List of Nashville Sounds awards, All-Stars, and league leaders
The Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team has played in Nashville, Tennessee, since being established in 1978 as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League (SL). They moved up to Triple-A in 1985 as members of the American Association (AA) before joining the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 1998. The team was placed in the Triple-A East in 2021 prior to this becoming the International League in 2022. In the history of the franchise, numerous teams, players, and personnel have won awards, been selected for All-Star teams, or led their league in various statistical areas.
Three Sounds have won league Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards: Steve Balboni, Brian Dayett, and Magglio Ordóñez. Eleven have won Pitcher of the Year awards: Bruce Berenyi, Geoff Combe, Robert Gasser, Andy McGaffigan, Jamie Werly, Stefan Wever, Chris Hammond, Scott Ruffcorn, R. A. Dickey, Johnny Hellweg, and Jimmy Nelson. Two have won Rookie of the Year awards: Jeff Abbott and Magglio Ordóñez. Five managers have won Manager of the Year awards: Stump Merrill, Rick Renick, Frank Kremblas, Steve Scarsone, and Rick Sweet. Ordóñez won the 1997 AA MVP Award as well as the Rookie of the Year Award, making him the only Nashville player to win two year-end league awards for the same season. The only other team personnel to win multiple league awards, though in separate seasons, are Renick, who won the AA Manager of the Year Award in 1993 and 1996, President Larry Schmittou, who won the SL Executive of the Year Award in 1978 and the AA Executive of the Year Award in 1987 and 1989, and radio broadcaster Bob Jamison, who was named the SL Broadcaster of the Year in 1980 and 1982. The franchise was recognized with the Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award in 2022. The team won the Larry MacPhail Award in 1978, 1980, and 1981. Two managers have won the Mike Coolbaugh Award: Mike Guerrero and Rick Sweet. Twenty-nine Sounds have been selected by their Major League Baseball organization for player or pitcher of the year awards.
Four Sounds have been selected to participate in the All-Star Futures Game. Seventy-six players and seven managers and coaches have been selected for midseason All-Star teams. Of these, Drew Denson, Vinny Rottino, Scott Ruffcorn, Joey Vierra, and Jamie Werly are the only players to have been selected twice while playing for Nashville. Four players have been chosen as the MVP for their contributions in All-Star games: Duane Walker, Ray Durham, Magglio Ordóñez, and Renato Núñez. Of the 51 players who have been named to postseason All-Star teams, only Duane Walker and Jeff Abbott have been selected twice.
A number of players have led their league in multiple statistical categories during a single season. Steve Balboni led the 1980 Southern League season in five categories: runs (101), runs batted in (122), total bases (288), home runs (30), and fielding percentage among first basemen (.990). Chris Hammond led the American Association in five areas in 1990: wins (15), winning percentage (.938 (15–1)), earned run average (2.17), strikeouts (149), and shutouts (3). Skeeter Barnes (1990), Norberto Martin (1993), Drew Denson (1994), Magglio Ordóñez (1997), and Joey Wendle (2015) led single seasons in four areas each. The 1980 Sounds led the Southern League in 22 categories, the most among all Sounds teams.
Key
| (#) | Number of wins by individuals/teams who won an award multiple times |
|---|---|
| *(#) | Tie between two or more individuals/teams; number indicates total number of individuals/teams with same performance |
Awards
League awards
Southern League
These players and team personnel won Southern League year-end awards during the club's membership from 1978 to 1984.
| Award | Recipient | Season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Steve Balboni | 1980 | |
| Most Valuable Player | Brian Dayett | 1982 | |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Bruce Berenyi | 1978 | |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Geoff Combe | 1979 | |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Andy McGaffigan | 1980 | |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Jamie Werly | 1981 | |
| Most Outstanding Pitcher | Stefan Wever | 1982 | |
| Manager of the Year | Stump Merrill | 1980 | |
| Executive of the Year | Larry Schmittou | 1978 | |
| Broadcaster of the Year | Bob Jamison (1) | 1980 | |
| Broadcaster of the Year | Bob Jamison (2) | 1982 |
American Association
These players and team personnel won American Association year-end awards during the club's membership from 1985 to 1997.
