List of American Association (1902–1997) champions

Nineteen men in light baseball uniforms
The Louisville Colonels (shown in 1921) won 15 championships, more than any other team.

The American Association was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the United States from 1902 to 1962 and from 1969 to 1997. A champion was determined at the end of each season.

From 1902 to 1932 and in 1935, champions were the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best win–loss record at the conclusion of the regular season. In 1933 and 1934, the top two teams competed in a postseason series to determine a champion. The Shaughnessy playoff system, in which the top four teams qualified for postseason play, was adopted from 1936 to 1962. The American Association dissolved after the 1962 season, but it was reorganized in 1969. After crowning that year's pennant winner as champion, it divided its teams into two divisions, and the division champions played for the league title from 1970 to 1980. A variety of postseason playoff formats were used over the next 17 seasons before the league disbanded for a final time following the 1997 campaign.

The Louisville Colonels won 15 American Association championships, more than any other team, followed by the Indianapolis Indians (12); the Columbus Red Birds (10); the Minneapolis Millers (9); the St. Paul Saints (8); the Denver Zephyrs (7); the Kansas City Blues (6); the Milwaukee Brewers (5); the Omaha Royals (4); the Evansville Triplets and Louisville Redbirds (3); the Oklahoma City 89ers and Tulsa Oilers (2); and the Buffalo Bisons, Iowa Cubs, Springfield Redbirds, and Toledo Mud Hens (1).

History

Fourteen men in light baseball uniforms and two in dark suits
The Indianapolis Indians won the first American Association championship in 1902.

The American Association, which was founded in 1902,[1] determined a league champion at the end of each season. Champions from 1902 to 1932 were simply the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best win–loss record at the conclusion of the regular championship season. The first league champions were the Indianapolis Indians, who won by two games over the Louisville Colonels in 1902.[2]

The first championship playoffs were held in 1933.[3] The top two teams, based on winning percentage, competed for the championship in a best-of-seven series. The first playoff championship was won by the Columbus Red Birds, who defeated the Minneapolis Millers, 4–2, in 1933.[3] Similar playoffs were held in 1934, but the league returned to recognizing the regular-season pennant winner as champion in 1935.[3]

The American Association adopted the Shaughnessy playoff system in 1936. Under this expanded playoff format, the four teams with the highest winning percentage competed for the championship.[4] From 1936 to 1962, the first round typically consisted of a series between the first and third-place teams and a series between the second and fourth-place teams, though other seedings were occasionally used. The winners of these semifinals then faced one another for the championship. With few exceptions, each series during this period was the best-of-seven games. The first four-team playoff was won in 1936 by the Milwaukee Brewers, who defeated Indianapolis, 4–1.[3]

The circuit disbanded after the 1962 season, but was reorganized for 1969.[1] The first champions in this second iteration of the league were the regular-season pennant winners.[3] The Omaha Royals won by virtue of a six-game lead over the Tulsa Oilers.[5] The American Association divided its teams into two divisions, East and West, in 1970. From 1970 to 1980, the winners of each division met in a best-of-seven series (sometimes five) to determine a champion.[3]

Across the league's last 17 seasons, 1981 to 1997, three different postseason formats were utilized. Some seasons ended with the East and West Division champions facing off in a single round. Some saw wild card berths awarded to the second-place team from each division. After a series between the division champions and a series between the wild card teams, the winners would play for the league championship. Still in others, the league played without divisions, and the top four teams qualified for the playoffs. In these scenarios, the first round consisted of a series between the first and fourth-place teams and between the second and third-place teams, with the winners competing for the league title.[3] Most rounds during this period were best-of-five series, though some final rounds and fewer semifinals were sometimes the best-of-seven. The circuit permanently disbanded after the 1997 season.[1] The final American Association championship was won by the Buffalo Bisons, who defeated the Iowa Cubs, 3–0.[3]

Champions

Pre-playoff champions (1902–1932)

