The Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team has played in Nashville, Tennessee, for 46 years since being established in 1978. As of the completion of the 2023 season, the club has played 6,422 regular-season games and compiled a win–loss record of 3,320–3,100–2 (.517). They have appeared in the postseason on 16 occasions in which they have a record of 49–44 (.527) in 93 games. Combining all 6,515 regular-season and postseason games, Nashville has an all-time record of 3,369–3,144–2 (.517).

Created as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League (SL) in 1978, the Sounds played in this league through 1984. At the Double-A classification, Nashville was affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds (1978–1979) and New York Yankees (1980–1984). The Sounds moved up to Triple-A in 1985 as members of the American Association (AA) before joining the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 1998. They were placed in the Triple-A East (AAAE) in 2021, but this became the International League (IL) in 2022. At this level, they have been affiliates of the Detroit Tigers (1985–1986), Cincinnati Reds (1987–1992), Chicago White Sox (1993–1997), Pittsburgh Pirates (1998–2004), Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2014), Oakland Athletics (2015–2018), and Texas Rangers (2019–2020). The Sounds reaffiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021.

Nashville reached the postseason in six of their seven years in the Southern League, all by means of winning the Second-Half Western Division title. They went on to win three Western Division titles and two Southern League championships during this period. Their first championship came in 1979 as the Double-A affiliate of the Reds and their second in 1982 as the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees. The Sounds' 13 years in the American Association were less successful. Though Nashville posted eight winning seasons and qualified for the playoffs three times, including twice by virtue of clinching the Eastern Division title, they failed to win an American Association championship. Over 23 years as members of the Pacific Coast League, the Sounds won five division titles, two conference titles, and one Pacific Coast League championship. Their lone PCL title came in 2005 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Brewers. Nashville has made one appearance in the International League playoffs by clinching the Western Division title but has not won an IL championship.

The team's best season record occurred in 1980 when they finished 97–46 (.678) as the Double-A Yankees. Their lowest season record was 57–87 (.396) in 2013 as the Triple-A Brewers. Of the eight Major League Baseball teams with which Nashville has been affiliated, the Sounds experienced their best record as the Double-A farm club of the Yankees from 1980 to 1984. They had a composite season record of 417–306 (.577) and reached the postseason in all five years, winning two Western Division titles and one Southern League championship. Including a postseason mark of 14–14 (.500), their overall record was 431–320 (.574). Conversely, the team's lowest record was as the Rangers' Triple-A club from 2019 to 2020. The Sounds incurred a 66–72 (.478) record and did not reach the postseason during the affiliation.

History

Southern League (1978–1984)

The Nashville Sounds were created as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League (SL) in 1978. The league used a split-season schedule wherein the division winners from each half qualified for the postseason championship playoffs. As the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the Sounds had a losing record and did not qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural 1978 season. This was the only time in which the team finished under .500 and missed the playoffs during their seven years as members of the league. Nashville won six consecutive Second-Half Western Division titles from 1979 to 1984. The 1979 club defeated the Memphis Chicks to win the Western Division title before winning their first Southern League championship against the Columbus Astros. Through two seasons with Cincinnati, the Sounds had a 147–138 (.516) regular-season win–loss record, while they went 5–2 (.714) in the postseason, for a composite record of 152–140 (.521).

Nashville became the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees in 1980 and began the partnership by setting their all-time best season record of 97–46 (.678). Despite finishing atop the league standings, they were defeated in the division series by Memphis. In 1981, the team again posted a league-best 81–62 (.566) record and swept Memphis in the division series but lost the SL title to the Orlando Twins. The 1982 Sounds won the division title over the Knoxville Blue Jays and defeated the Jacksonville Suns to capture their second SL championship. Each of the next two seasons ended with their elimination in the division series—by the Birmingham Barons in 1983 and Knoxville in 1984. Of all the Major League Baseball teams with which Nashville has been affiliated, the Sounds experienced their best record with New York from 1980 to 1984. They were 417–306 (.577) in the regular-season and 14–14 (.500) in postseason play, giving them a composite record of 431–320 (.574).

