Minor League Affiliates in Historical League

[BostonRS14]

I was wondering what reference people use to set up their minors in historical leagues. I can't seem to find a set of historical standings.

I'm trying to set up my 1977 historical league with accurate affiliates and minor league divisions, but haven't been able to find anything other than a geocities site that lists the active teams, but not the divisions.

anyone have a place to point me in the right direction?

[btheflash]

This is from gohorns98 in his signature.

Minor League Team and League History 1876-2006:

Excel version:
http://www.allsimbaseball.com/index....catid=18&id=62

CSV version:
http://www.allsimbaseball.com/index....catid=18&id=61

[BostonRS14]

very nice...thanks for the help

anyone know where to find the division format?

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by BostonRS14

anyone have a place to point me in the right direction?

I'll do better than that:

1977 Minor League alignments

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION (AAA)

East Division
Evansville Triplets
Indianapolis Indians
Iowa Oaks
Omaha Royals
West Division
Denver Bears
New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma City 89ers
Wichita Aeros

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE (AAA)
(single division)

Charleston Charlies
Columbus Clippers
Pawtucket Red Sox
Richmond Braves
Rochester Red Wings
Syracuse Chiefs
Tidewater Tides
Toledo Mud Hens

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (AAA)

East Division
Albuquerque Dukes
Phoenix Giants
Salt Lake City Gulls
Tucson Toros
West Division
Hawaii Islanders
San Jose Missions
Spokane Indians
Tacoma Twins

EASTERN LEAGUE (AA)

Can-Am Division
Jersey City Indians
Quebec Metros
Reading Phillies
Trois-Rivieres Aigles
New England Division
Bristol Red Sox
Holyoke Millers
Waterbury Giants
West Haven Yankees

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (AA)

East Division
Charlotte O’s
Jacksonville Suns
Orlando Twins
Savannah Braves
West Division
Chattanooga Lookouts
Columbus Astros
Knoxville Sox
Montgomery Rebels

TEXAS LEAGUE (AA)

East Division
Arkansas Travelers
Jackson Mets
Shreveport Captains
Tulsa Drillers
West Division
Amarillo Gold Sox
El Paso Diablos
Midland Cubs
San Antonio Dodgers

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (A)
(single division)

Fresno Giants
Lodi Dodgers
Modesto A’s
Reno Silver Sox
Salinas Angels
Visalia Oaks

CAROLINA LEAGUE (A)
(single division)

Lynchburg Mets
Peninsula Pilots
Salem Pirates
Winston-Salem Red Sox

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE (A)

North Division
Daytona Beach Islanders
Lakeland Tigers
St. Petersburg Cardinals
Tampa Tarpons
Winter Haven Red Sox
South Division
Cocoa Astros
Fort Lauderdale Yankees
Miami Orioles
Pompano Beach Cubs
West Palm Beach Expos

MIDWEST LEAGUE (A)

North Division
Appleton Foxes
Waterloo Indians
Wausau Mets
Wisconsin Rapids Twins
South Division
Burlington Bees
Cedar Rapids Giants
Clinton Dodgers
Quad City Angels

WESTERN CAROLINAS LEAGUE (A)
(single division)

Asheville Tourists
Charleston Patriots
Gastonia Cardinals
Greenwood Braves
Shelby Reds
Spartanburg Phillies

LONE STAR LEAGUE (A-Short Season)

North Division
Beesville Blazers
Texas City Stars
Victoria Rosebuds
South Division
Corpus Christi Seagulls
Harlingen Suns
McAllen Dusters

NEW YORK-PENNSYLVANIA LEAGUE (A-Short Season)

East Division
Auburn Phillies
Elmira Pioneers
Little Falls Mets
Oneonta Yankees
Utica Blue Jays
West Division
Batavia Trojans
Geneva Cubs
Jamestown Expos
Newark Co-Pilots
Niagara Falls Pirates

NORTHWEST LEAGUE (A-Short Season)

Affiliate Division
Bellingham Mariners
Eugene Emeralds
Walla Walla Padres
Independent Division
Grays Harbor Loggers
Portland Mavericks
Salem Senators

APPALACHIAN LEAGUE (Rookie)
(single division)

Bluefield Orioles
Bristol Tigers
Elizabethton Twins
Johnson City Cardinals
Kingsport Braves
Pulaski Phillies

PIONEER LEAGUE (Rookie)
(single division)

Billings Mustangs
Calgary Cardinals
Great Falls Giants
Idaho Falls Angels
Lethbridge Dodgers
Medicine Hat A’s

GULF COAST LEAGUE (Rookie)
(single division)

GCL Astros
GCL Braves
GCL Cubs
GCL Expos
GCL Pirates
GCL Rangers
GCL Royals
GCL White Sox

[BostonRS14]

[No Pepper]

LGO, when did the minors go to a divisional format?