Key
Record Regular-season win–loss record
GA Games ahead of the second-place team
Champions
Year Champion Record GA Runner-up Ref.
1902 Indianapolis Indians 96–45 2 Louisville Colonels [2]
1903 St. Paul Apostles 88–46 4+1⁄2 Louisville Colonels [6]
1904 St. Paul Apostles 95–52 8 Columbus Senators [7]
1905 Columbus Senators 100–52 8 Milwaukee Brewers [8]
1906 Columbus Senators 91–57 8 Milwaukee Brewers [9]
1907 Columbus Senators 90–64 1+1⁄2 Toledo Mud Hens [10]
1908 Indianapolis Indians 92–61 4 Louisville Colonels [11]
1909 Louisville Colonels 93–75 2+1⁄2 Milwaukee Brewers [12]
1910 Minneapolis Millers 107–61 15 Toledo Mud Hens [13]
1911 Minneapolis Millers 99–66 4+1⁄2 Kansas City Blues [14]
1912 Minneapolis Millers 105–60 6+1⁄2 Toledo Mud Hens [15]
1913 Milwaukee Brewers 100–67 3 Minneapolis Millers [16]
1914 Milwaukee Brewers 98–68 4 Louisville Colonels [17]
1915 Minneapolis Millers 92–62 1+1⁄2 St. Paul Saints [18]
1916 Louisville Colonels 101–66 5+1⁄2 Indianapolis Indians [19]
1917 Indianapolis Indians 90–63 2+1⁄2 Louisville Colonels[a]
St. Paul Saints[a]		 [20]
1918 Kansas City Blues[b] 43–30 2 Columbus Senators [22]
1919 St. Paul Saints 94–60 6+1⁄2 Kansas City Blues [23]
1920 St. Paul Saints 115–49 28+1⁄2 Louisville Colonels [24]
1921 Louisville Colonels 98–70 4+1⁄2 Minneapolis Millers [25]
1922 St. Paul Saints 107–60 15 Minneapolis Millers [26]
1923 Kansas City Blues 112–54 2 St. Paul Saints [27]
1924 St. Paul Saints 96–70 4 Indianapolis Indians [28]
1925 Louisville Colonels 106–61 13+1⁄2 Indianapolis Indians [29]
1926 Louisville Colonels 105–62 10 Indianapolis Indians [30]
1927 Toledo Mud Hens 101–67 2 Kansas City Blues[c]
Milwaukee Brewers[c]		 [31]
1928 Indianapolis Indians 99–68 2+1⁄2 Minneapolis Millers [32]
1929 Kansas City Blues 111–56 8+1⁄2 St. Paul Saints [33]
1930 Louisville Colonels 93–60 2+1⁄2 St. Paul Saints [34]
1931 St. Paul Saints 104–63 14 Kansas City Blues [35]
1932 Minneapolis Millers 100–68 10+1⁄2 Columbus Red Birds [36]

Playoff era champions (1933–1962, 1969–1997)

