Southern Association Most Valuable Player Award


The Southern Association Most Valuable Player Award was an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's Southern Association based on their regular-season performance as voted on by league sportswriters. Early iterations of the honor were voted on by league managers. Though the league was established in 1901, the award was not created until 1936. It continued to be issued through the 1961 season, after which the league disbanded.
Two players won the award twice: Ted Cieslak, who won back-to-back in 1945 and 1946, and Stan Palys, the winner in 1957 and 1960.
Eleven outfielders won the MVP Award, the most of any position. Catchers and first basemen, each with three winners, won the most among infielders, followed by second baseman and third baseman. Six pitchers also won the award.
Eight players from the Nashville Vols were selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Atlanta Crackers ; the Birmingham Barons, Little Rock Travelers, Memphis Chicks, and Mobile Bears ; and the Chattanooga Lookouts, Knoxville Smokies, and New Orleans Pelicans.
Four players from the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball organization won the MVP Award, more than any other, followed by the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers organizations ; the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations ; the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Browns, and Washington Senators organizations. Five players were from teams unaffiliated with any MLB organization.

Winners

PositionIndicates the player's primary position
Number of wins by players who have won the award multiple times
^Indicates multiple award winners in the same year

YearWinnerTeamOrganizationPosition
1936Little Rock TravelersBoston Red SoxOutfielder
1937Memphis ChicksUnaffiliatedOutfielder
1938New Orleans PelicansCleveland IndiansPitcher
1939Knoxville SmokiesPittsburgh PiratesFirst baseman
1940^Nashville VolsBrooklyn DodgersCatcher
1940^Atlanta CrackersUnaffiliatedOutfielder
1941Atlanta CrackersPittsburgh PiratesFirst baseman
1942Little Rock TravelersUnaffiliatedSecond baseman
1943Nashville VolsChicago CubsOutfielder
1944Memphis ChicksSt. Louis BrownsOutfielder
1945 Atlanta CrackersUnaffiliatedThird baseman
1946 Atlanta CrackersUnaffiliatedThird baseman
1947Mobile BearsBrooklyn DodgersCatcher
1948Nashville VolsChicago CubsOutfielder
1949Nashville VolsChicago CubsCatcher
1950Nashville VolsChicago CubsPitcher
1951Little Rock TravelersDetroit TigersOutfielder
1952Chattanooga LookoutsWashington SenatorsSecond baseman
1953Nashville VolsNew York GiantsPitcher
1954Nashville VolsNew York GiantsOutfielder
1955Memphis ChicksChicago White SoxOutfielder
1956Mobile BearsCleveland IndiansPitcher
1957 Nashville VolsCincinnati RedsOutfielder
1958Birmingham BaronsDetroit TigersPitcher
1959Mobile BearsCleveland IndiansFirst baseman
1960 Birmingham BaronsDetroit TigersOutfielder
1961Birmingham BaronsDetroit TigersPitcher

Wins by organization

OrganizationAwardYear
Chicago Cubs41943, 1948, 1949, 1950
Detroit Tigers41951, 1958, 1960, 1961
Cleveland Indians31938, 1956, 1959
Brooklyn Dodgers21940, 1947
New York Giants21953, 1954
Pittsburgh Pirates21939, 1941
Boston Red Sox11936
Chicago White Sox11955
Cincinnati Reds11957
St. Louis Browns11944
Washington Senators11952