The Canadian League was a minor league baseball league that operated in Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
32-557: The first version of the league operated in 1885, then from 1896–1899, becoming a Class-D league in 1899 and merging into the International League in 1900. In 1905 there was a four-team class D loop known as the Canadian League . Another league using that title ran from 1911 through 1915 — it was originally ranked a D league as well, moved to a C rating a year later and in 1914 got a B classification. Frank Shaughnessy managed
64-647: A 1903 copy of The London Advertiser ), had 201 hits, scored 103 runs and stole 80 bases. His second season with the Tecumsehs was less successful due to a leg injury. Donovan went on to an outstanding career in Major League Baseball , even playing a significant role in scouting Babe Ruth . The following teams played in the second incarnation of the league, which existed from 1888 until 1890: In 1888, Syracuse finished in first place. Detroit finished in first place in 1889 and 1890. Some baseball historians consider
96-406: A different name) and later operated during 1888–1890. The Association's by-laws and constitution required member teams to pay $ 10 to join the league (plus an additional $ 15 to compete for the championship) and fan admission was set at 25 cents. Visiting teams were guaranteed $ 75, plus half of the gate receipts when they exceeded that amount ($ 75). Pitcher Candy Cummings was the first president of
128-713: A league champion. 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
160-458: 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 . The IL recognizes outstanding players and team personnel annually near the end of each season. The Most Valuable Player Award , first awarded in 1932, is given to honor the best player in
192-628: 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 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
224-586: Is determined at the end of each season. The Rochester Red Wings have won 19 International League titles , the most in the league's history, followed by the Columbus Clippers (11) and the Baltimore Orioles , original Buffalo Bisons , and 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
256-532: 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 late March and concluding in late September. Since the 2023 season, the regular season is split into two halves. After the completion of the season, the winners of each half meet in a best-of-three series to determine a league champion . From 1933 to 2019,
288-571: 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
320-781: The Cleveland Indians , 8–6, in 11 innings before 11,032 fans at Franklin County Stadium in Columbus, Ohio . The International League and the 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 . The league also split into two divisions that year. The interleague concept ended in 1992, but the two league divisions remained. In 1998,
352-613: The National Base Ball Association entering the 1879 season. Under that name, it played through the 1880 season before dissolving. The league did not operate from 1881 to 1887. In 1888, outfielder Patsy Donovan of the London Tecumsehs led the league in batting with a batting average of either .359 (according to the Donovan family web site) or .398 (according to the London Tecumsehs' official scorer C. J. Moorehead in
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#1732855894610384-961: The Ottawa team from 1913 to 1915. The league briefly returned in 1905 and then operated again from 1911 to 1915. 1899 Canadian League Secretary: Cal Davis #Stratford (5–20) moved to Woodstock June 8. ##Chatham and St. Thomas disbanded July 4. Home Runs, four players tied with 5. 1905 D Canadian League President: NA #Simcoe disbanded around July 15. No Individual Statistics Available. 1911 D Canadian League President: Donald Ferguson No Playoffs Scheduled. 1912 C Canadian League President: J. P. Fitzgerald No Playoffs Scheduled. 1913 C Canadian League President: J. P. Fitzgerald No Playoffs Scheduled. 1914 B Canadian League President: J. P. Fitzgerald No Playoffs Scheduled. 1915 B Canadian League President: J. P. Fitzgerald No Playoffs Scheduled. International League The International League ( IL )
416-725: The Syracuse Mets (8). The International League was created from the mergers of member teams from three precursor leagues: the Eastern League of 1884, which was itself a re-organization of the Interstate Association of 1883; the New York State League , formed in 1885; and the Ontario League, also organized in 1885. The New York State League and Ontario League merged in 1886 to form the International League, and in 1887
448-416: 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. As part of this reorganization, the International League was expanded to 20 teams and temporarily renamed the "Triple-A East" for the 2021 season. Of these 20 teams, 14 were existing members of
480-545: The All-Star Game itself. These teams were either charter members of the IL in 1912 or were added as expansion teams thereafter. Three current teams joined the IL in 1998 from the American Association , which disbanded after the 1997 season. Indianapolis had previously played in the IL in 1963. Four current teams were placed in the IL from the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2021. One current team
512-539: The Eastern League was absorbed to create a ten-club league. Also in 1887, the International League passed a resolution barring African Americans from playing in the league. The league collapsed soon afterwards, when the northern teams claimed that it was too onerous to travel to the south and formed the International Association . The "International League" name was first used in 1886, but did not become
