UTC unveils digital collection of early Chattanooga Lookouts

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- With spring training in full swing, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Library has released a new digital collection that offers a deep dive into the early history of the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Titled Sandy Sandlin Chattanooga Lookouts Photographs, the collection features a treasure trove of images, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings dating back as early as 1912.

While it spans several decades of minor league baseball history, its primary focus is on the 1930s through the 1960s.

The collection is the work of Davis “Sandy” Sandlin, who served as the Lookouts’ athletic trainer and traveling secretary.

Sandlin carefully gathered materials that provide a rare glimpse into the careers of Chattanooga’s baseball players and the evolution of the team over time.

UTC Manuscripts Archivist Molly Copeland emphasized the significance of making these historical artifacts widely accessible.

“These artifacts belong to a really historic institution in Chattanooga,” Copeland said. “To have that immediate connection with the objects in special collections and also be able to share it worldwide is a privilege for us as a local university.”

The Sandy Sandlin Chattanooga Lookouts Photographs collection is now available for free through UTC Digital Collections.

By preserving and sharing these materials, UTC is offering baseball fans, historians, and researchers a unique window into Chattanooga’s rich sports history.