The Mid South has had an MSBL affiliated league since 1996. The initial league played in Memphis and was for 30 and over players. Most of the founding teams played in the Memphis NABA league which was in existance from 1994 through 1995. After a rocky road with the local NABA leadership the teams decided to go off on their own and became affiliated with the MSBL.
The Memphis MSBL was open only to players 30 and over until 2005 when the league changed to two age groups, 28 and over and 18 and over. The 18 and over age group only lasted that one season while the 28 and over remained until 2007. In 2007 the age limit was lowered to 25 and over where it remains to this day.
2009 introduced the addition of the Mid South Adult Baseball League (MSABL) which is a 40 and over wood bat league for the Mid South area.
The majority of the Mid South MSBL players that go to regional and national MSBL tournaments fall into the older age groups. While the older players enjoyed playing in tournaments against other players in their own age group, the local MSBL league's age limit kept dropping lower and lower. For most 40 and over guys it was difficult to remain competative in a league populated by guys 20 years younger than them.
The league tried to get a 35 and over division. To do this would require the restructuring of teams in order to get enough older players to form a 35 and over division. The managers at the time were reluctant to do that. In the Fall of 2008 the league decided to schedule some games after the MSBL season ended that was open only to players 45 and over. After a few games the league lowered the age down to 40 and over in order to get more participation. Several players at the time had played wood bat in tournaments so that was added to the mix and we played a grand total of five wood bat games that Fall.
From there the idea to pursue the creation of a local 40+ wood bat league was born. Most of the initial group of guys had at one time played in one of the three local adult leagues (MSBL 25+, HDL 30+ or GABL 18+). There were 3 teams for the 2009 season which consisted of a 5 game spring schedule and a 7 game fall season. The 2010 season also had 3 teams that played a 12 game summer schedule. In 2011 the league grew to 4 teams and once again played a 12 game summer schedule. 2012 saw the league expand once again to 5 teams playing a 16 game summer schedule. 2013 saw the addition of a 6th team and a 15 game schedule. The 2014 season will have 7 teams and play an 18 game schedule.
The Mid South region has been well represented in regional and national tournaments in recent years. Several national champions have come from this area including the Memphis Blues winning the 28+ Central Division at the 2003 Fall Classic in Florida. At the same tournament the Mid South Warriors won the 47+ Division championship. In 2005 the Mid South Warriors won the 48+ Rookie Division of the NABA World Series in Phoenix while the Bluff City White Sox won the 38+ Rookie Division at the same tournament. In 2006 the Warriors defended their championship at the NABA World Series by winning the 48+ A Division championship. In 2012 the Warriors were winners of the 52+ division at the MSBL Fall Classic. Several individual players have played for teams from other cities over the years with some of them playing on championship teams.
Local teams have also competed in several regional tournaments including Huntsville, Birmingham and Atlanta with several of them winning championships.
