International League
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League |
The International League is a class AAA minor league. It used to trace its origins to the Eastern League, which formed in 1892 and changed its name to the International League 20 years later. In the 1930s, league officials claimed origins in 1884 by a rather tortured process, going through the Eastern League (1884), New York State League (1885), International League (1886-1887), International Association (1888-1890), Eastern Association (1891), Eastern League again (1892-1911), and finally the International League again, this time to last. Since the 1890s, it has been one of the three strongest minor leagues and the longest-lasting league in the top tier of the minors. The "international" in the name was due to the league having teams in Toronto and Montréal for decades. The better-known International League reached its international peak in the 1950s when it expanded to Havana, Cuba. It also experimented briefly with a club in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1961, but this didn't last through the year. When Toronto left the league in 1967, it was no longer international, but retained the name. It has occasionally had clubs in Canada since then but the name has often rung false.
In 2007 the league re-started its Hall of Fame with the elections of longtime executives Harold Cooper and George Sisler Jr. After its 2020 season was cancelled, in 2021 its clubs largely became the founding members of the new Triple-A East league as part of the Professional Development League. In a reversal, the International League name was resurrected in 2022 as the Triple-A East was re-branded.
The league has traditionally been the eastern-most of the high minor leagues, with a strong basis in upstate New York (Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse have all had long associations with the IL).
The trophy awarded to the winner of the International League's play-offs was known as the Governors' Cup from 1933 through 2019. The IL, like all of the affiliated minor leagues, did not play in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. After reorganizing the farm systems in 2021, MLB did not allow playoffs that year and reportedly excised references to the Cup after that. However, many media continued to use the term in their playoff coverage in at least 2022.
It should be noted that there was another, short-lived International League, in 1898 that had teams in Ontario and Michigan, and a second, a class D outfit which operated with four teams for less than one season in 1908 and was based in Ontario and New York State.
Current Teams, Managers, and Affiliations[edit]
League Champions[edit]
- BOLD indicates Governors' Cup winner
League Award Winners[edit]
Record Holders[edit]
IL record holders for a single season include:
- Joe Hauser - 63 home runs, 173 runs, 443 total bases in 1930
- Dan Brouthers - .415 batting average in 1897
- Ripper Collins - 180 RBI in 1930
- Blas Monaco - 167 walks in 1944
- Tilly Walker - homers in 7 straight games in 1926
- Joe McGinnity - 422 innings pitched in 1909
- Lefty Grove - 330 strikeouts and 186 walks in 1923
- Urban Shocker - 1.31 ERA in 1916
Cities Represented[edit]
1886-1887[edit]
New Jersey[edit]
New York[edit]
- Binghamton, NY: Binghamton Bingoes 1886-1887
- Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Bisons 1886-1887
- Oswego, NY: Oswego Starchboxes 1886-1887
- Rochester, NY: Rochester Maroons 1886-1887
- Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Stars 1886-188
- Utica, NY: Utica Pentups 1886-1887
Ontario[edit]
- Hamilton, ON: Hamilton Clippers 1886; Hamilton Hams 1887
- Toronto, ON: Toronto Canucks 1886-1887
Pennsylvania[edit]
Became the International Association
1898[edit]
The Ontario teams continued on as the Canadian League after the league ended July 8
Michigan[edit]
Ontario[edit]
1900[edit]
- Successor of the Canadian League 1899
Michigan[edit]
Ontario[edit]
Grand Rapids disbanded July 3, causing Port Huron and Saginaw to disband. The league disbanded July 5.
