:Nashville Xpress

In conjunction with the 1993 Major League Baseball expansion, George Shinn, owner of the Double-A Southern League's Charlotte Knights baseball team, was granted an expansion franchise in the Triple-A International League, which would begin playing in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1993.{{cite news |last=Wiseman|first=Steve|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45346385/knights_and_visitors_will_step_up_a/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Knights — and Visitors — Will Step Up a Class|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=April 22, 1992|page=1A}} Shinn, who had applied for Charlotte to receive one of two available Triple-A expansion teams, was recommended by the expansion committee after their visit to evaluate the city.{{cite news |last=Olson|first=Stan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49594822/charlotte-awaits-official-nod/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Charlotte Awaits 'Official' Nod|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=December 12, 1991|page=2B}}{{cite news |last=Posnanski|first=Joe|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49593061/charlotte-shows-class-to-panel/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Charlotte Shows Class to Panel|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=June 21, 1991|page=6C}} Of the nine applicant cities, Charlotte had the newest stadium, the only major league sports franchise (the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets), and the largest metro area population. Gaining a Triple-A team meant Shinn would need to relocate, or sell, his existing Southern League team as the higher classification team held the rights to the territory.{{cite news |last=Olson|first=Stan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45349338/aaa_vote_still_isnt_a_sure_thing/|via=Newspapers.com|title=AAA Vote Still Isn't a Sure Thing|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=December 5, 1991|page=8B}}{{cite news |last=Taft|first=Larry|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45220911/before_team_can_come_owner_must_be/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Before Team Can Come, Owner Must Be Decided|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=January 23, 1993|page=3-C}} He solicited offers to purchase the club to help defray a US$5 million International League enfranchisement cost.{{cite news |last=Chandler|first=Charles|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45350084/class_aaa_cost_may_push_shinn_to_sell_2/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Class AAA Cost May Push Shinn to Sell 2 Teams|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=January 14, 1992|page=1B}} The interested parties included the Southern League, which hoped to place the team in an attractive market within its Southeastern territory,{{cite news |last=Clarke|first=Liz|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45351453/league_in_running_for_knights/|via=Newspapers.com|title=League in Running for Knights|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=July 21, 1992|page=5B}} and the city of Jackson, Tennessee, which had been rejected from receiving a 1993 Double-A expansion franchise.{{cite news |last=Morris|first=Dan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45242069/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Jackson up at Bat Again|work=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|date=July 2, 1994|access-date=February 19, 2020|page=1A}}

File:GreerStadium1stBaseLine.jpg.]]

In October 1992, Shinn chose to sell to Tom Benson, owner of the National Football League's New Orleans Saints, who sought to relocate the club to New Orleans.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45354803/baseball_shinnbenson_sale/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Baseball|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=October 9, 1992|page=6B}} According to The Charlotte Observer, the asking price was $3.6 million,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49268857/charlotte-franchise-sold-to-saints/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Charlotte Franchise Sold to Saints' Owner|work=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson|date=October 9, 1992|page=1C}} though the actual selling price was undisclosed.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49268621/benson-trying-to-buy-aa-team/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Benson Trying to Buy AA Team|work=The Town Talk|location=Alexandria|date=September 18, 1992|page=B-3}} The move was blocked, however, when Minor League Baseball granted territorial rights to the higher-classification Triple-A Denver Zephyrs, who wanted to move to New Orleans after being uprooted by the Colorado Rockies National League expansion team. Following unsuccessful litigation and appeals, Benson opted out of the purchase and the franchise was still in need of a ballpark for the coming season. In late January 1993, less than three months away from Opening Day, Southern League owners met to explore all options and find a solution.

Southern League president Jim Bragan had approached Larry Schmittou, president and owner of several minor league teams, about placing the club at Ernie Shore Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, home of Schmittou's Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem Spirits.{{cite book |last=Woody |first=Larry |date=1996 |title=Schmittou: A Grand Slam in Baseball, Business, and Life |location=Nashville |publisher=Eggmann Publishing Company |isbn=1-886371-33-4 |page=104}} The ballpark's age and low seating capacity did not meet the requirements for a Double-A facility, so Schmittou offered Herschel Greer Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, as a temporary ballpark for the displaced team until Shinn could find a permanent location.{{cite news |last=Taft|first=Larry|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45221479/one_ballpark_two_teams_xpress_rolls/|via=Newspapers.com|title=One Ballpark, Two Teams: Xpress Rolls Into Town|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=January 29, 1993|page=1-C}} In the end, the owners decided to accept the offer and place the team in Nashville for one season. Schmittou and Shinn entered into a management agreement wherein Schmittou and the Sounds' staff would operate the club and Shinn would retain ownership.