544-685: The International Association the first minor league ; others point out that the league was conceived as a rival to the National League , now thought of as the sole major league of the era. Statistics of players who competed in the International Association and other early non-major leagues, such as the New England League , are grouped as "Other" by the Baseball-Reference.com reference site. The Northwestern League of 1883–1884
576-497: The International Association, while also a player for the Lynn Live Oaks of Massachusetts in 1877. Jimmy Williams of Columbus served as the league's first Secretary. In 1877, the International Association featured teams based in: Final standings of the 1877 season: Fred Goldsmith , London's star pitcher, had a 14–4 record in 193 innings pitched with three shutouts, during International Association play in 1877. In 1878,
608-624: 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 Carolina League . The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. Prior to
640-559: The International League, four were the easternmost teams from the Pacific Coast League , one was promoted from the Double-A Southern League , and one moved from the independent American Association of Professional Baseball . 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. The International League
672-562: The Year Award , started in 1967, is given to the league's top manager. The Executive of the Year Award, first awarded in 1964, honored team executives who contributed to the success of the league. The Spirit of the International League Award, first awarded in 2010, honored team executives who exhibited dedication to creating and maintaining positive fan experiences when visiting IL games. The International League Hall of Fame
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#1732855894610704-576: The first known African-American player in organized baseball, pitched for the Lynn club in 1878. The Buffalo Bisons , winners of the 1878 pennant, and the Syracuse Stars seriously hurt the International Association's chances at major league status when they joined the rival National League for the 1879 season. At the same time, the London Tecumsehs dropped out of the league, causing it to be renamed
736-464: 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 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. The 2022 championship was decided via
768-472: The league lost two teams - Guelph and Columbus - however, it added the Binghamton Crickets , Hornellsville Hornells , Lowell Lowells and Syracuse Stars . The cities of Buffalo, New York , Hartford, Connecticut , New Bedford, Massachusetts , New Haven, Connecticut , Springfield, Massachusetts and Worcester, Massachusetts also had representatives. Buffalo finished in first place. Bud Fowler ,
800-567: The league's ballparks each season. The Hall became dormant after 1963, but was revived in 2007. New members are elected before the start of each season. International Association for Professional Base Ball Players The International Association for Professional Base Ball Players , commonly known as the International Association , was the name for two separate Canadian-American professional baseball leagues that first operated during 1877–1878 (plus an additional two seasons under
832-568: The league's history. Other interleague play occurred during the Triple-A All-Star Game . Traditionally, the game had taken place on the day after the mid-summer Major League Baseball All-Star Game . The game was meant to mark a symbolic halfway-point in the season (though not the mathematical halfway-point which, for most seasons, is usually one month prior). During the All-Star break, no regular-season games were scheduled for two days before
864-545: The league. The Pitcher of 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 award from 1932 to 1952 as no award was designated solely for pitchers. The Top MLB Prospect Award , created in 1950 as the Rookie of the Year Award, is given to the best player with no prior IL experience. The Manager of
896-549: The longterm name of the league until 1912. The league ultimately cited 1884 as the year of its foundation, through the following lineage: The International League was also affected by the effort to establish the Federal League as a new third major league from 1914 to 1915, with franchises being added and dropped and new ballparks built. In 1954, a franchise was awarded to Havana, Cuba , but due to political upheaval in that country it had to be moved—to Jersey City, New Jersey —in
928-740: The middle of the 1960 season. Another foray into the Caribbean failed when the newly created team in San Juan, Puerto Rico , added in 1961, had to be moved to Charleston, West Virginia , in mid-season. 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 . In August 1983, another team of IL all-stars were defeated by
960-422: The three division champions and a wild card team squared off in series playoffs to determine a champion, with the winner awarded the Governors' Cup , the league's championship trophy. 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. In 2022, the two division champions met in a single game to determine
992-458: Was established in 1947 to honor league players, managers, and executives who have made significant contributions to the league. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class of nine men in 1947. A plaque was unveiled at the IL's New York City offices located in the Ruppert Building at 535 Fifth Avenue. Today, the plaque has no permanent home, but exists as a traveling display that visits a number of
Canadian League - Misplaced Pages Continue
1024-535: Was placed in the IL from the Double-A Southern League in 2021. One current team was placed in the IL from the independent American Association of Professional Baseball in 2021. The International League has crowned a league champion each season since 1884. Through 1932, champions were the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best win–loss record at the conclusion of the regular season. From 1933 to 2020, postseason playoffs were held to determine champions. Participants from 1933 to 1987 were usually
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