| Award | Recipient | Season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Magglio Ordóñez | 1997 | |
| Most Valuable Pitcher | Chris Hammond | 1990 | |
| Most Valuable Pitcher | Scott Ruffcorn | 1994 | |
| Rookie of the Year | Jeff Abbott | 1996 | |
| Rookie of the Year | Magglio Ordóñez | 1997 | |
| Manager of the Year | Rick Renick (1) | 1993 | |
| Manager of the Year | Rick Renick (2) | 1996 | |
| Executive of the Year | Larry Schmittou (1) | 1987 | |
| Executive of the Year | Larry Schmittou (2) | 1989 |
Pacific Coast League
These players and team personnel won Pacific Coast League year-end awards during the club's membership from 1998 to 2020.
| Award | Recipient | Season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher of the Year | R. A. Dickey | 2007 | |
| Pitcher of the Year | Johnny Hellweg | 2013 | |
| Pitcher of the Year | Jimmy Nelson | 2014 | |
| Manager of the Year | Frank Kremblas | 2007 | |
| Manager of the Year | Steve Scarsone | 2016 | |
| Athletic Trainer of the Year | Jeff Paxson | 2007 | |
| Athletic Trainer of the Year | Brad LaRosa | 2016 |
International League
These players and team personnel have won International League year-end awards during the club's membership since 2021.
| Award | Recipient | Season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher of the Year | Robert Gasser | 2023 | |
| Manager of the Year | Rick Sweet | 2022 | |
| Athletic Trainer of the Year | Jeff Paxson | 2023 |
Minor League Baseball awards
These teams and team personnel won Minor League Baseball year-end awards.
| Award | Recipient | Season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization of the Year Award | Nashville Sounds | 2022 | |
| Larry MacPhail Award | Nashville Sounds (1) | 1978 | |
| Larry MacPhail Award | Nashville Sounds (2) | 1980 | |
| Larry MacPhail Award | Nashville Sounds (3) | 1981 | |
| Mike Coolbaugh Award | Mike Guerrero | 2013 | |
| Mike Coolbaugh Award | Rick Sweet | 2022 | |
| Rawlings Award | Dot Cloud | 1997 | |
| Rawlings Award | Sharon Ridley | 2010 |
Major League Baseball organizational awards
These players won year-end awards from their Major League Baseball organization.
All-Stars
All-Star Futures
These players were selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game (1999–present).
| Season | Player | Position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Alcides Escobar | Shortstop | |
| 2013 | Jimmy Nelson | Pitcher | |
| 2016 | Ryon Healy | Third baseman | |
| 2021 | Ethan Small | Pitcher |
Midseason All-Stars
These players were selected to play in the Southern League All-Star Game (1978–1984) or the Triple-A All-Star Game (1988–present).
All-Star Game MVPs
These players won Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards for their contributions in the Southern League All-Star Game (1978–1984) or the Triple-A All-Star Game (1988–present).
| Season | Player | Position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Duane Walker | Outfielder | |
| 1994 | Ray Durham | Second baseman | |
| 1997 | Magglio Ordóñez | Center fielder | |
| 2017 | Renato Núñez | Left fielder |
Postseason All-Stars
These players were voted onto league postseason All-Star teams.
League leaders
Individual leaders
Batting leaders
These players led all other players in their league with the best performance in distinct statistical batting categories in a single season. A batter must have at least 2.7 plate appearances per the number of scheduled regular-season games to qualify for the lead in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, or on-base plus slugging.
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Pitching leaders
These pitchers led all other pitchers in their league with the best performance in distinct statistical pitching categories in a single season. A pitcher must have pitched at least as many innings as 80 percent of the number of scheduled regular-season games to qualify for the lead in earned run average or walks plus hits per inning pitched. To qualify for the lead in winning percentage, they must meet the preceding innings threshold and have any combination of wins and losses totaling at least ten.