With the league's approval, the franchise relocated to Nashville.{{cite news |last=Taft |first=Larry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31815086/questions_and_answers_about_nashvilles/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Questions and Answers About Nashville's Double Play |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=January 29, 1993 |page=3-C}} The Triple-A Charlotte Knights carried on the history and identity of the Double-A team that preceded it, and the Nashville Xpress were established as an entirely new team. Nashville's nickname was in dual reference to the freight trains which ran along tracks beyond Greer Stadium's outfield wall and the team's sudden arrival and expected departure after the season. Their logo depicted a steaming locomotive barreling across a baseball with "Nashville" written above in red and "Xpress" below in navy blue. To accommodate two teams at Greer, the Xpress' 71 home games, consisting of 68 dates with three doubleheaders,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45531709/sounds_xpress_schedules/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Sounds, Xpress Schedules |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=February 11, 1993 |page=5-C}} were scheduled for during the Sounds' road trips, and the team went on the road when the Sounds played at home. The arrangement meant that Greer would host baseball games for all but 11 days between the Sounds' April 8 opener and the Xpress' September 5 finale.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45532098/few_offdays_for_greer_stadium/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Few Off-Days for Greer Stadium |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=February 11, 1993 |page=1-C}}

The Xpress became the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins after prospective owner Tom Benson signed a player development contract—a working agreement between major and minor league clubs—when still planning to buy and relocate the franchise. Nashville was managed by former major leaguer Phil Roof.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=61551c8f|title=1993 Nashville Xpress Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 21, 2020}} The coaching staff was rounded out by pitching coach Rick Anderson and hitting coach Mark Funderburk, both of whom also had major league playing experience,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45367256/baseball_xpress_coaches/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Baseball |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=November 13, 1993 |page=1-C}} and athletic trainer Rick McWane.{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/5/7/4/42232574/2012_Minnesota_Twins_Season_Summary_p1lgtyhl.pdf |title=Twins Staff |work=2012 Minnesota Twins Media Guide |date=2012 |access-date=April 22, 2020 |page=18}}

File:AAAA7749 Eddie Guardado.jpg, was the starting pitcher in Nashville's first win on April 9, 1993.]]

The Xpress played their first game on April 8, 1993, against the Orlando Cubs at Tinker Field in Orlando, Florida. Nashville's Rich Becker started the game by reaching base on an error and then scoring a run on Scott Stahoviak's RBI ground out in the top of the first inning. The 1–0 lead was short lived as Orlando hit two two-run home runs off of Bill Wissler in the bottom of the first. Both teams scored again, but the Cubs' four first-inning runs were enough to defeat the Xpress, 5–3.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45390968/firstinning_hrs_doom_xpress_53/|title=First-Inning HRs Doom Xpress 5–3 |via=Newspapers.com |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=April 9, 1993 |page=1-C}} Nashville got its first win the next night as they defeated the Cubs 5–3 with help from starting pitcher Eddie Guardado, who pitched six shutout innings, and Steve Dunn, who scored the winning run on an eighth-inning three-run homer.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45391630/dunns_homer_gives_xpress_first_win_53/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Dunn's Homer Gives Xpress First Win, 5–3 |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=April 10, 1993 |page=2-C}} Their home opener at Greer was played on April 16 against Orlando. Pitchers Todd Ritchie, Mike Misuraca, and Jason Klonoski limited Cubs batters to five hits and no runs in the 4–0 shutout. Nashville scored the winning run in the second inning when Brian Raabe doubled bringing home David Rivera and Rich Becker. The game was attended by 1,715 people on a cold night.{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Anthony |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31339873/shutout_warms_chilly_crowd/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Shutout Warms Chilly Crowd |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=April 17, 1993 |page=1-C}}

The Southern League's 142-game season was split into two halves wherein the division winners from each half qualified for the postseason championship playoffs.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45326487/xpress_plans_to_add_secondhalf_west/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Xpress Plans to Add Second-Half West Title |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=June 22, 1993 |page=2-C}} Nashville managed to hold off the other four teams in the Western Division to win the first half title with a league-best 40–31 record. In recognition of their first-half performances, pitcher Oscar Múñoz and outfielder Rich Becker were selected for the 1993 Double-A All-Star Game.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45640496/two-xpress-players-make-aa-all-star-team/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Two Xpress Players Make AA All-Star Team|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=July 13, 1993|page=2C}} Múñoz, who did not play in the game after having pitched six innings the night before, led the Southern League with 11 wins and 118 strikeouts, while Becker possessed a .280 batting average with 10 home runs and 42 runs batted in (RBI); he struck out in his only at bat off the bench.

