2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

2010

The 100th anniversary of historic Rickwood Field was the centerpiece of the seventh annual Southern Association Baseball Conference, held Saturday, March 6th at the ballpark. Presentations were made by Clarence Watkins, John Simpson, Derby Gisclair, David Brewer, and Chuck Stewart. A.H. "Rick" Woodward III, grandson of Rickwood builder and Barons owner, shared memories and photos of his grandfather and of growing up at Rickwood Field. The luncheon speaker was former Southern Association and major league veteran Alex Grammas.

The conference closed with a series of book signings and tours of Rickwood Field.

Individual Presentations
Baseball Before Rickwood – Clarence Watkins
In Search of the Greatest Game Ever Played in Dixie – John Simpson
Joe Jackson in Birmingham – Derby Gisclair
Rickwood Field: Its Construction and Evolution – David Brewer
Angels at Rickwood – Chuck Stewart

2009

The topic of the sixth annual Southern Association Baseball Conference was focused on all-star games which were amply covered by the presenters. A wonderful series of displays and memorabilia provided by Skip Nipper, Lamar Smith, Dan Creed, and Clarence Watkins was, once again a hit of the conference. We also had John Harrell of Montgomery, Alabama (former Chickasaw Buddy) displaying his 19th century homemade bat collection.

Lunch was accompanied by special guest Paul Seitz as speaker, a former player with the 1961 Shreveport team.

Individual Presentations
The First Southern Association All-Star Game – Clarence Watkins
Southern Association All-Star Games 1938 – 1961 – Derby Gisclair, Gary Higginbotham & Mark Stang
Baseball in Atlanta – Paul Crater
1954 Southern Association All-Star Game – Ken Fenster
1913 Empire League of South Georgia – Bill Ross

2008

The fifth annual Southern Association Baseball Conference was held in Nashville and hosted by Skip Nipper. The Davidson County Regional Library was the venue and all attendees were treated to an impressive variety of exhibits of Nashville baseball memorabilia and history provided by Skip Nipper as well as from the library's extensive archives.

2007

The Southern Association Baseball Conference returned to historic Rickwood Field for its fourth annual event.

2006

Chattanooga’s Historic Engel Stadium was the site of the third annual Southern Association Baseball Conference on April 8, 2006. Highlights of the weekend included an overview by David Brewer on the efforts to save Rickwood Field, a review of Stephen Martini new book entitled “The Chattanooga Lookouts & 100 Seasons of Scenic City Baseball,” a player Q & A session with three former Lookout players, an overview by Derby Gisclair of the early history of the Southern Association told through his collection of early tobacco baseball cards, a review of David Jenkins new book, “Baseball in Chattanooga,” and an informal tour of the old ballpark

Weekend Recap
Weekend Program

Individual Presentations
The Early Southern Association - Derby Gisclair
The Teams, The Players, The Fans - Derby Gisclair
A Tribute to Arturn Schott - Derby Gisclair

2005
September 16-17 in Birmingham

Weekend Program
Press Release

2004

FRONT ROW (l to r): Lenny Yochim, Mel Brookey, Clarence Watkins, Barton Leaf BACK ROW (l to r): Mark Stang, Darrell O'Mary, Skip Nipper, Joe Deleonard, Lamar Smith, and David Brewer

The first annual Southern Association Baseball Conference was dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Southern Association of Baseball 1901-1961, with scheduled events including an opening banquet on October 8th, followed by a league symposium on October 9th featuring individual authors and historians discussing their research and publications on Southern Association teams.

Weekend Recap
Weekend Program
Press Release

Individual Presentations
The New Orleans Pelicans - Derby Gisclair