Fielding leaders
These players led all other players in their league with the highest fielding percentage at their playing position in a single season. To qualify as a leader, catchers must have participated at that position in at least half of scheduled regular-season games. Infielders and outfielders must have participated at their positions in at least two-thirds of scheduled regular-season games. Pitchers must have pitched as many innings as the number of scheduled regular-season games unless another pitcher has an equal or greater percentage with more total chances in fewer innings.
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Team leaders
These Sounds teams led all other teams in their league with the best performance in distinct statistical categories in a single season.
General leaders
| Statistic | Season | Record | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 1980 | 97 | |
| Wins | 1981 | 81 | |
| Wins | 1990 | 86*(2) | |
| Wins | 2007 | 89 | |
| Wins | 2016 | 83 | |
| Wins | 2022 | 91 | |
| Losses | 1980 | 46 | |
| Losses | 1981 | 62 | |
| Losses | 2007 | 55 | |
| Losses | 2016 | 59 | |
| Losses | 2022 | 58 | |
| Winning percentage | 1980 | .678 | |
| Winning percentage | 1981 | .566 | |
| Winning percentage | 2007 | .618 | |
| Winning percentage | 2016 | .585 | |
| Winning percentage | 2022 | .611 |
Batting leaders
Pitching leaders
| Statistic | Season | Record | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earned run average | 1979 | 3.38 | |
| Earned run average | 1980 | 3.11 | |
| Earned run average | 1981 | 3.26 | |
| Earned run average | 1987 | 4.27 | |
| Earned run average | 1993 | 3.88 | |
| Earned run average | 1994 | 3.53 | |
| Earned run average | 2006 | 3.62 | |
| Earned run average | 2007 | 3.57 | |
| Earned run average | 2014 | 3.85 | |
| Earned run average | 2016 | 3.42 | |
| Earned run average | 2023 | 4.49 | |
| Complete games | 1981 | 54 | |
| Complete games | 1983 | 63 | |
| Complete games | 1987 | 19*(2) | |
| Complete games | 1990 | 22 | |
| Complete games | 1996 | 13 | |
| Complete games | 2002 | 10 | |
| Complete games | 2006 | 8*(2) | |
| Complete games | 2007 | 7 | |
| Complete games | 2013 | 4*(2) | |
| Shutouts | 1983 | 13 | |
| Shutouts | 1989 | 17 | |
| Shutouts | 1990 | 17 | |
| Shutouts | 1995 | 11 | |
| Shutouts | 2003 | 16 | |
| Shutouts | 2006 | 12*(3) | |
| Shutouts | 2007 | 11 | |
| Shutouts | 2012 | 12*(2) | |
| Shutouts | 2022 | 1*(6) | |
| Saves | 1979 | 41 | |
| Saves | 1984 | 43 | |
| Saves | 1999 | 43*(3) | |
| Innings pitched | 1982 | 1,259 | |
| Innings pitched | 1987 | 1,219 | |
| Innings pitched | 1988 | 1,269 | |
| Innings pitched | 1992 | 1,295 | |
| Innings pitched | 1995 | 1,2762⁄3 | |
| Hits allowed | 1980 | 1,094 | |
| Hits allowed | 1990 | 1,146 | |
| Hits allowed | 1991 | 1,132 | |
| Hits allowed | 1993 | 1,182 | |
| Hits allowed | 1994 | 1,224 | |
| Hits allowed | 1996 | 1,167 | |
| Hits allowed | 2003 | 1,198 | |
| Hits allowed | 2006 | 1,188 | |
| Hits allowed | 2007 | 1,171 | |
| Hits allowed | 2014 | 1,136 | |
| Hits allowed | 2016 | 1,130 | |
| Runs allowed | 1980 | 544 | |
| Runs allowed | 1981 | 574 | |
| Runs allowed | 2006 | 594 | |
| Runs allowed | 1983 | 605*(2) | |
| Runs allowed | 1993 | 631 | |
| Runs allowed | 1994 | 587 | |
| Runs allowed | 2007 | 547 | |
| Runs allowed | 2014 | 587 | |