The Xpress lost three members of their starting rotation when Eddie Guardado was called up to make his major league debut with the Twins in late June,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=guarda001edw|title=Eddie Guardado Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 19, 2020}} all-star pitcher Oscar Múñoz was moved up to the Twins' Triple-A Portland Beavers in August,{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45395095/xpress_engines_tuned_as_playoffs_open/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Engines Tuned as Playoffs Open Tonight|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=September 6, 1993|page=2-C}} and Todd Ritchie was unable to play for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. Despite winning the first-half, the Xpress struggled after the all-star break. They finished in fourth place with a 32–39 record, 11 games out of first.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45326832/southern_league/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Southern League |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=September 6, 1993 |page=7-C}}

Nashville faced the Birmingham Barons, winners of the Western Division's second half, in the best-of-five division championship series. In game one, held at Greer Stadium, the teams entered the fifth inning tied with two runs apiece, but Mike Robertson's grand slam put the Barons up 6–2. The Xpress answered with three runs in the sixth but left runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings on the way to a 7–5 loss.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45396839/barons_derail_xpress_75/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Barons Derail Xpress, 7–5|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=September 7, 1993|page=1-C}} In the second game, the Xpress bullpen gave up nine runs in the eighth, blowing a 6–4 lead and resulting in a 13–6 loss.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45397906/xpress_digs_02_hole_with_loss/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Digs 0–2 Hole with Loss|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=September 8, 1993|page=5-C}} Game three of the series shifted to Birmingham, Alabama, where Nashville allowed nine runs in the sixth inning as the Barons erased what was a 3–1 Xpress lead. Birmingham won the game 10–3 and eliminated Nashville from the playoffs, ending their only postseason appearance in franchise history.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45327151/birmingham_sweeps_xpress_out_of_playoffs/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Birmingham Sweeps Xpress Out of Playoffs |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=September 10, 1993 |page=2C}}

Combining both halves, the Xpress' composite record stood at 72–70 for the 1993 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=2ddd0da2|title=1993 Southern League|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 21, 2020}} Oscar Múñoz was chosen to receive the Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award after compiling an 11–4 record with a 3.08 earned run average (ERA) and 139 strikeouts in {{frac|131|2|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41270986|title=Most Outstanding Pitchers|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 2, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=munoz-002jua|title=Oscar Múñoz Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 19, 2020}} Rich Becker, who co-led the league in runs scored (93),{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=2ddd0da2|title=1993 Southern League Batting Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=March 13, 2019}} was named to the Southern League's postseason all-star team and was called up to Minnesota to make his major league debut after the playoffs ended.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41270976|title=Postseason All-Star Teams|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 20, 2020}} Marty Cordova tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (54), and pitcher Jeff Mansur tied for the most complete games (4).{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/documents/4/2/6/116711426/2015guide_part_8_6pc1mhlu.pdf |date=2015 |title=Nashville Xpress Team History (1993–1994) |work=2015 Nashville Sounds Media Guide |publisher=Nashville Sounds |pages=196–198 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407212114/http://www.milb.com/documents/4/2/6/116711426/2015guide_part_8_6pc1mhlu.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2015}} The team led the Southern League in stolen bases (164), walks (584), on-base percentage (.344), fewest walks issued (396), and fewest passed balls (9).

