# Southern League All-Star Game

The Southern League All-Star Game was an annual baseball game sanctioned by Minor League Baseball between professional players from the teams of the Double-A Southern League. Each division, North and South, fielded a team composed of players in their respective divisions as voted on by the managers, general managers, and broadcasters from each of the league's eight clubs.
From the first All-Star Game in 1964 through 1998, the event predominantly consisted of a single team of the league's All-Stars versus a Major League Baseball team. The division versus division format was used from 1999 to 2019. No game was held from 1991 to 1995 as the Southern League and the other two Double-A leagues, the Eastern League and Texas League, participated in the Double-A All-Star Game instead.
Traditionally, the game took place during the three-day All-Star break between the first and second halves of the season. The game was meant to mark the halfway-point in the season with the first 70 games being played before and the remaining 70 after. Some additional events, such as the Home Run Derby and All-Star Fan Fest occurred each year during this break in the regular season.

## History

The first Southern League All-Star Game was played in 1964 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. In the inaugural game, held in the league's first season of operation, the hosting Birmingham Barons served as the competition for a team of Southern League All-Stars as they held first place at a predetermined point in the season. Through 1998, the game usually pitted an All-Star team versus a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, sometimes the host's major league affiliate. The Atlanta Braves participated in 12 All-Star Games, the most among MLB teams. The Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and Seattle Mariners also competed in one game each.
Other arrangements were also utilized. On seven occasions, a Southern League team, usually the league's leader at a given point before the game, was selected to compete against the All-Stars. These were the Birmingham Barons, Columbus Confederate Yankees, Mobile A's, Montgomery Rebels, Memphis Chicks, Nashville Sounds, and Mobile BayBears. In such instances, players from the rival team who were voted onto All-Star teams played for their own clubs, or the league prohibited voting for players on the host team and chose to recognize all players on those teams as All-Stars. Triple-A teams twice served as the All-Stars' opponents: in 1986 against Nashville, which had moved to the American Association, and in 1987 versus the International League's Richmond Braves. In 1990, one team was made up of All-Stars from American League affiliates and the other of National League affiliates.
A division versus division format, where each division fields a team composed of players in their respective divisions, was used intermittently—first in 1975 and again in 1984 and 1988. This format was readopted in 1999 and has been utilized each year since. From 1999 to 2004, it was East against West. Since realignment in 2005, it has been North versus South.
No game was held from 1991 to 1995 as the Southern League and the other two Double-A leagues, the Eastern League and Texas League, participated in the Double-A All-Star Game instead. The Southern League continued to participate in the Double-A All-Star Game through its final contention in 2002 but resumed holding its own All-Star Game in 1996.
The 2019 All-Star Game in Biloxi, Mississippi, became the final one to be held. The 2020 event planned to occur in Jackson, Tennessee, was cancelled along with the entire season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the 2021 season, Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball and the Southern League ceased operations.

## Structure

In the final 2019 All-Star Game, each division's roster consisted of 25 players, as voted on by the managers, general managers, and broadcasters from each of the league's eight clubs. The actual number of players on gameday may have been less due to call-ups, injuries, or players choosing not to participate. Nonparticipants retained their All-Star status. The game itself consisted of a single nine-inning game to determine a champion. The division in which the host city competes was considered the home team for the game and the other team was designated the visiting team. Designated hitters batted in place of the pitchers.
Historically, players wore their respective team's uniforms. Typically, players on the home team wore their club's white home uniforms, while players on the away team wore their club's gray road uniforms. This changed in 2019 when players wore division-specific jerseys paired with the appropriate home/road pants and their respective team's cap.