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by No Pepper

LGO, when did the minors go to a divisional format?

That can be answered in a couple of different ways. Do you mean generally? Or do you mean specific leagues?

To answer the former, in general terms, I believe the first league to try out a divisional structure was the Eastern League in 1958; the experiment only lasted one season and the next year the league was back to a single division. The American Association adopted a divisional alignment for 1959, but that too only lasted for one season; the International League similarly used a divisional structure for a single season in 1963. The Carolina League used divisions from 1963-69, returning to a single division structure from 1970-79 before splitting into divisions once again.

The first league to split into divisions and to retain that divisional structure was the Pacific Coast League in 1963. The Florida State League split into divisions in 1967 and has used a divisional structure ever since. The Texas League split into divisions for a single season in 1965; it split into divisions again in 1968 and has retained that two division alignment since. The Northwest League has used divisions from 1970 onwards, the Midwest League from 1971, and the Southern League from 1972.

[No Pepper]

That's interesting, thanks LGO. If I remember correctly, split-seasons occurred before divisional organization, yes? I assume geography played more a role in the formation of divisions than simply providing for more playoff teams, that is, if the minors did have a playoff. And split-seasons came about, at times, to increase competition/interest? I think I've read that if a team was way ahead, the league split the season and then paired off the winners in a playoff at the end.

Life must be good in Scheduleslovakia, thanks for all the information!

[jamsdead]

Here's the whole minor league history of teams (with affiliations) if anyone needs it.

http://www.geocities.com/big_bunko/total.htm

Hope someone finds it helpful.

peace
Jam

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by No Pepper

If I remember correctly, split-seasons occurred before divisional organization, yes?

That's correct. But the split-season format was only used sporadically, and then only to create a post-season championship. The Shaughnessy playoff format, first introduced in the mid-1930s, proved to be much more popular and became the primary way for minor leagues to have post-season playoffs. This method was popular for a long time before fading away, then the divisional structure and the resurgence of the split-season format took over.

Originally Posted by No Pepper

I assume geography played more a role in the formation of divisions than simply providing for more playoff teams, that is, if the minors did have a playoff.

Scheduling issues were part of it. The PCL, when it first split into divisions, was geographically far-flung and so grouping teams together into divisions and setting up a schedule accordingly was a natural idea. Other leagues, like the geographically compact Carolina League, often retained a balanced schedule even though it used a divisional structure. So, whether a league used divisions depended on a couple of different influences.

Originally Posted by No Pepper

And split-seasons came about, at times, to increase competition/interest?

Yes. It was always a problem later in a season if one team was well ahead, as it tended to depress attendance in the other cities since they were out of the pennant race. On the other hand, many still regarded the split-season format as a gimmick and that's why it was never in commonplace usage in earlier times.

Originally Posted by No Pepper

I think I've read that if a team was way ahead, the league split the season and then paired off the winners in a playoff at the end.

That happened for sure in the PCL in 1934 and 1935. In both years, the Los Angeles Angels were so dominant and so far ahead early in the season that the league executives decided to break the season into two halves (the problem of a team with a big lead was exacerbated in the PCL due to its long seasons, 188 games in 1934 and 177 games in 1935).

As it happened, it didn't help much in 1934 as the Angels easily won both halves, finishing with a 137-50 .733 record overall. The league then set up a post-season series between the Angels and an All-Star squad made up of the best players from the other clubs in the league. It was more successful in 1935 as the San Francisco Seals won the second half and went on to defeat the Angels 4 games to 2 in the championship series.

[BostonRS14]

If I want to update my minors post expansion (FLA/COL), where did you find the breakdown for the divisions?