File:1984 Nashville Larry Schmittou.jpg ran the Nashville Express simultaneous to the Nashville Sounds for two years.|alt=A black and white portrait of a smiling man]]

George Shinn continued to look for a buyer for his Southern League franchise while Larry Schmittou continued to operate the team in Nashville.{{cite news |last=Buckstaff|first=Kathy O|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45244517/doublea_pt2/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Covering All the Bases Himself|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=February 5, 1995|page=6A}} Dennis Bastien, owner and general manager of the Charleston Wheelers South Atlantic League team, offered to exchange his Class A Charleston franchise, all of its assets, and over $1 million for the Xpress. Becoming a three-party transaction, a group of Charleston-area investors agreed to then buy the Wheelers from Shinn so the city could keep its team. The arrangement was announced in October 1993,{{cite news |last=Coons|first=Ron|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45223372/xpress_sale_shinn_to_bastien/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Baseball|work=The Courier-Journal|location=Louisville|date=October 23, 1993|page=D6}} and Bastien closed on the acquisition of the Xpress in May 1994. The team had a new owner, but still lacked a city and stadium of its own. With the 1994 season soon to begin, Schmittou agreed to allow Bastien's franchise to remain at Greer for another year.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45242399/xpress_proposes_a_oneofakind_move/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Proposes a One-Of-A-Kind Move|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=August 6, 1994|page=2C}}

File:Rick Anderson 2008.jpg coached the Xpress' pitchers to a league-leading 3.40 ERA and 917 strikeouts in 1994.]]

Phil Roof and the rest of the 1993 coaching staff returned to lead the team on the diamond in 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=c255c8a0|title=1994 Nashville Xpress Statistics|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 22, 2020}} The Xpress began the season with an 11–3 loss to the Carolina Mudcats at Greer Stadium on April 7.{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Anthony |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45422250/xpress_left_out_in_the_cold_in_opener/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Xpress Left Out in the Cold in Opener |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=April 8, 1994 |page=1C}} They stayed in the running for the first-half title until the last three days of the half.{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Anthony |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45441158/nashville_eliminated_despite_31_victory/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Nashville Eliminated Despite 3–1 Victory |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=April 8, 1994 |page=7C}} Despite winning 27 of 40 games before being eliminated, Nashville fell four-and-a-half games short of first place with a 39–31 record, third best in the Western Division.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45327459/southern_league/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Southern League |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=June 19, 1994 |page=13-C}} Starting pitchers LaTroy Hawkins and Marc Barcelo were selected to participate in the Double-A All-Star Game.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45261713/doublea_allstar_rosters/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Double-A All-Star Rosters|work=Press and Sun-Bulletin|location=Binghamton, New York|date=June 30, 1994|page=4C}} At the time, Hawkins held a 9–2 record with a 2.33 ERA.{{cite news |last=Souhan|first=Jim|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49286838/mccarty-sent-down-guardado-called-up/|via=Newspapers.com|title=McCarty Sent Down, Guardado Called Up|work=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis|date=July 1, 1994|page=8C}} He missed the game after his promotion to Triple-A two weeks prior made him ineligible, as did Barcelo (9–2; 2.43 ERA) after pitching six innings the previous day.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45642347/xpress-pitcher-has-9-2-mark/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Pitcher Has 9–2 Mark|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=July 11, 1994|page=2C}}

Nashville jumped out to an early division lead but, much like the first half, were eliminated from second half title contention three games before the end of the season. In their final home game, played on September 1 against the Huntsville Stars, Nashville held a 1–0 lead going into the eighth inning, but Huntsville scored three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings on the way to a 6–2 defeat of the home team.{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Anthony |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45442739/huntsville_eliminates_xpress_from_title/ |title=Huntsville Eliminates Express from Title Race|via=Newspapers.com|work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=September 2, 1994 |page=5C}} Though the loss prevented them from clinching the division title, the Xpress were still in contention for a wild card playoff spot if they could finish in second place behind the first-half champion Stars with a pair of wins in their last two games. A 5–3 loss to the Chattanooga Lookouts at Engel Stadium on the next-to-last day of the season, however, ended their hopes of returning to the playoffs.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45443079/xpress_falls_53_loses_bid_for_playoffs/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Xpress Falls 5–3, Loses Bid for Playoffs |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=September 3, 1994 |page=3C}} The Xpress closed out their 1994 schedule on the road against Chattanooga on September 3; Nashville's batters were limited to just two hits in a 5–0 loss.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45443230/lookouts_end_xpress_season_with_50_loss/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Lookouts End Xpress Season with 5–0 Loss |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=September 4, 1994 |page=10C}} They ended the second half in fourth-place at an even 35–35, four games out of first.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45327656/southern_league/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Southern League |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville |date=September 4, 1994 |page=17C}}

The Xpress recorded a 74–66 composite record in their final year in Nashville.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=19c1af65|title=1994 Southern League|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 21, 2020}} Right-hander Brad Radke was named to the Southern League's 1994 postseason all-star squad. He and Barcelo were tied with another player for the Southern League lead in games started (28).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=19c1af65|title=1994 Southern League Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 22, 2020}} LaTroy Hawkins tied for the league's best winning percentage (.818, 9–2). Nashville's pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.40) and strikeouts (917) while allowing the fewest stolen bases (105). After playing 282 regular season games and compiling an all-time record of 146–136, the franchise left Nashville.