## Results

| Date | Winning team | Score | Losing team | City | Ballpark | Host team | Attendance |
| July 13, 1964 | Birmingham Barons | 7–2 | Southern League | Birmingham, Alabama | Rickwood Field | Birmingham Barons | 7,264 |
| July 19, 1965 | Columbus Confederate Yankees | 4–3 | Southern League | Columbus, Georgia | Golden Park | Columbus Confederate Yankees | 4,091 |
| August 8, 1966 | Mobile A's | 6–1 | Southern League | Mobile, Alabama | Hartwell Field | Mobile A's | 3,406 |
| June 26, 1967 | Southern League | 5–0 | Atlanta Braves | Charlotte, North Carolina | Calvin Griffith Park | Charlotte Hornets | 6,554 |
| June 24, 1968 | Southern League Atlanta Braves | — | — | Savannah, Georgia | Grayson Stadium | Savannah Senators | — |
| July 19, 1969 | Southern League | 7–1 (5 inn.) | Atlanta Braves | Birmingham, Alabama | Rickwood Field | Birmingham A's | 13,905 |
| August 17, 1970 | Atlanta Braves | 3–1 | Southern League | Birmingham, Alabama | Rickwood Field | Birmingham A's | 6,615 |
| July 8, 1971 | Atlanta Braves | 5–3 | Southern League | Jacksonville, Florida | Wolfson Park | Jacksonville Suns | 6,412 |
| July 14, 1972 | Southern League | 7–6 | Montgomery Rebels | Montgomery, Alabama | Paterson Field | Montgomery Rebels | 2,586 |
| June 14, 1973 | Southern League Atlanta Braves | 2–2 (5 inn.) | — | Savannah, Georgia | Grayson Stadium | Savannah Braves | 6,000 |
| August 13, 1974 | Southern League | 3–1 | Minnesota Twins | Jacksonville, Florida | Wolfson Park | Jacksonville Suns | 2,423 |
| July 24, 1975 | East Division | 3–1 | West Division | Savannah, Georgia | Grayson Stadium | Savannah Braves | 2,800 |
| May 27, 1976 | Atlanta Braves | 6–1 | Southern League | Charlotte, North Carolina | Calvin Griffith Park | Charlotte O's | 4,207 |
| July 7, 1977 | Southern League | 6–4 | Atlanta Braves | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Engel Stadium | Chattanooga Lookouts | 8,000 |
| July 13, 1978 | Atlanta Braves | 5–1 | Southern League | Savannah, Georgia | Grayson Stadium | Savannah Braves | 5,283 |
| July 12, 1979 | Southern League | 5–2 | Atlanta Braves | Nashville, Tennessee | Herschel Greer Stadium | Nashville Sounds | 11,079 |
| June 23, 1980 | Southern League Atlanta Braves | — | — | Jacksonville, Florida | Wolfson Park | Jacksonville Suns | — |
| July 6, 1981 | Southern League | 10–3 | Memphis Chicks | Memphis, Tennessee | Tim McCarver Stadium | Memphis Chicks | 5,366 |
| July 22, 1982 | Southern League | 7–4 | Atlanta Braves | Birmingham, Alabama | Rickwood Field | Birmingham Barons | 11,111 |
| June 19, 1983 | Southern League | 3–2 | Nashville Sounds | Nashville, Tennessee | Herschel Greer Stadium | Nashville Sounds | 1,221 |
| June 21, 1984 | West Division | 2–1 | East Division | Greenville, South Carolina | Greenville Municipal Stadium | Greenville Braves | 3,493 |
| June 6, 1985 | Houston Astros | 3–0 | Southern League | Birmingham, Alabama | Rickwood Field | Birmingham Barons | 2,157 |
| July 23, 1986 | Nashville Sounds | 4–2 | Southern League | Huntsville, Alabama | Joe W. Davis Stadium | Huntsville Stars | 4,181 |
| July 13, 1987 | Southern League Richmond Braves | 3–3 (10 inn.) | — | Greenville, South Carolina | Greenville Municipal Stadium | Greenville Braves | 2,919 |
| July 13, 1988 | East Division | 6–5 (10 inn.) | West Division | Jacksonville, Florida | Wolfson Park | Jacksonville Suns | 2,122 |
| June 1, 1989 | Southern League | 5–3 | Toronto Blue Jays | Knoxville, Tennessee | Bill Meyer Stadium | Knoxville Blue Jays | — |
| July 11, 1990 | National League | 3–2 | American League | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Engel Stadium | Chattanooga Lookouts | 5,918 |
