The 2005 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 7 and September 5. Ten teams played a 140-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.
The Jacksonville Suns won the Southern League championship, defeating the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in the playoffs.
League changes The divisional format is changed from East Division and West Division to North Division and South Division. The Carolina Mudcats, Chattanooga Lookouts, Huntsville Stars, Tennessee Smokies and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx join the North Division. The Birmingham Barons, Jacksonville Suns, Mississippi Braves, Mobile BayBears and Montgomery Biscuits join the South Division.
Team changes The Greenville Braves relocated to Jackson, Mississippi and were renamed to the Mississippi Braves. The club joined the newly established South Division. The Tennessee Smokies ended their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals and began a new affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Teams 2005 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium North Carolina Mudcats Zebulon, North Carolina Florida Marlins Five County Stadium Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds Bellsouth Park Huntsville Stars Huntsville, Alabama Milwaukee Brewers Joe W. Davis Stadium Tennessee Smokies Sevierville, Tennessee Arizona Diamondbacks Smokies Park West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Jackson, Tennessee Chicago Cubs Pringles Park South Birmingham Barons Birmingham, Alabama Chicago White Sox Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Florida Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Mississippi Braves Jackson, Mississippi Atlanta Braves Trustmark Park Mobile BayBears Mobile, Alabama San Diego Padres Hank Aaron Stadium Montgomery Biscuits Montgomery, Alabama Tampa Bay Devil Rays Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 2000.
Standings 2005 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed May 14, 2025 North Division Team Win Loss % GB West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 83 56 – Carolina Mudcats 77 57 3.5 Tennessee Smokies 64 76 19.5 Huntsville Stars 60 79 23 Chattanooga Lookouts 53 83 28.5South Division Birmingham Barons 82 57 – Jacksonville Suns 79 61 3.5 Montgomery Biscuits 67 70 14 Mississippi Braves 64 68 14.5 Mobile BayBears 58 80 23.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 2005 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed May 14, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Matt Murton, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx .342 H Jerry Owens, Birmingham Barons 173 R Chris Young, Birmingham Barons 100 2B Chris Young, Birmingham Barons 41 3B Gregor Blanco, Mississippi Braves 12 HR Brandon Sing, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Chris Young, Birmingham Barons 26 RBI Darren Blakely, Birmingham Barons 89 SB Todd Donovan, Jacksonville Suns 62
Pitching leaders 2005 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed May 14, 2025 Stat Player Total W Ricky Nolasco, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Sean Tracey, Birmingham Barons 14 ERA Daniel Haigwood, Birmingham Barons 1.74 CG Charlie Haeger, Birmingham Barons Jason Hammel, Montgomery Biscuits Dustin Nippert, Tennessee Smokies 3 SHO Enrique González, Tennessee Smokies Charlie Haeger, Birmingham Barons Dustin Nippert, Tennessee Smokies 2 SV Dale Thayer, Mobile BayBears 27 IP Jae Kuk Ryu, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 169.2 SO Ricky Nolasco, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 173
Playoffs The Jacksonville Suns won their third Southern League championship, defeating the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Delmon Young, Montgomery Biscuits Pitcher of the Year Ricky Nolasco, West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Manager of the Year Razor Shines, Birmingham Barons
See also 2005 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website