Third baseman
1942First baseman
1942Pitcher
1943Pitcher[22]
1943Shortstop
1943Outfielder
1944Shortstop[23]
1944Pitcher
1944Manager
1946First baseman[24]
1946Catcher
1946Catcher
1946Second baseman
1946Pitcher
1947Catcher[25]
1947Outfielder
1947Pitcher
1947Shortstop
1947Utility
1947Pitcher
1947Catcher
1948Outfielder[26]
1948Shortstop[27]
1948Pitcher[28]
1948Pitcher[29]
1948Outfielder[30]
1949Outfielder[31]
1949First baseman
1949Pitcher
1949Pitcher
1949Catcher
1950Outfielder[32]
1950Catcher
1950Pitcher
1951Pitcher[33]
1951Catcher
1951Third baseman
1951Manager
1951Outfielder
1951Shortstop
1952Pitcher[34]
1952Catcher
1952Third baseman
1952Coach
1952Pitcher
1952Outfielder
1953Third baseman[35]
1953Pitcher
1953Catcher
1954Outfielder[36]
1954Manager
1954Outfielder
1955Outfielder[37]
1955Outfielder
1955Pitcher
1955Outfielder
1955Pitcher
1955Second baseman
1956Catcher[38]
1956Pitcher[39]
1956Outfielder
1956Third baseman[40]
1956Pitcher
1956Utility[41]
1957Pitcher[42]
1957Catcher
1957Pitcher
1957Outfielder
1957Outfielder
1957Shortstop
1957First baseman
1958Coach[43]
1958First baseman
1958Outfielder
1958Outfielder
1958Pitcher
1958Manager
1959Outfielder[44]
1959Outfielder
1959Pitcher
1959Catcher
1959Shortstop
1960Third baseman[45]
1960Pitcher
1960Catcher
1961Outfielder[46]
1961Outfielder
1961Pitcher
1963Pitcher[47]
1963Shortstop

All-Star Game MVPs

These players won Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards for their contributions in the Southern Association All-Star Game (1938–1961).

Season!width="125px" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#17468E 5px solid; border-bottom:#17468E 5px solid; color:#17468E"
PlayerPosition
1957Third baseman
1958First baseman[48]

League leaders

Batting leaders

These players led all other players in their league in distinct statistical batting categories in a single season.

Statistic!scope="col" width="120px" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#17468E 5px solid; border-bottom:#17468E 5px solid; color:#17468E"
PlayerRecordSeason
Batting average.3251912[49]
Batting average.3781931
Batting average.3821932
Batting average.4011934
Batting average.3551935
Batting average.3651939
Batting average.4141941
Batting average.3411942
Batting average.3681943
Batting average.3841948
Batting average.3761949
Batting average.3581951
Batting average.3641952
Batting average.3501953
Batting average.3451954
Batting average.3681955
Batting average.3591957
Batting average.3481958
Batting average.3371963[50]
Hits1661904[51]
Hits1571905
Hits1571912
Hits190*1934
Hits1941935
Hits1941936
Hits2231940
Hits2171942
Hits2181947
Hits1971949
Hits2131951
Hits1961952
Hits2101954
Hits2111955
Runs1271901[52]
Runs1111902
Runs861905
Runs1551930
Runs1401932
Runs1271936
Runs1241942
Runs1131943
Runs1781948
Runs1461949
Runs1081953
Runs1391954
Runs1141955
Runs1161957
Runs batted in1181923[53]
Runs batted in1431925
Runs batted in1271929
Runs batted in1671930
Runs batted in1471932
Runs batted in1321936
Runs batted in118*1940
Runs batted in1391942
Runs batted in1071943
Runs batted in1821948
Runs batted in1531949
Runs batted in1611954
Runs batted in1071958
Doubles331916[54]
Doubles421917
Doubles31*1919
Doubles441925
Doubles461933
Doubles461934
Doubles45*1935
Doubles651936
Doubles421937
Doubles501942
Doubles511943
Doubles411946
Doubles501947
Doubles42*1953
Doubles42*1953
Doubles441955
Doubles311963
Triples181902[55]
Triples141919
Triples201923
Triples121959
Home runs81919[56]
Home runs241928
Home runs331929
Home runs501930
Home runs231931
Home runs351932
Home runs231933
Home runs171935
Home runs20*1936
Home runs191937
Home runs22*1940
Home runs291942
Home runs161944
Home runs151946
Home runs521948
Home runs451949
Home runs471951
Home runs641954
Home runs291955
Stolen bases611902[57]
Stolen bases541914
Stolen bases681923
Stolen bases301933
Stolen bases201942
Stolen bases301943
Stolen bases161957

Pitching leaders

These pitchers led all other pitchers in their league in distinct statistical pitching categories in a single season.

