International League: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{About|the professional baseball minor league|the short-lived league that played a single, racially-integrated season in 1906|International League of Independent Professional Base Ball Clubs|other uses}}

~~{{distinguish|Inter-National League}}~~

{{Infobox sports league

| current_season =

| logo = Internationalleague.png

| pixels = ~~125px~~

| caption =

| sport = [[Baseball]]

Line 15 ⟶ 14:

}}

| founded = {{start date and ~~years ago~~age|1884|p=yes}}

| president=

| motto =

| teams = 20

| country = United States

| champion = [[~~Durham~~Omaha ~~Bulls~~Storm Chasers]] (~~2021~~2024)

| TV = [[MiLB.TV]], [[MLB Network]], and local sports networks

| most_champs = [[Rochester Red Wings]] (19)

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The '''International League''' ('''IL''') is a [[Minor League Baseball]] league that operates in the United States. Along with the [[Pacific Coast League]], it is one of two leagues playing at the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] level, which is one grade below [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).

The league traces its roots to 1884, while the modern IL began in 1912. Following MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues in 2021, it operated as the '''Triple-A East''' for one season before switching back to its previous moniker in 2022. It is so named because throughout much of its history the International League had teams in [[Canada]] and [[Cuba]] as well as those in the United States. Since 2008, however, all of its teams have been based in the US. The IL's 20 teams are located in 14 states stretching from [[Papillion, Nebraska]], to [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], and from [[St. Paul, Minnesota]], to [[Jacksonville, Florida]].

A league champion is determined at the end of each season. The [[Rochester Red Wings]] have won 19 [[List of International League champions|International League titles]], the most in the league's history, followed by the [[Columbus Clippers]] (11) and the [[Baltimore Orioles (minor league)|Baltimore Orioles]], original [[Buffalo Bisons (1886–1970)|Buffalo Bisons]], and [[Toronto Maple Leafs (International League)|Toronto Maple Leafs]] (10). During the era of the [[Governors' Cup]] playoffs from 1933 to 2020, the most cup titles were won by Columbus (11), followed by Rochester (10) and the [[Syracuse Mets]] (8).

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In June 1971, an IL all-star team beat the [[New York Yankees]], 15–13, in an exhibition game at [[Silver Stadium]] in [[Rochester, New York]], before a crowd of 11,001—notable players on the all-star squad included [[Don Baylor]], [[Carlton Fisk]], and [[Bobby Grich]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78278431/stars-outslug-yanks-15-13/ |title=Stars Outslug Yanks, 15-13 |first=Jim |last=Castor |website=[[Democrat and Chronicle]] |location=[[Rochester, New York]] |page=D1 |date=June 25, 1971 |accessdate=May 25, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> In August 1983, another team of IL all-stars were defeated by the [[Cleveland Indians]], 8–6, in 11 innings before 11,032 fans at [[Franklin County Stadium]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78278786/perkins-keys-tribes-8-6-win-over-il-sta/ |title=Perkins keys Tribe's 8-6 win over IL stars |agency=[[United Press International|UPI]] |newspaper=Telegraph-Forum |location=[[Bucyrus, Ohio]] |page=11 |date=August 19, 1983 |accessdate=May 25, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

The International League and the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]], another Triple-A league that operated in the Midwest, voted in 1988 to play interleague games as part of the [[Triple-A Alliance]].<ref name=TripleATimeLine>{{cite web|url=http://www.triple-abaseball.com/AATimeline.jsp|title=Notable Events in American Association History|website=Triple-A Baseball|access-date=May 24, 2017|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414185147/https://www.triple-abaseball.com/AATimeline.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The league also split into two divisions that year. The interleague concept ended in 1992, but the two league divisions remained.

In 1998, the International League reorganized into three divisions with the addition of four new teams—the [[Buffalo Bisons]], [[Indianapolis Indians]], and [[Louisville Redbirds]] joined from the disbanded American Association, while the [[Durham Bulls]] joined from the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[Carolina League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78278211/lynx-open-april-9-at-jetform/ |title=Lynx open April 9 at JetForm |first=Jim |last=Bray |newspaper=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |location=Ontario |page=B2 |date=January 29, 1998 |accessdate=May 25, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name=2020can>{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> Prior to the 2021 season, [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) assumed control of [[Minor League Baseball]] in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel through better geographical alignment.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> As part of this reorganization, the International League was expanded to 20 teams and temporarily renamed the "Triple-A East" for the 2021 season.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021/> Of these 20 teams, 14 were existing members of the International League,<ref name=BR-IL>{{cite web|title=International League (AAA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=IL&class=AAA|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> four were the easternmost teams from the [[Pacific Coast League]],<ref name=BR-PCL>{{cite web|title=Pacific Coast League (AAA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=PCL&class=AAA|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> one was promoted from the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]],<ref name=BR-SL>{{cite web|title=Southern League (AA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SOUL&class=AA|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> and one moved from the independent [[American Association of Professional Baseball]].<ref name="BR-AAAA2">{{cite web|title=American Association (Independent) Encyclopedia and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=AA&class=Ind|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the Triple-A East was renamed the International League effective with the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>