Key
Score Score of the championship series
P Regular-season pennant winner
E East Division winner
W West Division winner
Champions
Year Champion Score Runner-up Other playoff teams Ref.
1933 Columbus Red BirdsP 4–2 Minneapolis Millers — [37]
1934 Columbus Red Birds 4–3 Minneapolis MillersP — [38]
1935 Minneapolis Millers —[d] Indianapolis Indians — [39]
1936 Milwaukee BrewersP 4–1 Indianapolis Indians Kansas City Blues & St. Paul Saints [40]
1937 Columbus Red BirdsP 4–2 Milwaukee Brewers Minneapolis Millers & Toledo Mud Hens [41]
1938 Kansas City Blues 4–3 St. Paul SaintsP Indianapolis Indians & Milwaukee Brewers [42]
1939 Louisville Colonels 4–1 Indianapolis Indians Kansas City BluesP & Minneapolis Millers [43]
1940 Louisville Colonels 4–2 Kansas City BluesP Columbus Red Birds & Minneapolis Millers [44]
1941 Columbus Red BirdsP 4–1 Louisville Colonels Minneapolis Millers & Kansas City Blues [45]
1942 Columbus Red Birds 4–0 Toledo Mud Hens Kansas City BluesP & Milwaukee Brewers [46]
1943 Columbus Red Birds 3–0 Indianapolis Indians Milwaukee BrewersP & Toledo Mud Hens [47]
1944 Louisville Colonels 4–0 St. Paul Saints Milwaukee BrewersP & Toledo Mud Hens [48]
1945 Louisville Colonels 4–2 St. Paul Saints Indianapolis Indians & Milwaukee BrewersP [49]
1946 Louisville ColonelsP 4–0 Indianapolis Indians Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints [50]
1947 Milwaukee Brewers 4–3 Louisville Colonels Kansas City BluesP & Minneapolis Millers [51]
1948 St. Paul Saints 4–3 Columbus Red Birds Indianapolis IndiansP & Milwaukee Brewers [52]
1949 Indianapolis Indians 4–3 Milwaukee Brewers Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul SaintsP [53]
1950 Columbus Red Birds 4–3 Indianapolis Indians Minneapolis MillersP & St. Paul Saints [54]
1951 Milwaukee BrewersP 4–2 St. Paul Saints Kansas City Blues & Louisville Colonels [55]
1952 Kansas City Blues 4–3 Milwaukee BrewersP Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints [56]
1953 Kansas City Blues 4–3 Toledo SoxP Indianapolis Indians & Louisville Colonels [57]
1954 Louisville Colonels 4–1 Indianapolis IndiansP Columbus Red Birds & Minneapolis Millers [58]
1955 Minneapolis MillersP 4–0 Omaha Cardinals Denver Bears & Louisville Colonels [59]
1956 Indianapolis IndiansP 4–0 Denver Bears Minneapolis Millers & Omaha Cardinals [60]
1957 Denver Bears 4–2 St. Paul Saints Minneapolis Millers & Wichita BravesP [61]
1958 Minneapolis Millers 4–0 Denver Bears Charleston SenatorsP & Wichita Braves [62]
1959 Minneapolis Millers 4–3 Fort Worth Cats Louisville ColonelsE & Omaha CardinalsW [63]
1960 Louisville Colonels 4–2 Denver BearsP Houston Buffs & St. Paul Saints [64]
1961 Louisville Colonels 4–2 Houston Buffs Denver Bears & Indianapolis IndiansP [65]
1962 Louisville Colonels 4–2 Denver Bears Indianapolis IndiansP & Omaha Dodgers [66]
1969 Omaha Royals —[e] Tulsa Oilers — [5]
1970 Omaha RoyalsE 4–1 Denver BearsW — [67]
1971 Denver BearsW 4–3 Indianapolis IndiansE — [68]
1972 Evansville TripletsE 3–0 Wichita AerosW — [69]
1973 Tulsa OilersW 4–3 Iowa OaksE — [70]
1974 Tulsa OilersW 4–3 Indianapolis IndiansE — [71]
1975 Evansville TripletsE 4–2 Denver BearsW — [72]
1976 Denver BearsW 4–2 Omaha RoyalsE — [73]
1977 Denver BearsW 4–2 Omaha RoyalsE — [74]
1978 Omaha RoyalsW 4–1 Indianapolis IndiansE — [75]
1979 Evansville TripletsE 4–2 Oklahoma City 89ersW — [76]
1980 Springfield RedbirdsE 4–1 Denver BearsW — [77]
1981 Denver Bears 4–0 Omaha RoyalsW Evansville TripletsE & Springfield Redbirds [78]
1982 Indianapolis IndiansE 4–2 Omaha RoyalsW — [79]
1983 Denver BearsW 4–0 Louisville RedbirdsE Iowa Cubs & Oklahoma City 89ers [80]
1984 Louisville Redbirds 4–1 Denver Zephyrs Indianapolis IndiansP & Iowa Cubs [81]
1985 Louisville RedbirdsE 4–1 Oklahoma City 89ersW — [82]
1986 Indianapolis IndiansE 4–3 Denver ZephyrsW — [83]
1987 Indianapolis Indians 4–1 Denver ZephyrsP Louisville Redbirds & Oklahoma City 89ers [84]
1988 Indianapolis IndiansE 3–1 Omaha RoyalsW — [85]
1989 Indianapolis IndiansE 3–2 Omaha RoyalsW — [86]
1990 Omaha RoyalsW 3–2 Nashville SoundsE — [87]
1991 Denver ZephyrsW 3–2 Buffalo BisonsE — [88]
1992 Oklahoma City 89ersW 4–0 Buffalo BisonsE — [89]
1993 Iowa CubsW 4–3 Nashville SoundsE — [90]
1994 Indianapolis IndiansP 3–1 Nashville Sounds Louisville Redbirds & New Orleans Zephyrs [91]
1995 Louisville Redbirds 3–2 Buffalo Bisons Indianapolis IndiansP & Omaha Royals [92]
1996 Oklahoma City 89ers 3–1 Indianapolis Indians Buffalo BisonsE & Omaha RoyalsW [93]
1997 Buffalo BisonsE 3–0 Iowa CubsW Indianapolis Indians & New Orleans Zephyrs [94]