American Association (1985–1997)

The Sounds moved to the Triple-A American Association (AA) in 1985 as an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Nashville finished one game over .500 in 1985 and incurred a losing record in 1986, their first since 1978. Over two years with Detroit, they had a 139–144–2 (.491) record and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Nashville reaffiliated with the Cincinnati Reds at Triple-A in 1987. They qualified for the American Association playoffs for the first time in 1990 by winning the Eastern Division title, but they were defeated by the Omaha Royals in the championship round. Posting an even number of winning and losing seasons over a six-year span with the Reds, the Sounds had a 429–433 (.498) record, went 2–3 (.400) in their only playoff appearance, and had a composite record of 431–436 (.497). Combining their Triple-A affiliation and the previous Double-A partnership with Cincinnati, they had a record of 576–571 (.502), a 7–5 (.583) postseason record, and were 583–576 (.503) overall.

The Sounds became part of the Chicago White Sox organization in 1993. They reached the postseason that first year with a Western Division title win but lost the AA championship to the Iowa Cubs. Having earned a second-place playoff berth in 1994, they advanced past the New Orleans Zephyrs in the semifinals but lost a second consecutive title versus the Indianapolis Indians. During the five-year affiliation with Chicago, which included four winning campaigns, the Sounds had a season record of 383–335 (.533) and went 7–7 (.500) in postseason play, for a composite of 390–342 (.533).

Pacific Coast League (1998–2020)

Nashville moved to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 1998 following the disbandment of the American Association after the 1997 season. As an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Sounds reached the postseason for the first time in eight years when they qualified for the PCL playoffs by winning the American Conference Eastern Division title in 2003. They went on to win the American Conference title over the Albuquerque Isotopes, but they lost in the finals to the Sacramento River Cats. All told, Nashville incurred losing records in four out of seven seasons with Pittsburgh in which they had a 490–504 (.493) record, were 3–4 (.429) in their single postseason appearance, and had a composite record of 493–508 (.493).

The Sounds became an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005. That season, the team clinched the American Conference Northern Division title, won the conference title over the Oklahoma RedHawks, and swept the Tacoma Rainiers to win their only Pacific Coast League championship. They made a bid to repeat as PCL champions in 2006 with another division title, but they lost to the Round Rock Express in the conference series. The 2007 Sounds posted a league-leading 89–55 (.618) record, winning the division, but they were eliminated by New Orleans in the first round. The team experienced only four losing seasons in 10 years with the Brewers, including its all-time low of 57–87 (.396) in 2013. At the end of the affiliation with Milwaukee, the longest in team history, they had accumulated a 723–713 (.503) record, a 9–8 (.529) mark in postseason competition, and were 732–721 (.504) overall.

Nashville joined the Oakland Athletics organization in 2015. The 2016 Sounds ended an eight-year playoff drought by clinching the American Conference Southern Division title with a league-best 83–59 (.585) record, but the postseason run ended with a loss to the Oklahoma City Dodgers in the conference series. Over four years with Oakland, Nashville's season record was 289–276 (.512), while they went 2–3 (.400) in their only playoff appearance, for a composite record of 291–279 (.511).

The Sounds affiliated with the Texas Rangers in 2019. With the 2020 season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before it began and Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball after the season, this became their only campaign as a Rangers affiliate. With Texas, Nashville had a 66–72 (.478) record, their lowest among all affiliations, and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Triple-A East / International League (2021–present)