==Structure and season==

The International League is divided into the East Division and the West Division, each consisting of 10 teams. As of the 2022 season, all teams play a 150-game schedule, beginning in ~~early~~late ~~April~~March and concluding in late September.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Anthony |title=Triple-A Baseball Season Expanded to 150 Games |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/triple-a-baseball-season-expanded-to-150-games.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref>

===Championship and interleague play===

[[File:IL All-Stars, 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|IL All-Stars at the 2015 [[Triple-A All-Star Game]]]]

Since the 2023 season, the regular season is split into two halves. After the completion of the season, the ~~two~~winners ~~division~~of ~~champions~~each half meet in a ~~single~~best-of-three ~~game~~series to determine a [[List of International League champions|league champion]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/~~las-vegas-to-host-inaugural-~~triple-a-~~triple~~national-championship-~~weekend~~game-2023 |title=2023 Triple-A National Championship Game Set for Sept. 30 in Las Vegas to|website=Minor ~~Host~~League ~~Inaugural~~Baseball |date=March 28, 2023 |accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/2024-milb-triple-a-national-championship-date |title=2024 MiLB Triple-A ~~Triple~~National Championship ~~Weekend~~Game Set for Sept. 28 at Las Vegas Ballpark |website=Minor League Baseball |date=~~May~~March 312, ~~2022~~2024 |accessdate=~~May~~March 312, ~~2022~~2024}}</ref> From 1933 to 2019, the three division champions and a [[wild card (sports)|wild card]] team squared off in [[Shaughnessy playoff system|series playoffs]] to determine a champion, with the winner awarded the [[Governors' Cup]], the league's championship trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20110314&content_id=16942530&sid=l117&vkey=league3|title=International League Personnel and Staff|website=International League|access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> Following the cancelled 2020 season, rather than hold playoffs for its championship, the 2021 title was awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/triple-a-classification-to-add-10-games-to-2021-schedule |title=MiLB Announces 'Triple-A Final Stretch' for 2021 |website=Minor League Baseball |date=July 14, 2021 |accessdate=July 16, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the two division champions met in a single game to determine a league champion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/las-vegas-to-host-inaugural-triple-a-triple-championship-weekend |title=Las Vegas to Host Inaugural Triple-A Triple Championship Weekend |website=Minor League Baseball |date=May 3, 2022 |accessdate=May 3, 2022}}</ref>

In further postseason play, the IL champion meets the [[Pacific Coast League]]'s champion in the [[Triple-A National Championship Game]], a single game to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball, which has been held annually since 2006, excluding 2020 and 2021. Previously, the IL champion also competed in the [[Triple-A World Series]] (1983, 1998–2000), [[Junior World Series]] (1919), and other sporadic postseason competitions throughout the league's history.

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{| class="wikitable sortable"

!scope="col"|Division

!scope="col"|Team

!scope="col"|Founded

!scope="col"|MLB affiliation

~~!MLB Affiliation~~

!scope="col"|Affiliated ~~Since~~

!scope="col"|City

!scope="col"|Stadium

!scope="col"|Capacity

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="10" | East

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Buffalo Bisons]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1979

|[[Toronto Blue Jays]]

|align=center|2013

|[[Buffalo, ~~New York|Buffalo]], [[New York (state)|~~New York]]

|[[Sahlen Field]]

|align=center|16,600

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Charlotte Knights]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1976

|[[Chicago White Sox]]

|align=center|1999

|[[Charlotte, ~~North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[~~North Carolina]]

|[[Truist Field]]

|align=center|10,200

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Durham Bulls]]~~'''~~

|align=center|~~1980~~1902

|[[Tampa Bay Rays]]

|align=center|1998

|[[Durham, ~~North Carolina|Durham]], [[~~North Carolina]]

|[[Durham Bulls Athletic Park]]

|align=center|10,000

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1962

|[[Miami Marlins]]