Dennis Bastien intended to relocate his club to Lexington, Kentucky, in 1995, but those plans fell through when he was unable to broker a financial deal with the city to build a ballpark. In July 1994, the Southern League's board of directors stated that they wanted the team out of Nashville in 1995 and in a permanent location by 1996.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45243133/nashville_xpress_off_to_puerto_rico/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress off to Puerto Rico|work=Florida Today|location=Coco, Florida|date=July 13, 1994|page=2C}} Schmittou was unwilling to have the team back for another season as hosting the team at Greer was too big of a financial risk.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45441820/the_xpress/|via=Newspapers.com|title=The Xpress|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=December 28, 1994|page=1C}}

Rather than choose a city within the league's Southeastern footprint, Bastien proposed a temporary move to Bayamón, Puerto Rico.{{cite news |last=Morris|first=Dan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50276905/xpress-chugs-to-puerto-rico/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Chugs to Puerto Rico|work=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson|date=July 13, 1994|page=1A}} The Xpress would play at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium and be managed by the ownership group of the Memphis Chicks. The plan's chief problems involved the high travel costs to be incurred by flights to and from Puerto Rico and how to schedule the season so as to lessen those costs.{{cite news |last=Puryear|first=Scott|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45420343/baseball_sales_pitch_thrown_a_slight/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Baseball Sales Pitch Thrown a Slight Delay|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=September 20, 1994|page=1C}} Furthermore, the Minnesota Twins began looking for a new Double-A affiliate when they learned of the move,{{cite news |last=Souhan|first=Jim|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49603506/twins-sign-deal-with-new-britain/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Twins Sign Deal with New Britain, Former Class AA Team for Red Sox|work=Star Tribune|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=September 15, 1994|page=6C}} leaving the Xpress in need of a new major league affiliate who would be willing to send their players to Puerto Rico.{{cite news |last=Puryear|first=Scott|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45420587/xpress_searching_for_new_affiliate/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Searching for New Affiliate|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=September 20, 1994|page=4C}} The only major league clubs left without Double-A clubs were the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners. The Tigers elected to partner with the Trenton Thunder,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/affiliate.cgi?id=DET|title=Detroit Tigers Minor League Affiliates|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 26, 2020}} leaving the Xpress to affiliate with the Mariners.{{cite news |last=Puryear|first=Scott|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49604857/xpress-sidetracked-on-trip-to/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Sidetracked On Trip To Springfield|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=December 29, 1994|page=1C}} Seattle, however, did not approve of their team playing in Puerto Rico, so the plan was scrapped.

In January 1995, Bastien arrived at terms to move the franchise to Springfield, Missouri, where they would play in a new stadium scheduled to open in 1997.{{cite news |last=Puryear|first=Scott|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45243730/play_ball_springfield_scores_a_team/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Play Ball! Springfield Scores a Team|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=January 19, 1995|page=1A}} In the intervening two seasons, the franchise played in Wilmington, North Carolina, at Brooks Field on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington as the Port City Roosters.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45483705/wilmington_gets_team/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Wilmington Gets Team|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=February 8, 1995|page=2C}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45484280/wilmington_names_new_team/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Wilmington Names New Team|work=The Nashville Graphic|location=Nashville, North Carolina|date=February 15, 1995|access-date=February 19, 2020|page=1-B}} The Roosters were operated by Steve Bryant, owner of the Carolina Mudcats, similar to the manner in which Schmittou ran the Xpress.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45243951/minor_league_tickets_go_on_sale_today/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Minor League Tickets Go on Sale Today|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=February 4, 1995|page=1C}}