In conjunction with the 2021 restructuring of the minor leagues, the Sounds reaffiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers and were placed in the new Triple-A East (AAAE). Instead of holding traditional playoffs to determine a league champion, the team with the best record was declared the winner, but 10 games were added onto the schedule as a postseason tournament, called the Triple-A Final Stretch, in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage. Nashville finished the tournament tied for fourth place with a 7–2 (.778) record. In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League (IL). The Sounds won the 2022 Western Division title with a league-best 91–58 (.611) record, but they lost a single playoff game to determine the IL championship against the Durham Bulls. The 2023 season was played with a split-season format in which the teams with the best league-wide records at the end of each half qualified for the playoffs. Nashville did not win either half, though they did have the best second-half record in their division. Over three seasons as a Brewers affiliate, Nashville holds a 237–179 (.570) record, a 7–3 (.700) postseason record, and a 244–182 (.573) composite record. Combining both the current and former affiliations with Milwaukee, they are 960–827 (.518) in the regular-season and 16–11 (.593) in the postseason, giving them an overall record of 967–906 (.496).

Season-by-season records

Key

League	The team's final position in the league standings
Division	The team's final position in the divisional standings
GB	Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season
Apps.	Postseason appearances: number of seasons the team qualified for the postseason
†	League champions (1978–present)
§	Conference champions (1998–2020)
*	Division champions (1978–2022)
^	Postseason berth (1978–present)