Wins by team

Team Wins Year(s)
Louisville Colonels 15 1909, 1916, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1962
Indianapolis Indians 12 1902, 1908, 1917, 1928, 1949, 1956, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994
Columbus Red Birds (Columbus Senators) 10 1905, 1906, 1907, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1950
Minneapolis Millers 9 1910, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1932, 1935, 1955, 1958, 1959
St. Paul Saints (St. Paul Apostles) 8 1903, 1904, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1931, 1948
Denver Zephyrs (Denver Bears) 7 1957, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1991
Kansas City Blues 6 1918, 1923, 1929, 1938, 1952, 1953
Milwaukee Brewers 5 1913, 1914, 1936, 1947, 1951
Omaha Royals 4 1969, 1970, 1978, 1990
Evansville Triplets 3 1972, 1975, 1979
Louisville Redbirds 1984, 1985, 1995
Oklahoma City 89ers 2 1992, 1996
Tulsa Oilers 1973, 1974
Buffalo Bisons 1 1997
Iowa Cubs 1993
Springfield Redbirds 1980
Toledo Mud Hens 1927

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Louisville and St. Paul were tied for second place.
  2. ^ The 1918 season was suspended after the games of July 21 as team owners voted to end the season in response to the "work or fight" order issued by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker to aid the effort to win World War I. Kansas City, in first place at the time, was awarded the pennant.[21]
  3. ^ a b Kansas City and Milwaukee were tied for second place.
  4. ^ Minneapolis (91–63) finished 5 games ahead of Indianapolis.
  5. ^ Omaha (85–55) finished 6 games ahead of Tulsa.

References

Specific

  1. ^ a b c "Notable Events in American Association History". Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "1902 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "American Association Playoff Results". Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "A. A. Playoff May Be All-Western Affair". The Minneapolis Star. Minneapolis. July 28, 1936. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "1969 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "1903 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "1904 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "1905 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "1906 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "1907 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "1908 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "1909 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "1910 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "1911 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  15. ^ "1912 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  16. ^ "1913 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  17. ^ "1914 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "1915 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "1916 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "1917 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  21. ^ "Kansas City Takes Pennant". The Lexington Herald. Lexington. July 22, 1918. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "1918 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  23. ^ "1919 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "1920 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  25. ^ "1921 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "1922 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  27. ^ "1923 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  28. ^ "1924 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  29. ^ "1925 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  30. ^ "1926 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  31. ^ "1927 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  32. ^ "1928 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  33. ^ "1929 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  34. ^ "1930 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  35. ^ "1931 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  36. ^ "1932 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  37. ^ "1933 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  38. ^ "1934 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  39. ^ "1935 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  40. ^ "1936 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  41. ^ "1937 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  42. ^ "1938 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  43. ^ "1939 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  44. ^ "1940 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  45. ^ "1941 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  46. ^ "1942 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  47. ^ "1943 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  48. ^ "1944 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  49. ^ "1945 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  50. ^ "1946 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  51. ^ "1947 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  52. ^ "1948 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  53. ^ "1949 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  54. ^ "1950 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  55. ^ "1951 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  56. ^ "1952 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  57. ^ "1953 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  58. ^ "1954 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  59. ^ "1955 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  60. ^ "1956 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  61. ^ "1957 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  62. ^ "1958 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  63. ^ "1959 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  64. ^ "1960 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  65. ^ "1961 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  66. ^ "1962 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  67. ^ "1970 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  68. ^ "1971 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  69. ^ "1972 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  70. ^ "1973 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  71. ^ "1974 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  72. ^ "1975 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  73. ^ "1976 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  74. ^ "1977 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  75. ^ "1978 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  76. ^ "1979 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  77. ^ "1980 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  78. ^ "1981 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  79. ^ "1982 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  80. ^ "1983 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  81. ^ "1984 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  82. ^ "1985 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  83. ^ "1986 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  84. ^ "1987 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  85. ^ "1988 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  86. ^ "1989 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  87. ^ "1990 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  88. ^ "1991 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  89. ^ "Baseball". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. September 13, 1992. p. C 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  90. ^ "1993 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  91. ^ "1994 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  92. ^ "1995 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  93. ^ "1996 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  94. ^ "1997 American Association". Stats Crew. Retrieved June 5, 2022.

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