The team never made it to Springfield after the city was unable to secure federal funding for a ballpark.{{cite news |last=Skalicky|first=Francis|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45486298/park_authority_to_watch_developments/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Park Authority to Watch Developments|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=June 7, 1995|page=3B}} Bastien made an attempt to place the team in the Springfield suburb of Ozark, but residents voted down a sales tax increase to pay for a stadium.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45245238/margenau_says_hes_buying_bastiens_team/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Margenau Says He's Buying Bastien's Team|work=The Springfield News-Leader|location=Springfield, Missouri|date=November 17, 1995|page=1C}} He subsequently sold the franchise to sports investor Eric Margenau, who moved the team to Mobile, Alabama, where they began play at Hank Aaron Stadium as the Mobile BayBears in 1997.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45487183/southern_ball_back_in_mobile_after_27/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Southern Ball Back in Mobile After 27 Years|work=The Selma Times-Journal|location=Selma, Alabama|date=April 15, 1997|page=8}} In 2018, the BayBears were sold to BallCorps, LLC.{{cite web|title=MiLB Approves Mobile BayBears Move to Madison|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/05/31/milb-approves-mobile-baybears-move-to-madison/|website=Ballpark Digest|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=April 22, 2020}} The team remained in Mobile for the 2019 season after which they were relocated to Madison, Alabama, a suburb of Huntsville, where they became known as the Rocket City Trash Pandas.{{cite web|last=Ary|first=Patrick|title=Rocket City Trash Pandas Chosen as New Madison Baseball Team's Name|url=https://whnt.com/sports/minor-league-baseball/rocket-city-trash-pandas-chosen-as-new-madison-baseball-teams-name/|website=WHNT|date=September 5, 2018|access-date=April 22, 2020}}

The Xpress played 282 regular season games over two seasons of competition and amassed a win–loss record of 146–136 (.518). They qualified for the postseason once, incurring a record of {{nowrap|0–3 (.000).}} Their best full-season record occurred in 1994 when they finished 74–66 (.529). Nashville's best half-season record occurred in the first half of the 1993 campaign when they won the First-Half Western Division title with a record of 40–31 (.563). Their lowest half-season record was 32–39 (.451) in the second half of the same year.

{{Main|Herschel Greer Stadium}}

File:GreerStadiumScoreboard2.jpg's guitar scoreboard was installed for the 1993 season, the same year the Xpress came to Nashville.|alt=A view of a giant blue guitar-shaped scoreboard beyond the left-center field wall. Advertisements for local businesses adorn the guitar and the green outfield wall below.]]

The Nashville Xpress shared Herschel Greer Stadium with the Nashville Sounds. The ballpark, which was demolished in 2019,{{cite web|last=Lombard|first=Cherish|title=Greer Stadium Demolition Could Take up to 6 Months, Officials Say|website=WRKN|url=https://www.wkrn.com/news/nashville-2019/greer-stadium-demolition-could-take-up-to-6-months-officials-say/|date=April 1, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2020}} was located on the grounds of Fort Negley, an American Civil War fortification approximately {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} south of downtown Nashville. The venue experienced numerous expansions and contractions after its completion in 1978,{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Abner|title=Nashville's Loss Could Be RedHawks' Gain|url=http://newsok.com/article/3486212|website=NewsOK|date=August 17, 2010|access-date=May 27, 2017}} though it was at a capacity of 17,000 spectators during the Xpress' occupancy.{{cite news |last=Nottingham|first=Diane|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45536099/when_michael_jordan_comes_to_town/|via=Newspapers.com|title=When Michael Jordan Comes to Town|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=June 29, 1994|page=2C}} Greer featured a {{convert|115.6|foot|m}} guitar-shaped scoreboard behind the left field wall, which was installed prior to the 1993 season.{{cite news |title=7 Facts About Greer Stadium's Original Guitar Scoreboard|first=Katie|last=Straughn|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/baseball/2014/06/20/facts-about-greer-stadiums-guitar-scoreboard/11084843/|newspaper=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=June 20, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2018}}

Hindered by competition with the Sounds, according to Schmittou, the Xpress did not generate much interest among fans in their two years at Greer.{{cite news |last1=Davy|first1=Jimmy|last2=Coleman|first2=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45535560/no_strike_bonanza_seen_for_sounds/|via=Newspapers.com|title=No Strike Bonanza Seen for Sounds|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=August 2, 1994|page=1C}} Attendance for the Xpress' 1993 schedule of 68 openings totaled 178,737 people, for an average of 2,628 per game.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45440009/jordans_travels_1993_sl_attendance/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Jordan's Travels|work=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|date=April 1, 1994|page=3C}} In comparison, the Sounds drew 438,745 people in 72 openings, for a per-game average of 6,094.{{cite web|url=https://milb.bamcontent.com/documents/9/0/4/269805904/Section_6_History.pdf |title=Franchise Year-By-Year Attendance |pages=156 |website=2018 Nashville Sounds Media Guide |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407212101/http://www.milb.com/documents/5/1/4/116710514/2015guide_part_7_klyk6pqj.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2015}} Schmittou estimated he would need an additional 250,000 people to attend games at Greer to recoup the extra $400,000 budgeted for hosting a second team. With the Sounds drawing fewer attendees than in their 1992 season, the combined gain totaled only 127,491.