Season-by-season records

Season	League	Regular-season					Postseason			MLB affiliate	Ref.
		Record	Win %	League	Division	GB	Record	Win %	Result
1978	SL	64–77	.454	9th	4th	22+1⁄2	—	—		—	Cincinnati Reds
1979 ^ * †	SL	83–61	.576	2nd	1st	—	5–2	.714	Won Second-Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Memphis Chicks, 2–1 Won SL championship vs. Columbus Astros, 3–1	Cincinnati Reds
1980 ^	SL	97–46	.678	1st	1st	—	1–3	.250	Won Second-Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Memphis Chicks, 3–1	New York Yankees
1981 ^ *	SL	81–62	.566	1st	1st	—	4–3	.571	Won Second-Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Memphis Chicks, 3–0 Lost SL championship vs. Orlando Twins, 3–1	New York Yankees
1982 ^ * †	SL	77–67	.535	2nd	1st	—	6–2	.750	Won Second-Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1 Won SL championship vs. Jacksonville Suns, 3–1	New York Yankees
1983 ^	SL	88–58	.603	2nd	2nd	3+1⁄2	2–3	.400	Won Second-Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–2	New York Yankees
1984 ^	SL	74–73	.503	5th	1st	—	1–3	.250	Won Second-Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1	New York Yankees
1985	AA	71–70–1	.504	5th	2nd	2+1⁄2	—	—	—	Detroit Tigers
1986	AA	68–74–1	.479	6th	3rd	12	—	—	—	Detroit Tigers
1987	AA	64–76	.457	7th (tie)	—	15	—	—	—	Cincinnati Reds
1988	AA	73–69	.514	4th	2nd	16	—	—	—	Cincinnati Reds
1989	AA	74–72	.507	3rd (tie)	3rd	13	—	—	—	Cincinnati Reds
1990 *	AA	86–61	.585	2nd	1st	—	2–3	.400	Won Eastern Division title Lost AA championship vs. Omaha Royals, 3–2	Cincinnati Reds
1991	AA	65–78	.455	6th	3rd	16	—	—	—	Cincinnati Reds
1992	AA	67–77	.465	6th (tie)	4th	20	—	—	—	Cincinnati Reds
1993 *	AA	81–62	.566	2nd	1st	—	3–4	.429	Won Eastern Division title Lost AA championship vs. Iowa Cubs, 4–3	Chicago White Sox
1994 ^	AA	83–61	.576	2nd	—	3+1⁄2	4–3	.571	Won semifinals vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, 3–0 Lost AA championship vs. Indianapolis Indians, 3–1	Chicago White Sox
1995	AA	68–76	.472	6th	—	20	—	—	—	Chicago White Sox
1996	AA	77–67	.535	4th	3rd	7	—	—	—	Chicago White Sox
1997	AA	74–69	.517	3rd (tie)	3rd	12+1⁄2	—	—	—	Chicago White Sox
1998	PCL	67–76	.469	12th	4th	9+1⁄2	—	—	—	Pittsburgh Pirates
1999	PCL	80–60	.571	4th	2nd	2	—	—	—	Pittsburgh Pirates
2000	PCL	63–79	.444	13th	4th	19	—	—	—	Pittsburgh Pirates
2001	PCL	64–77	.454	13th	3rd	19	—	—	—	Pittsburgh Pirates
2002	PCL	72–71	.503	8th (tie)	3rd	2+1⁄2	—	—	—	Pittsburgh Pirates
2003 * §	PCL	81–62	.566	2nd	1st	—	3–4	.429	Won American Conference Eastern Division title Won American Conference title vs. Albuquerque Isotopes, 3–1 Lost PCL championship vs. Sacramento River Cats, 3–0	Pittsburgh Pirates
2004	PCL	63–79	.444	14th	4th	17	—	—	—	Pittsburgh Pirates
2005 * § †	PCL	75–69	.521	6th	1st	—	6–2	.750	Won American Conference Northern Division title Won American Conference title vs. Oklahoma RedHawks, 3–2 Won PCL championship vs. Tacoma Rainiers, 3–0	Milwaukee Brewers
2006 *	PCL	76–68	.528	5th (tie)	1st (tie)	—	2–3	.400	Won American Conference Northern Division title Lost American Conference title vs. Round Rock Express, 3–2	Milwaukee Brewers
2007 *	PCL	89–55	.618	1st	1st	—	1–3	.250	Won American Conference Northern Division title Lost American Conference title vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, 3–1	Milwaukee Brewers
2008	PCL	59–81	.421	16th	4th	23	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2009	PCL	75–69	.521	5th	2nd	2	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2010	PCL	77–67	.535	5th	4th	5	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2011	PCL	71–73	.493	6th (tie)	3rd	9	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2012	PCL	67–77	.465	12th	2nd	16	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2013	PCL	57–87	.396	16th	4th	13	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2014	PCL	77–67	.535	5th	2nd	2+1⁄2	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
2015	PCL	66–78	.458	12th	3rd	12	—	—	—	Oakland Athletics
2016 *	PCL	83–59	.585	1st	1st	—	2–3	.400	Won American Conference Southern Division title Lost American Conference title vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers, 3–2	Oakland Athletics
2017	PCL	68–71	.489	8th (tie)	2nd	22	—	—	—	Oakland Athletics
2018	PCL	72–68	.514	6th (tie)	2nd	11	—	—	—	Oakland Athletics
2019	PCL	66–72	.478	9th	3rd	8	—	—	—	Texas Rangers
2020	PCL	Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)								Texas Rangers
2021	AAAE	63–56	.529	9th	4th	13+1⁄2	7–2	.778	Won series vs. Columbus Clippers, 5–0 Tied series vs. Indianapolis Indians, 2–2 Placed 4th (tie) in the Triple-A Final Stretch	Milwaukee Brewers
2022 *	IL	91–58	.611	1st	1st	—	0–1	.000	Won Western Division title Lost IL championship vs. Durham Bulls, 1–0	Milwaukee Brewers
2023	IL	83–65	.561	4th	2nd	1	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
Totals	—	3,320–3,100	.517	—	—	—	49–44	.527	—	—	—

Split-season records

The Southern League, in which the Sounds competed from 1978 to 1984, used a split-season schedule wherein the division winners from each half qualified for the postseason championship playoffs. The International League used a similar format in 2023 in which the teams with the best league-wide records at the end of each half qualified for the playoffs.