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|align=center|11,000

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Lehigh Valley IronPigs]]~~'''~~

|align=center|2008

|[[Philadelphia Phillies]]

|align=center|2007

|[[Allentown, ~~Pennsylvania|Allentown]], [[~~Pennsylvania]]

|[[Coca-Cola Park]]

|align=center|10,100

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Norfolk Tides]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1961

|[[Baltimore Orioles]]

|align=center|2007

|[[Norfolk, ~~Virginia|Norfolk]], [[~~Virginia]]

|[[Harbor Park]]

|align=center|11,856

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Rochester Red Wings]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1899

|[[Washington Nationals]]

|align=center|2021

|[[Rochester, ~~New York|Rochester]], [[New York (state)|~~New York]]

|[[~~Frontier~~Innovative Field]]

|align=center|10,840

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1989

|[[New York Yankees]]

|align=center|2007

|[[Moosic, ~~Pennsylvania|Moosic]], [[~~Pennsylvania]]

|[[PNC Field]]

|align=center|10,000

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Syracuse Mets]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1934

|[[New York Mets]]

|align=center|2019

|[[Syracuse, ~~New York|Syracuse]], [[New York (state)|~~New York]]

|[[NBT Bank Stadium]]

|align=center|10,815

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Worcester Red Sox]]~~'''~~

|align=center|2021

|[[Boston Red Sox]]

|align=center|2021

|[[Worcester, ~~Massachusetts|Worcester]], [[~~Massachusetts]]

|[[Polar Park (baseball park)|Polar Park]]

|align=center|9,508

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="10" | West

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Columbus Clippers]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1977

|[[Cleveland Guardians]]

|align=center|2009

|[[Columbus, ~~Ohio|Columbus]], [[~~Ohio]]

|[[Huntington Park (Columbus, Ohio)|Huntington Park]]

|align=center|10,100

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Gwinnett Stripers]]~~'''~~

|align=center|2009

|[[Atlanta Braves]]

|align=center|2009

|[[Lawrenceville, ~~Georgia|Lawrenceville]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|~~Georgia]]

|[[Coolray Field]]

|align=center|10,427

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Indianapolis Indians]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1902

|[[Pittsburgh Pirates]]

|align=center|2005

|[[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]

|[[Victory Field]]

|align=center|13,750

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Iowa Cubs]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1969

|[[Chicago Cubs]]

Line 195 ⟶ 194:

|align=center|11,500

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Louisville Bats]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1982

|[[Cincinnati Reds]]

|align=center|2000

|[[Louisville, ~~Kentucky|Louisville]], [[~~Kentucky]]

|[[Louisville Slugger Field]]

|align=center|13,131

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Memphis Redbirds]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1998

|[[St. Louis Cardinals]]

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|align=center|10,000

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Nashville Sounds]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1978

|[[Milwaukee Brewers]]

Line 219 ⟶ 218:

|align=center|10,000

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Omaha Storm Chasers]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1969

|[[Kansas City Royals]]

Line 227 ⟶ 226:

|align=center|9,023

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[St. Paul Saints]]~~'''~~

| align="center" |1993

|[[Minnesota Twins]]

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| align="center" |7,210

! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|~~'''~~[[Toledo Mud Hens]]~~'''~~

|align=center|1965

|[[Detroit Tigers]]

|align=center|1987

|[[Toledo, ~~Ohio|Toledo]], [[~~Ohio]]

|[[Fifth Third Field (Toledo, Ohio)|Fifth Third Field]]

|align=center|10,300

</onlyinclude>

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==League timeline==

These teams were either charter members of the IL in 1912 or were added as expansion teams thereafter.<ref name=BR-IL~~>{{cite web|title=International League (AAA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https:~~/~~/www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=IL&class=AAA|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref~~>

*[[Arkansas Travelers]] (1963)

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===Former Pacific Coast League teams===

Four current teams were placed in the IL from the Triple-A [[Pacific Coast League]] in 2021.<ref name=BR-PCL~~>{{cite web|title=Pacific Coast League (AAA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https:~~/~~/www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=PCL&class=AAA|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref~~>

*Iowa Oaks (1969–1981) → '''[[Iowa Cubs]]''' (1982–present)

Line 315 ⟶ 316:

===Former Southern League teams===

One current team was placed in the IL from the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] in 2021.<ref name=BR-SL~~>{{cite web|title=Southern League (AA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https:~~/~~/www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SOUL&class=AA|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref~~>