Attendance continued to be low in 1994, with the exception of seven games against the Birmingham Barons, who attracted fans across the Southern League wanting to see outfield prospect and NBA star Michael Jordan.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45536228/they_should_all_be_like_mike/|via=Newspapers.com|title=They Should All Be Like Mike|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=June 29, 1994|page=1C}} In five games against Birmingham, 60,158 fans attended Xpress games, an average of 12,032 per game, while far fewer—sometimes fewer than 1,000—attended other Xpress games. The team's 1994 attendance totaled a league-low 135,048 people in 70 games, an average of 1,929 each. While the Sounds also experienced a drop in attendance, they still outdrew their Double-A stadium-mates with a total attendance of 300,821 fans across 72 openings, for an average of 4,178 per game.

File:NashvilleXpressJerseys.png

Nashville's home jerseys were white with navy pinstripes. "Xpress" was written across the chest in red letters with a navy blue border.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45567168/xpress-enjoys-third-straight-victory/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Xpress Enjoys Third Straight Victory|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=May 17, 1994|page=1C}} A patch of the team's primary logo was present on the left sleeve. The player's number was displayed on the back in red block characters bordered by navy.{{cite news |last=Coleman|first=Anthony|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45567581/too-busy-to-be-bored/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Too Busy to Be Bored|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=June 22, 1994|page=1C}} Pants were white with navy pinstripes and were paired with navy belts. Nashville's road uniforms were identical to those worn at home, except they were gray and lacked the sleeve logo patch. In 1994, a patch celebrating the 125th anniversary of Major League Baseball was sewn onto the right sleeve. Worn as an alternate or for batting practice, a navy pullover jersey made of mesh material with the primary logo on the left chest and numbers on the back in red with white borders was paired with either home or road pants as appropriate.{{cite news |last=Tran|first=Tini|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45567736/michael-comes-to-music-city/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Michael Comes to Nashville|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=April 24, 1994|page=1C}} All uniforms were worn with a navy cap with a red brim and button showing a white steam locomotive coming out from beneath a red "N" with a silver border, serving like a tunnel, on the front.

{{For|a complete list of all-time Xpress players|Nashville Xpress all-time roster}}

A total of 60 players competed in at least one game for the Xpress. The 1993 roster included a total of 35 players, while 38 played for the team in 1994. Thirteen players were members of the team in both seasons. Of the 60 all-time Xpress players, 22 also played in at least one game for a Major League Baseball team during their careers. These players were:

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Rich Becker
• Marty Cordova
• Steve Dunn
• Mike Durant
• Gus Gandarillas
• Rich Garcés
• Eddie Guardado
• LaTroy Hawkins
• Denny Hocking
• Dan Masteller
• Damian Miller
• Travis Miller
• Mike Misuraca
• Oscar Múñoz
• Dan Naulty
• Alan Newman
• Brian Raabe
• Brad Radke
• Todd Ritchie
• Erik Schullstrom
• Scott Stahoviak
• Scott Watkins

{{div col end}}

These players won Southern League awards, were voted onto midseason All-Star teams, or were selected for postseason All-Star teams while members of the Xpress.

These are records of players who led in distinct statistical categories during their career with the Xpress.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=61551c8f 1993 Nashville Xpress statistics at Baseball-Reference]
• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=c255c8a0 1994 Nashville Xpress statistics at Baseball-Reference]

{{Professional baseball in Nashville, Tennessee}}

Category:1993 establishments in Tennessee

Category:1994 disestablishments in Tennessee

Category:Baseball in Nashville, Tennessee

Category:Baseball teams established in 1993

Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1994

Category:Defunct baseball teams in Tennessee

Category:Defunct Southern League (1964–present) teams

Category:Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates

Category:Professional baseball teams in Tennessee