| 1991 | No game held in lieu of the Double-A All-Star Game | |
| 1992 | No game held in lieu of the Double-A All-Star Game | |
| 1993 | No game held in lieu of the Double-A All-Star Game | |
| 1994 | No game held in lieu of the Double-A All-Star Game | |
| 1995 | No game held in lieu of the Double-A All-Star Game | |
| May 30, 1996 | Chicago Cubs | 8–0 | Southern League | Orlando, Florida | Tinker Field | Orlando Cubs | 5,292 |
| July 21, 1997 | Southern League | 9–5 | Seattle Mariners | Zebulon, North Carolina | Five County Stadium | Carolina Mudcats | 8,123 |
| June 22, 1998 | Southern League | 6–4 | Mobile BayBears | Mobile, Alabama | Hank Aaron Stadium | Mobile BayBears | 5,453 |
| June 23, 1999 | West Division | 5–2 | East Division | Jackson, Tennessee | Pringles Park | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | 4,169 |
| June 20, 2000 | West Division | 6–3 | East Division | Greenville, South Carolina | Greenville Municipal Stadium | Greenville Braves | 6,532 |
| June 20, 2001 | West Division | 4–3 (10 inn.) | East Division | Kodak, Tennessee | Smokies Stadium | Tennessee Smokies | 5,086 |
| June 19, 2002 | West Division | 4–1 | East Division | Kodak, Tennessee | Smokies Stadium | Tennessee Smokies | — |
| July 8, 2003 | East Division | 7–5 | West Division | Jacksonville, Florida | Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville | Jacksonville Suns | 7,552 |
| July 13, 2004 | East Division | 10–6 | West Division | Chattanooga, Tennessee | BellSouth Park | Chattanooga Lookouts | 5,857 |
| July 13, 2005 | North Division | 12–5 | South Division | Mobile, Alabama | Hank Aaron Stadium | Mobile BayBears | — |
| July 10, 2006 | North Division | 9–4 | South Division | Montgomery, Alabama | Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium | Montgomery Biscuits | 7,454 |
| July 9, 2007 | North Division | 7–4 | South Division | Pearl, Mississippi | Trustmark Park | Mississippi Braves | 4,555 |
| July 14, 2008 | North Division | 6–1 | South Division | Zebulon, North Carolina | Five County Stadium | Carolina Mudcats | 5,667 |
| July 13, 2009 | North Division | 7–0 | South Division | Birmingham, Alabama | Rickwood Field | Birmingham Barons | 7,127 |
| July 12, 2010 | North Division | 3–2 | South Division | Huntsville, Alabama | Joe W. Davis Stadium | Huntsville Stars | 7,782 |
| June 21, 2011 | North Division | 6–3 | South Division | Jackson, Tennessee | Pringles Park | Jackson Generals | 5,516 |
| June 19, 2012 | South Division | 6–2 | North Division | Kodak, Tennessee | Smokies Stadium | Tennessee Smokies | 5,406 |
| July 17, 2013 | South Division | 6–0 | North Division | Jacksonville, Florida | Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville | Jacksonville Suns | 9,373 |
| June 24, 2014 | South Division | 6–4 | North Division | Chattanooga, Tennessee | AT&T Field | Chattanooga Lookouts | 4,487 |
| June 23, 2015 | North Division | 9–0 | South Division | Montgomery, Alabama | Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium | Montgomery Biscuits | 5,891 |
| June 21, 2016 | South Division | 5–1 | North Division | Pearl, Mississippi | Trustmark Park | Mississippi Braves | 4,172 |
| June 20, 2017 | North Division South Division | — | — | Pensacola, Florida | Admiral Fetterman Field | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | — |
| June 19, 2018 | South Division | 9–5 | North Division | Birmingham, Alabama | Regions Field | Birmingham Barons | 8,500 |
| June 18, 2019 | North Division | 7–3 | South Division | Biloxi, Mississippi | MGM Park | Biloxi Shuckers | 4,209 |
| June 30, 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Jackson, Tennessee | The Ballpark at Jackson | Jackson Generals | — | |