1908 (Class D)[edit]
- with records
New York[edit]
- Niagara Falls, NY: Niagara Falls 19-24
Ontario[edit]
- Hamilton, ON: Hamilton Hams 22-18
- Guelph, ON: Guelph Maple Leafs 11-11
- London, ON: London Cockneys 20-21
Guelph moved to St. Thomas June 12, overall record 22-20. League disbanded July 31
1912-2019[edit]
Canada[edit]
- Hamilton, ON: Hamilton Tigers 1918
- Ottawa, ON:
- Ottawa Giants 1951
- Ottawa A's 1952-1954
- Ottawa Lynx 1993-2007
- Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs 1912-1967
- Winnipeg, MB: Winnipeg Whips 1970-1971
- Montreal, QC: Montreal Royals 1912-1917, 1928-1960
Cuba[edit]
- Havana, Cuba: Havana Sugar Kings 1954-1960
Arkansas[edit]
Florida[edit]
- Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville Suns 1962-1968
- Miami, FL: Miami Marlins 1956-1960
Georgia[edit]
- Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Crackers 1962-1965
- Lawrenceville, GA:
- Gwinnett Braves 2009-2017
- Gwinnett Stripers 2018-2019
Indiana[edit]
- Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Indians 1963, 1998-2019
Kentucky[edit]
- Louisville, KY:
- Louisville Colonels 1968-1972
- Louisville Redbirds 1998
- Louisville RiverBats 1999-2001
- Louisville Bats 2002-2019
Maine[edit]
- Old Orchard Beach, ME:
- Maine Guides 1984-1987
- Maine Phillies 1988
Massachusetts[edit]
- Springfield, MA: Springfield Cubs 1950-1953
Maryland[edit]
- Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Orioles 1912-1914, 1916-1953
New Jersey[edit]
- Jersey City, NJ:
- Jersey City Skeeters 1912-1915, 1918-1933
- Jersey City Giants 1937-1950
- Jersey City Jerseys 1960-1961
- Newark, NJ:
- Newark Indians 1912-1916
- Newark Bears 1917-1919, 1921-1949
New York[edit]
- Albany, NY: Albany Senators 1932-1936
- Binghamton, NY: Binghamton Bingoes 1918-1919
- Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Bisons 1912-1970, 1998-2019
- Rochester, NY:
- Rochester Hustlers 1912-1920
- Rochester Colts 1921
- Rochester Tribe 1922-1927
- Rochester Red Wings 1928-2019
- Syracuse, NY:
- Syracuse Stars 1918, 1920-1927
- Syracuse Chiefs 1934-1955, 1961-1996, 2007-2018
- Syracuse Sky Chiefs 1997-2006
- Syracuse Mets 2019
- Road Team: Empire State Yankees 2012
North Carolina[edit]
- Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Knights 1993-2019
- Durham, NC: Durham Bulls 1998-2019
Ohio[edit]
- Akron, OH: Akron Buckeyes 1920
- Columbus, OH:
- Columbus Jets 1955-1970
- Columbus Clippers 1977-2019
- Toledo, OH: Toledo Mud Hens 1965-2019
Pennsylvania[edit]
- Allentown, PA: Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2008-2019
- Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Senators 1915
- Reading, PA:
- Reading Coal Barons 1919
- Reading Marines 1920
- Reading Aces 1921-1922
- Reading Keystones 1923-1932
- Scranton, PA and Wilkes-Barre, PA:
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons 1989-2006
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 2007-2011
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 2013-2019
Puerto Rico[edit]
- San Juan, Puerto Rico: San Juan Marlins 1961
Rhode Island[edit]
- Pawtucket, RI:
- Pawtucket Red Sox 1973-1975, 1977-2019
- Rhode Island Red Sox 1976
- Providence, RI: Providence Grays 1912-1917, 1925
Tennessee[edit]
- Memphis, TN: Memphis Blues 1974-1976
Virginia[edit]
- Hampton, VA: Peninsula Whips 1972-1973
- Norfolk, VA: Norfolk Tides 1993-2019
- Portsmouth, VA: Tidewater Tides 1969-1992
- Richmond, VA:
- Richmond Climbers 1915-1916
- Richmond Virginians 1917, 1954-1964
- Richmond Braves 1966-2008
West Virginia[edit]
- Charleston, WV:
- Charleston Marlins 1961
- Charleston (WV) Charlies 1971-1983
Hall of Fame Alumni[edit]
| Hall of Fame Alumni | Years in IL | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Dick Allen | 1963 | Arkansas Travelers |
| Walter Alston | 1937, 1943-1944/1950-1953 | Rochester Red Wings/Manager Montreal Royals |
| Johnny Bench | 1966-1967 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Chief Bender | 1922, 1923 | Reading Aces, Baltimore Orioles |
| Yogi Berra | 1946 | Newark Bears |
| Wade Boggs | 1980-1981 | Pawtucket Red Sox |
| Jim Bottomley | 1922, 1938 | Syracuse Stars, Syracuse Chiefs |
| Lou Boudreau | 1939 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Jim Bunning | 1953, 1955 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Roy Campanella | 1947 | Montreal Royals |
| Gary Carter | 1973-1974 | Peninsula Whips, Memphis Blues |
| Roberto Clemente | 1954 | Montreal Royals |