Split-season records

Season	League	Half	Regular-season					Postseason			MLB affiliate	Ref.
			Record	Win %	League	Division	GB	Record	Win %	Result
1978	SL	1st	28–36	.438	8th	4th	18	—	—		—	Cincinnati Reds
		2nd	36–41	.468	9th	4th	4+1⁄2
1979 ^ * †	SL	1st	35–34	.507	5th	3rd	1⁄2	5–2	.714	Won Second-Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Memphis Chicks, 2–1 Won SL championship vs. Columbus Astros, 3–1	Cincinnati Reds
		2nd	48–27	.640	1st	1st	—
1980 ^	SL	1st	46–25	.648	2nd	2nd	1+1⁄2	1–3	.250	Won Second-Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Memphis Chicks, 3–1	New York Yankees
		2nd	51–21	.708	1st	1st	—
1981 ^ *	SL	1st	38–32	.543	3rd	2nd	3+1⁄2	4–3	.571	Won Second-Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Memphis Chicks, 3–0 Lost SL championship vs. Orlando Twins, 3–1	New York Yankees
		2nd	43–30	.589	1st	1st	—
1982 ^ * †	SL	1st	32–38	.457	8th	4th	5+1⁄2	6–2	.750	Won Second-Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1 Won SL championship vs. Jacksonville Suns, 3–1	New York Yankees
		2nd	45–29	.608	1st	1st	—
1983 ^	SL	1st	40–32	.556	3rd	2nd	4+1⁄2	2–3	.400	Won Second-Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–2	New York Yankees
		2nd	48–26	.649	1st	1st	—
1984 ^	SL	1st	38–33	.535	2nd (tie)	2nd	3	1–3	.250	Won Second-Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1	New York Yankees
		2nd	36–40	.474	6th	1st	—
2023	IL	1st	40–34	.541	5th	4th	8	—	—	—	Milwaukee Brewers
		2nd	43–31	.581	3rd	1st	4+1⁄2
Totals	—	—	647–509	.560	—	—	—	19–16	.543	—	—	—

Franchise totals

By classification

Franchise totals by classification

Classification	Regular-season		Postseason			Composite
	Record	Win %	Apps.	Record	Win %	Record	Win %
Double-A (1978–1984)	564–444	.560	6	19–16	.543	583–460	.559
Triple-A (1985–2023)	2,756–2,656–2	.509	10	30–28	.517	2,786–2,684–2	.509
All-time	3,320–3,100–2	.517	16	49–44	.527	3,369–3,144–2	.517

By league

Franchise totals by league

League	Regular-season		Postseason			Composite
	Record	Win %	Apps.	Record	Win %	Record	Win %
Southern League (1978–1984)	564–444	.560	6	19–16	.543	583–460	.559
American Association (1985–1997)	951–912–2	.510	3	9–10	.474	960–922–2	.510
Pacific Coast League (1998–2020)	1,568–1,565	.500	5	14–15	.483	1,582–1,580	.500
Triple-A East / International League (2021–2023)	237–179	.570	2	7–3	.700	244–182	.573
All-time	3,320–3,100–2	.517	16	49–44	.527	3,369–3,144–2	.517

By affiliation

Franchise totals by affiliation

Affiliation	Regular-season		Postseason			Composite
	Record	Win %	Apps.	Record	Win %	Record	Win %
Cincinnati Reds (1978–1979)	147–138	.516	1	5–2	.714	152–140	.521
New York Yankees (1980–1984)	417–306	.577	5	14–14	.500	431–320	.574
Detroit Tigers (1985–1986)	139–144–2	.491	0	—	—	139–144–2	.491
Cincinnati Reds (1987–1992)	429–433	.498	1	2–3	.400	431–436	.497
Chicago White Sox (1993–1997)	383–335	.533	2	7–7	.500	390–342	.533
Pittsburgh Pirates (1998–2004)	490–504	.493	1	3–4	.429	493–508	.493
Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2014)	723–713	.503	3	9–8	.529	732–721	.504
Oakland Athletics (2015–2018)	289–276	.512	1	2–3	.400	291–279	.511
Texas Rangers (2019–2020)	66–72	.478	0	—	—	66–72	.478
Milwaukee Brewers (2021–2023)	237–179	.570	2	7–3	.700	244–182	.573
All-time	3,320–3,100–2	.517	16	49–44	.527	3,369–3,144–2	.517