|
Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange
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
|