Nashville Seraphs - Team History

Team History

On January 14, 1895, Southern League officials granted expansion franchises to Henry Powers for Chattanooga and W. H. Stallings for Nashville. The new Nashville entry, called the Nashville Seraphs, replaced the Nashville Tigers, which folded after the 1894 season, as the city's entry into the Southern League. The nine-team circuit also included the Atlanta Crackers, Chattanooga Warriors, Evansville Blackbirds, Little Rock Travelers, Memphis Giants, Mobile Bluebirds, Montgomery Grays, and New Orleans Pelicans. The Seraphs played their home games at Athletic Park, which would later come to be known as Sulphur Dell. With a distance of 262 feet (80 m) to the right field wall, it was a notorious hitter's park.

In their first and only season of play, the Seraphs were managed by player-manager George Stallings, who also played as an infielder. Stallings previously managed the Nashville Tigers, and would later manage the Boston Braves to win the 1914 World Series. The Seraphs opened up the season on the road with a 17–10 loss against Evansville.

On July 27, Butler, a Nashville outfielder, had his contract purchased by the National League's New York Giants under manager Jack Doyle. Butler achieved a .371 batting average and 34 stolen bases during his time with the Seraphs.

Towards the end of the season, Nashville was in third-place behind Evansville and Atlanta. The race for the Southern League championship, determined by winning percentage, heated up following a disputed call during an August 10 contest at Athletic Park versus Atlanta. Nashville was trailing 8–10 in their last at-bat in the ninth inning. They scored a run and still had men on first and second base with their catcher, Sweeney, at-bat. He hit a high foul fly ball back toward the grandstand. As Atlanta's catcher, Wilson, attempted to get under the ball, his foot slipped causing him to miss it. While reaching for the ball, a boy in the stands threw a glove or cap past his head. The umpire, Clark, ruled this as interference and called Sweeney out, resulting in a 9–10 Seraphs loss. This incident would come to be known as the "Glove Game."

Following the defeat, Nashville went on a 20-game winning streak, moving them into first-place with only a few games left to play. Nashville stood at 65–35 (.650), Evansville was in second at 61–33 (.649), and Atlanta was third at 62–34 (.646). The last day of scheduled play was September 2, but Atlanta played an additional game the following day. The win by Atlanta moved them into a tie with the Seraphs for first-place with the same .670 winning percentage.

Nashville claimed to be the rightful pennant winners and protested the final standings for three reasons. Firstly, the August 10 "Glove Game" should have been thrown out because of the umpire's bad call. Secondly, New Orleans used an ineligible player who had been suspended from the Pennsylvania State League, and should forfeit all games he participated in. Lastly, since Atlanta played a game one day after the official end of the season, their September 3 win should be stricken from their record.

Southern League and team representatives held a meeting in Chattanooga to determine a winner. The members decided to throw out the "Glove Game" on the basis that the umpire's ruling was illegal since there was no rule providing for the punishment of a club for the offense of an outsider. Atlanta's August 3 game was also declared null since it was played after the season was over. Nashville withdrew its protest of New Orleans’ ineligible player. These rulings caused the Seraphs' winning percentage to rise to .676 and Atlanta's to fall to .667, making Nashville the league pennant winner.

Pitcher Samuel Moran was signed to a contract with the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates on August 18, during the heat of the pennant race. At the time of his departure, Moran's record was 22–12; he had also recorded 113 strike outs with Nashville.

Despite the championship season, the Seraphs did not return to play in 1896. The city of Nashville was left without a professional baseball team until the Nashville Centennials franchise was formed as a member of the Central League in 1897.