* Jacksonville Suns (1962–1968, 1970–1984) → Jacksonville Expos (1985–1990) → Jacksonville Suns (1991–2016) → '''[[Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp]]''' (2017–present)

Line 321 ⟶ 322:

===Former independent teams===

One current team was placed in the IL from the independent [[American Association of Professional Baseball]] in 2021.<ref name=BR-AA2~~>{{cite web|title=American Association (Independent) Encyclopedia and History|url=https:~~/~~/www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=AA&class=Ind|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref~~>

* '''[[St. Paul Saints]]''' (1993–present)

Line 328 ⟶ 329:

The International League has crowned a league champion each season since 1884. Through 1932, champions were the regular-season [[pennant (sports)|pennant]] winners—the team with the best [[win–loss record]] at the conclusion of the regular season. From 1933 to 2020, postseason [[Shaughnessy playoff system|playoffs]] were held to determine champions. Participants from 1933 to 1987 were usually the four teams with the highest [[winning percentage]]. From 1988 to 2020, the four qualifiers were the division winners and one or two [[wild card (sports)|wild card]] teams. The winner of each season's championship playoffs was awarded the [[Governors' Cup]]. These playoffs and the Governors' Cup trophy were discontinued in 2021. The 2021 winner was the team with the best regular-season record,. ~~and the~~The 2022 championship ~~will be~~was decided via a single game between the winners of the East and West Divisions. Since 2023, a best-of-three series has been held between the winners of each half of the season.

''Active International League teams appear in '''bold'''.''

Line 361 ⟶ 362:

|style="text-align:left"|1902, 1907, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1926, 1934, 1960, 1965, 1966

|-▼

!scope="row"|'''[[~~Norfolk~~Durham ~~Tides~~Bulls]]''' ~~(Tidewater Tides)~~▼

|rowspan="23"|8▼

|58▼

|style="text-align:left"|~~1972~~2002, ~~1975~~2003, ~~1982~~2009, ~~1983~~2013, ~~1985~~2017, 2018, 2021, 2022▼

!scope="row"|[[Montreal Royals]]

▲|rowspan="2"|8

|style="text-align:left"|1898, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1958

Line 371 ⟶ 376:

|style="text-align:left"|1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976

!scope="row"|'''[[~~Durham~~Norfolk ~~Bulls~~Tides]]''' (Tidewater Tides)

|76

|style="text-align:left" |~~2002,~~ ~~2003~~1972, ~~2009~~1975, ~~2013~~1982, ~~2017~~1983, ~~2018~~1985, ~~2021~~2023

!scope="row"|[[Newark Bears (International League)|Newark Bears]]

| rowspan="43" |5

|style="text-align:left"|1932, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1945

▲|-

▲!scope="row"|'''[[Norfolk Tides]]''' (Tidewater Tides)

▲|5

▲|style="text-align:left"|1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985

!scope="row"|[[Providence Grays (minor league)|Providence Grays]] (Providence Clamdiggers)

Line 429 ⟶ 430:

!scope="row"|[[Atlanta Crackers]]

|rowspan="1415"|1

|style="text-align:left"|1962

Line 464 ⟶ 465:

|style="text-align:left"|1913

!scope="row"|'''[[Omaha Storm Chasers]]'''

|style="text-align:left"|2024

!scope="row"|[[Ottawa Lynx]]

Line 495 ⟶ 500:

The [[International League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]], first awarded in 1932, is given to honor the best player in the league.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===~~Most~~Pitcher ~~Valuable~~of ~~Pitcher~~the Year Award===

{{main article|International League ~~Most~~Pitcher ~~Valuable~~of ~~Pitcher~~the Year Award}}

The [[International League ~~Most~~Pitcher ~~Valuable~~of ~~Pitcher~~the Year Award|~~Most~~Pitcher ~~Valuable~~of ~~Pitcher~~the Year Award]], first awarded in 1953 and known as the Most Valuable Pitcher Award, serves to recognize the league's best pitcher. Pitchers were eligible to win the ~~MVP~~ award from 1932 to 1952 as no award was designated solely for pitchers.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===~~Rookie~~Top ofMLB ~~the Year~~Prospect Award===

{{main article|International League ~~Rookie~~Top ofMLB ~~the Year~~Prospect Award}}

The [[International League ~~Rookie~~Top ofMLB ~~the Year~~Prospect Award|~~Rookie~~Top ofMLB ~~the Year~~Prospect Award]], created in 1950 as the Rookie of the Year Award, is given to the best player with no prior IL experience.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===Manager of the Year Award===

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*{{Official website}}