Statistic!scope="col" width="120px" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#17468E 5px solid; border-bottom:#17468E 5px solid; color:#17468E"
PlayerRecordSeason
Wins251901[58]
Wins231909
Wins24*1916
Wins22*1929
Wins24*1935
Wins221936
Wins21*1938
Wins261940
Wins201949
Wins251950
Wins231953
Wins241957
Wins20*1958
Losses241902[59]
Losses221904
Losses211905
Losses211912
Losses11*1918
Losses191930
Losses241931
Losses16*1935
Losses201938
Losses181954
Losses161956
Innings pitched3101914[60]
Innings pitched257*1930
Innings pitched257*1930
Innings pitched3041933
Innings pitched2761937
Innings pitched2591957
Innings pitched2801958
Strikeouts1341919[61]
Strikeouts1701922
Strikeouts1411925
Strikeouts103*1927
Strikeouts1351933
Strikeouts1221940
Strikeouts1611941
Strikeouts1461942
Strikeouts1471944
Strikeouts1791946
Strikeouts1451947
Strikeouts1521952
Strikeouts1831953
Strikeouts1841954
Walks1511921[62]
Walks961935
Walks1211938
Walks1671941
Walks1281946
Walks1401952
Walks1161953
Walks1241954
Walks1461957
Walks1321958

