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Originally Posted by cephasjames
Up until you wrote this I had no idea it was even possible to go below Rookie.
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It would appear from this question that you're not familiar with how the minor league classification system has changed over the years. So let me provide a quick answer (or as quick as a long-winded poster like myself can be):
In 1902, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues was formed and existed with the following classifications: A, B, C, D.
In 1912, the classification of AA was established as the highest classification, the system was as follows: AA, A, B, C, D.
In 1936, the classification of A1 was established between AA and A, creating: AA, A1, A, B, C, D.
In 1946, the system was restructured with AA leagues becoming AAA and A1 leagues becoming AA, resulting in: AAA, AA, A, B, C, D.
In 1952, the classification of Open was established for the Pacific Coast League to help it become a major league: Open, AAA, AA, A, B, C, D.
In 1958, the classification of Open was removed when the National League moved into Los Angeles and San Francisco: AAA, AA, A, B, C, D.
In 1963, the system was radically restructured to: AAA, AA, A, Rookie.
Rookie class leagues played short seasons from the start. The separation of A level leagues into full length and short season versions didn't start until later (the defunct Class A Northern League started playing short seasons in 1965, the Northwest League in 1966, and the New York-Pennsylvania League in 1967).
Sometime around 1990, the A and Rookie levels were divided, resulting in: AAA, AA, A (Advanced), A, A (Short Season), Rookie (Advanced), Rookie.
Note that prior to 1963, the classification attached to a minor league was based on the aggregate population of the individual cities comprising the league. In 1950, for example, a minor league whose cities' population added together fell into the following ranges were classified as follows:
AAA: 3,000,000+
AA: 1,750,000+ to 3,000,000
A: 1,000,000+ to 1,750,000
B: 250,000+ to 1,000,000
C: 150,000+ to 250,000
D: up to 150,000
And lastly here's what the minors actually looked like in 1930, the year Tiger Fan chose for his blog:
Class AA
American Association
International League
Pacific Coast League
Class A
Eastern League
New York-Pennsylvania League
Southern Association
Texas League
Western League
Class B
Central League
Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (or Three-I League as it was commonly known)
New England League
South Atlantic League
Southeastern League
Class C
Middle Atlantic League
Ontario League
Piedmont League
Western Association
Class D
Arizona State League
Blue Ridge League
Cotton States League
Georgia-Alabama League
Mississippi Valley League
Nebraska State League