| Runs allowed | 2016 | 533 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 1979 | 460 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 1980 | 432 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 1981 | 443 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 1983 | 491 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 1993 | 539 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 1994 | 502 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 2006 | 513 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 2007 | 503 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 2014 | 526 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 2016 | 476 | |
| Earned runs allowed | 2023 | 640 | |
| Home runs allowed | 1980 | 72 | |
| Home runs allowed | 1981 | 77 | |
| Home runs allowed | 1994 | 94 | |
| Home runs allowed | 2007 | 118 | |
| Home runs allowed | 2011 | 125 | |
| Home runs allowed | 2014 | 101 | |
| Home runs allowed | 2016 | 93 | |
| Home runs allowed | 2017 | 102 | |
| Home runs allowed | 2023 | 143*(2) | |
| Walks | 1979 | 429 | |
| Walks | 1983 | 488 | |
| Walks | 2002 | 356 | |
| Walks | 2018 | 374 | |
| Walks | 2023 | 536 | |
| Intentional walks | 1983 | 11 | |
| Intentional walks | 1990 | 16 | |
| Intentional walks | 2018 | 3*(2) | |
| Strikeouts | 1992 | 1,033 | |
| Strikeouts | 1995 | 931 | |
| Strikeouts | 2002 | 1,080 | |
| Strikeouts | 2003 | 1,030 | |
| Strikeouts | 2007 | 1,148 | |
| Strikeouts | 2014 | 1,236 | |
| Hit by pitch | 1979 | 15 | |
| Hit by pitch | 1988 | 22*(2) | |
| Hit by pitch | 1989 | 28 | |
| Hit by pitch | 1990 | 30 | |
| Hit by pitch | 1995 | 40*(2) | |
| Hit by pitch | 1996 | 38 | |
| Balks | 1986 | 10 | |
| Balks | 1996 | 3 | |
| Balks | 1999 | 3*(3) | |
| Balks | 2002 | 4*(4) | |
| Balks | 2006 | 2*(2) | |
| Balks | 2010 | 3*(5) | |
| Wild pitches | 1990 | 49 | |
| Wild pitches | 2003 | 40*(2) | |
| Wild pitches | 2004 | 43 | |
| Strikeouts | 1980 | 922 | |
| Strikeouts | 1994 | 1,041 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 1979 | 1.322 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 1980 | 1.296 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 1981 | 1.337 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 1983 | 1.351 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 1993 | 1.304 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 2003 | 1.270 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 2006 | 1.301 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 2007 | 1.278 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 2014 | 1.317 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 2016 | 1.239 | |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched | 2023 | 1.411 |
Fielding leaders
| Statistic | Season | Record | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putouts | 1982 | 3,777 | |
| Putouts | 1987 | 3,657 | |
| Putouts | 1988 | 3,807 | |
| Putouts | 1992 | 3,885 | |
| Putouts | 1995 | 3,830 | |
| Assists | 1982 | 1,657 | |
| Assists | 1995 | 1,600 | |
| Assists | 2001 | 1,533 | |
| Assists | 2010 | 1,642 | |
| Errors | 2002 | 106*(2) | |
| Errors | 2006 | 100 | |
| Errors | 2007 | 86 | |
| Errors | 2012 | 89 | |
| Errors | 2022 | 78 | |
| Double plays | 1982 | 135*(2) | |
| Fielding percentage | 2002 | .980 | |
| Fielding percentage | 2006 | .982 | |
| Fielding percentage | 2007 | .984 | |
| Fielding percentage | 2012 | .983 | |
| Fielding percentage | 2022 | .985 | |
| Passed balls | 1979 | 9 | |
| Passed balls | 1984 | 10 | |
| Passed balls | 1985 | 4 | |
| Passed balls | 1992 | 9 | |
| Passed balls | 2011 | 5*(2) | |
| Passed balls | 2021 | 4 | |
| Stolen bases | 2011 | 90 | |
| Caught stealing | 1996 | 70 | |
| Caught stealing | 1997 | 66 |
Notes
References
- Specific
- General
- Seely, Chad; Brooks, Peter; Scopel, Doug (2021). 2021 Nashville Sounds Media Guide (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021 – via Minor League Baseball.