| Bill Dickey | 1928 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Don Drysdale | 1955 | Montreal Royals |
| Carlton Fisk | 1971 | Louisville Colonels |
| Jimmie Foxx | 1925 | Providence Grays |
| Charlie Gehringer | 1925 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Bob Gibson | 1958, 1960 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Tom Glavine | 1986-1987 | Richmond Braves |
| Joe Gordon | 1937 | Newark Bears |
| Frank Grant | 1886-1888 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Lefty Grove | 1920-1924 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Chick Hafey | 1925 | Syracuse Stars |
| Roy Halladay | 1997-1998, 2000-2001 | Syracuse SkyChiefs |
| Bucky Harris | 1918-1919 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Gabby Hartnett | 1943-1944 | Jersey City Giants |
| Rogers Hornsby | 1938 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Waite Hoyt | 1917, 1918 | Montreal Royals, Newark Bears |
| Carl Hubbell | 1926 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Monte Irvin | 1949-1950 | Jersey City Giants |
| Travis Jackson | 1937-1938 | Jersey City Giants |
| Fergie Jenkins | 1962, 1963 | Buffalo Bisons, Arkansas Travelers |
| Derek Jeter | 1994-1995 | Columbus Clippers |
| Walter Johnson | 1928 | Newark Bears |
| Chipper Jones | 1993 | Richmond Braves |
| George Kelly | 1917, 1919, 1932 | Rochester Hustlers, Jersey City Skeeters |
| Ralph Kiner | 1943 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Nap Lajoie | 1917 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Tommy Lasorda | 1950-1955, 1958-1960 | Montreal Royals |
| Tony Lazzeri | 1939-1940 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Bob Lemon | 1942 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Heinie Manush | 1938-1939 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Rabbit Maranville | 1927 | Rochester Tribe |
| Rube Marquard | 1927 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Joe Mauer | 2014, 2018 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Joe McGinnity | 1912 | Newark Sailors |
| Fred McGriff | 1984-1986 | Syracuse Chiefs |
| Johnny Mize | 1933-1935 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Eddie Murray | 1976 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Stan Musial | 1941 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Mike Mussina | 1990, 1991 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Phil Niekro | 1966 | Richmond Braves |
| Satchel Paige | 1956-1958 | Miami Marlins |
| Jim Palmer | 1967-1968 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Dave Parker | 1973 | Charleston Charlies |
| Herb Pennock | 1915, 1916 | Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons |
| Kirby Puckett | 1984 | Toledo Mud Hens |
| Jim Rice | 1973-1974 | Pawtucket Red Sox |
| Cal Ripken Jr. | 1981 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Mariano Rivera | 1994, 1995 | Columbus Clippers |
| Jackie Robinson | 1946 | Montreal Royals |
| Scott Rolen | 1996 | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons |
| Babe Ruth | 1914, 1915 | Baltimore Orioles, Providence Grays |
| Nolan Ryan | 1967 | Jacksonville Suns |
| Ray Schalk | 1932 | Buffalo Bisons |
| Red Schoendienst | 1943-1944 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Tom Seaver | 1966 | Jacksonville Suns |
| George Sisler | 1931 | Rochester Red Wings |
| John Smoltz | 1987-1988 | Richmond Braves |
| Duke Snider | 1944, 1948 | Montreal Royals |
| Billy Southworth | 1928-1932 | Rochester Red Wings |
| Tris Speaker | 1929-1930 | Newark Bears |
| Willie Stargell | 1962 | Columbus Jets |
| Jim Thome | 1993 | Charlotte Knights |
| Dazzy Vance | 1918 | Rochester Hustlers |
| Hack Wilson | 1935 | Albany Senators |
| Ross Youngs | 1917 | Rochester Hustlers |
Perfect Games[edit]
- August 9, 1910 - Chet Carmichael, Buffalo Bisons
- August 15, 1952 - Dick Marlowe, Buffalo
- June 1, 2000 - Tomokazu Ohka, Pawtucket Red Sox
- August 10, 2003 - Bronson Arroyo, Pawtucket
- July 26, 2011 - Justin Germano, Columbus Clippers
Further Reading[edit]
- Bill O'Neal: The International League, Eakin Press, Austin, TX, 1992
- Marshall D. Wright: The International League: Year-by-Year Statistics 1884-1953, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2005 (originally published in 1998).
External Link[edit]
| Professional Development League | ||||||
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| Related Articles: Independent Leagues | NAPBL | Organized Baseball | ||||||
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