## Most Valuable Player Award

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award was bestowed on the player with the best performance at each All-Star Game. No award was given in the first eight games (1964–1971) or in 1973's rain-shortened game, but it was awarded continuously 1974 to 2019. Eight players from the Birmingham Barons were selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league. The Jacksonville Expos/Suns had the second-most with five MVPs. Seven players from the Chicago White Sox organization won the MVP Award, the most of any Major League Baseball organization. They are followed by the Detroit Tigers with five MVPs and the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins with four winners each. The only player to win the MVP Award more than once is Birmingham's Jeff Inglin, who won back-to-back in 1999 and 2000.
Most Valuable Player Award Recipients :
| Year | MVP | Team | Organization | Position |
| 1964 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1965 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1966 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1967 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1968 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1969 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1970 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1971 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1972 | Bucky Dent | Knoxville Sox | Chicago White Sox | Shortstop |
| 1973 | None selected | None selected | None selected | None selected |
| 1974 | Freddie Velázquez | Savannah Braves | Atlanta Braves | Designated hitter |
| 1975 | Roger Cador | Savannah Braves | Atlanta Braves | Left fielder |
| 1976 | Charles Smith | Orlando Twins | Minnesota Twins | Relief pitcher |
| 1977 | Lou Whitaker | Montgomery Rebels | Detroit Tigers | Second baseman |
| 1978 | Roger Alexander | Savannah Braves | Atlanta Braves | Starting pitcher |
| 1979 | Duane Walker | Nashville Sounds | Cincinnati Reds | Center fielder |
| 1981 | Jeff Kenaga | Birmingham Barons | Detroit Tigers | Right fielder |
| 1982 | Jeff Reynolds | Knoxville Blue Jays | Toronto Blue Jays | Third baseman |
| 1983 | George Foussianes | Birmingham Barons | Detroit Tigers | Third baseman |
| 1984 | Jack McKnight | Knoxville Blue Jays | Toronto Blue Jays | Starting pitcher |
| 1985 | Robbie Wine | Columbus Astros | Houston Astros | Catcher |
| 1986 | Terry Steinbach | Huntsville Stars | Oakland Athletics | Catcher |
| 1987 | Ron Gant | Greenville Braves | Atlanta Braves | Second baseman |
| 1988 | Randy Braun | Jacksonville Expos | Montreal Expos | Left fielder |
| 1989 | Harvey Pulliam | Memphis Chicks | Kansas City Royals | Left fielder |
| 1990 | Andy Mota | Columbus Mudcats | Houston Astros | Second baseman |
| 1996 | Geremi González | Orlando Cubs | Chicago Cubs | Starting pitcher |
| 1997 | Juan Encarnación | Jacksonville Suns | Detroit Tigers | Right fielder |
| 1998 | Gabe Kapler | Jacksonville Suns | Detroit Tigers | Right fielder/designated hitter |
| 1999 | Jeff Inglin | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Left fielder |
| 2000 | Jeff Inglin | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Left fielder |
| 2001 | Joe Borchard | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Center fielder |
| 2002 | Alex Fernandez | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Outfielder |
| 2003 | Víctor Díaz | Jacksonville Suns | Los Angeles Dodgers | Second baseman |
| 2004 | Jesse Gutierrez | Chattanooga Lookouts | Cincinnati Reds | First baseman |
| 2005 | Jeremy Hermida | Carolina Mudcats | Florida Marlins | Right fielder |
| 2006 | Scott Moore | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Chicago Cubs | Third baseman |
| 2007 | Lee Mitchell | Carolina Mudcats | Florida Marlins | Third baseman |
| 2008 | Chris Coghlan | Carolina Mudcats | Florida Marlins | Second baseman |
| 2009 | Josh Bell | Chattanooga Lookouts | Los Angeles Dodgers | Third baseman |
| 2010 | Matt Dominguez | Jacksonville Suns | Florida Marlins | Third baseman |
| 2011 | Scott Van Slyke | Chattanooga Lookouts | Los Angeles Dodgers | First baseman |
| 2012 | Alfredo Marte | Mobile BayBears | Arizona Diamondbacks | Right fielder |
| 2013 | Justin Greene | Mobile BayBears | Arizona Diamondbacks | Left fielder |
| 2014 | Taylor Motter | Montgomery Biscuits | Tampa Bay Rays | Right fielder |
| 2015 | Tim Anderson | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Shortstop |
| 2016 | Phillip Ervin | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Cincinnati Reds | Outfielder |
| 2018 | Zach Gibbons | Mobile BayBears | Los Angeles Angels | Left fielder |
| 2019 | Luis Robert | Birmingham Barons | Chicago White Sox | Center fielder |