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nashville, Tennessee Encyclopedia. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. December 2, 2023.
  2. Web site: Bill. Weiss. Marshall. Wright. 47. 1940 Nashville Vols. Minor League Baseball. 2001. September 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20201012164314/http://www.milb.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=47. October 12, 2020. dead.
  3. News: 'Volunteers' is the New Name for Nashville's Baseball Club. Newspapers.com. The Nashville American. Nashville. February 29, 1908. 6.
  4. News: Palys Eighth Vol to Get Southern's MVP Accolade. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. January 23, 1958. 31.
  5. News: Russell. Fred. Sideline Sidelights. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. August 24, 1943. 10.
  6. News: Associated Press. Most Valuable to Workman. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. January 19, 1949. 18.
  7. News: International News Service. Southern League Picks Sawatski Most Valuable. Newspapers.com. The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. February 19, 1950. 21.
  8. News: Schultz Voted Southern’s Most Valuable for 1950. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. November 23, 1950. 33.
  9. News: Harshman Voted SA's Most Valuable Player. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. January 12, 1954. 18.
  10. News: Leonard. George K.. No Surprise, This: Lennon Is Elected Most Valuable. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. January 11, 1955. 16.
  11. News: Williams. F. M.. Stan Palys Selected Most Valuable in SL. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. January 23, 1958. 24.
  12. News: Williams. F. M.. Nashville Reaps Jim O'Toole's Harvest. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. November 13, 1958. 33.
  13. Book: Seely . Chad . Perry . Collin . Scopel . Doug. 2022 Nashville Sounds Media Guide . Minor League Baseball . 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220405214512/https://img.mlbstatic.com/milb-images/image/upload/milb/t3cbqrekm4bmihgj8m1a.pdf . April 5, 2022. 217–218.
  14. News: Southern Association All-Star History. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 16, 1958. 24.
  15. News: Associated Press. Here are Dixie's All-Stars. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 3, 1938. 9.
  16. News: How All-Stars and Crax Line Up. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 7, 1938. 10.
  17. News: Associated Press. This All-Star Game Faces Chicks in Second Edition of Classic. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 2, 1939. 9.
  18. News: Associated Press. All-Star Team Selected: Glitter Group Lists Vol Trio. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. June 30, 1940. 29.
  19. News: Associated Press. Crax Place Six, Dellers 4 on Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. June 29, 1941. 45.
  20. News: Associated Press. S. L. All-Stars Seek 2nd Straight Win Tonight. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 7, 1941. 9.
  21. News: Associated Press. Nashvols Place Four on Southern's All-Star Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. June 28, 1942. 43.
  22. News: Gardner, Sauer, Hamrick on League All-Star Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 2, 1943. 16.
  23. News: Associated Press. Four Players Picked Unanimously for Southern Loop All-Star Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 6, 1944. 18.
  24. News: Massey. James R.. Associated Press. Crackers Win Almost Half All-Star Positions. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 19, 1946. 34.
  25. News: Russell. Fred. Ben Wade to Start for All-Stars. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 22, 1947. 11.
  26. News: Leonard. George K.. Vols May (It's Hoped) Regard All-Star Game Here as Chance to Step Up Morale in Flag Fight. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 19, 1948. 13.
  27. News: Leonard. George K.. Vols May (It's Hoped) Regard All-Star Game Here as Chance to Step Up Morale in Flag Fight. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 19, 1948. 13.
  28. News: Leonard. George K.. Vols May (It's Hoped) Regard All-Star Game Here as Chance to Step Up Morale in Flag Fight. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 19, 1948. 13.
  29. News: Leonard. George K.. Vols May (It's Hoped) Regard All-Star Game Here as Chance to Step Up Morale in Flag Fight. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 19, 1948. 13.
  30. News: Leonard. George K.. Vols May (It's Hoped) Regard All-Star Game Here as Chance to Step Up Morale in Flag Fight. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 19, 1948. 13.
  31. News: Sawatski is Unanimous Choice on All-Star Squad. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 6, 1949. 15.
  32. News: Melvin. Russ. Wyatt Probable Cracker Choice to Face All-Stars. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 18, 1950. 17.
  33. News: Leonard. George K.. Ludwig, Atchley, Brady on Southern All-Stars. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 6, 1951. 14.
  34. News: Leonard. George K.. Piersall Steals All-Star Show, Invades Officials' Session in Absentia. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 9, 1952. 16.
  35. News: Burns. Bud. Harshman Unanimous Southern All-Star Choice. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 3, 1953. 8.
  36. News: Burns. Bud. Lennon, Rodin Represent Vols on Southern All-Star Squad. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 9, 1954. 44.
  37. News: Williams. F. M.. Writers Impressed by Crippled Dellers. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 14, 1955. 21.
  38. News: Associated Press. Barons Replaced on All-Star Roster. Newspapers.com. The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. July 14, 1956. 17.
  39. News: Vols Land 3 Players on SA Twinkle Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 12, 1956. 22.
  40. News: Vols Land 3 Players on SA Twinkle Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 12, 1956. 22.
  41. News: Vols Land 3 Players on SA Twinkle Team. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 12, 1956. 22.
  42. News: Williams. F. M.. Sisler Would Change All-Star Mound Staff. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 12, 1957. 44.
  43. News: Leonard. George. Three, Maybe 4, Vols to Start. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 14, 1958. 16.
  44. News: Leonard. George. Five Vols Picked as SA All-Stars. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 10, 1959. 12.
  45. News: Williams. F. M.. Domination of Travelers Vols' Bright Spot of Year. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 24, 1960. 54.
  46. News: Leonard. George. Buddy Gilbert Is Only Vol Selected Southern All-Star. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 4, 1961. 36.
  47. News: Williams. F. M.. Staehle, Gatewood Make All-Stars. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. July 16, 1963. 13.
  48. News: Leonard. George. One Jinx Cracked, Will Crax Avoid Another?. Newspapers.com. The Nashville Banner. Nashville. July 17, 1958. 38.
  49. Web site: League Records: Single Season Batting Average. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  50. Web site: 1963 South Atlantic League Batting Leaders. Baseball-Reference.com. December 19, 2023.
  51. Web site: League Records: Single Season Hits. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  52. Web site: League Records: Single Season Runs. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  53. Web site: League Records: Single Season RBI. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  54. Web site: League Records: Single Season Doubles. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  55. Web site: League Records: Single Season Triples. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  56. Web site: League Records: Single Season Home Runs. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  57. Web site: League Records: Single Season Stolen Bases. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  58. Web site: League Records: Single Season Wins. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  59. Web site: League Records: Single Season Losses. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  60. Web site: League Records: Single Season Innings Pitched. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  61. Web site: League Records: Single Season Strikeouts. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.
  62. Web site: League Records: Single Season Bases on Balls. Southern Association Baseball. December 19, 2023.

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