Nashville has long been rumored as a future destination for a Major League Baseball expansion franchise. But despite work from Music City Baseball, the organization spearheading the MLB-to-Nashville movement, there remains one major hurdle — a viable ownership group with big-league money.
Music City Baseball leadership — which includes real estate developer John Loar and former U.S. Attorney Gen. Alberto Gonzales — has amassed a long list of advisers and ambassadors, partnered with property developer Lincoln Property Co. to look at downtown locations, conducted market analysis, and recognized the city’s deep Negro Leagues connections by naming the potential new team the Nashville Stars. But the money still isn’t there. At least for now.
It’s hard to beat an afternoon at the ballpark with a hot dog and a cold drink in hand; it’s something baseball enthusiasts and novices alike can enjoy. If you’re feeling bummed about our lack of a top-flight team — and don’t want to make the trip to see our closest MLB neighbors in Atlanta, St. Louis or Cincinnati — check out these local options on the diamond this summer.
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds were holding down the local professional sports scene long before the Titans, Predators and Nashville SC arrived to suck up all the oxygen. For nearly 50 years, the boys of summer have ground through the sweltering dog days to provide Nashvillians with a fun trip to the ballpark. As residents of the Triple-A level of the Minor League Baseball system, the Sounds are one step away from the big leagues, meaning the product is higher quality than your average podunk minor-league squad in the middle of nowhere. There are 51 Sounds home games between the publication of this article and the end of the summer, so you have plenty of chances to head to First Horizon Park.
For those seeking a more old-school outing, the Nashville sandlot baseball scene is thriving. The Nashville Dollys, a community-service-focused independent sandlot club, have amassed quite a following online. They’re sort of like Nashville’s answer to the Savannah Bananas, but less try-hard and with cool, retro, Dolly Parton-inspired jerseys. The East Nashville Misfits, self-described as a “sandlot drinking team that happens to play baseball,” are another fun option.
A six-team local sandlot league — with top-notch squad names like Blue Jean Baseball Club and Reba Reds (who indeed have a Reba McEntire logo) — plays on Sundays throughout the summer at parks in East Nashville. On Saturdays, the league hosts an open sandlot game at Cleveland Park, where anyone can join the proceedings. Visit @nashvillesandlot on Instagram for more information or to sign up for a free-play game. Just make sure to bring a glove.
Reaching back even further into the history of the sport is the Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball. Established in 2012, the TAVBB plays under late-19th-century rules and with equipment from that era, including custom-made bats crafted by Murfreesboro-based Smacker Bat Co. Several of the league’s teams reside in Middle Tennessee — the Nashville Maroons, Phoenix of East Nashville, Stones River Scouts, Cumberland Club of Nashville, Franklin Farriers and Quicksteps of Spring Hill. The TAVBB season concludes with the annual Sulphur Dell Cup at Rippavilla in Spring Hill.
Although our local collegiate baseball and softball squads have mostly seen their seasons come to an end, you’ll be able to see Belmont softball All-American pitcher Maya Johnson take the mound professionally this summer. Johnson became the first-ever mid-major player to earn a “Golden Ticket” from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, which confirms their selections in the AUSL draft. She was taken third overall by the Oklahoma City Spark. The AUSL season begins on June 9.
Swimming, caving, skating, baseball and other ways to spend your summer
