The Baltimore Orioles farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates in the United States and the Dominican Republic.[1] Four teams are independently owned, while the other three—the Florida Complex League Orioles and two Dominican Summer League Orioles squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Orioles have been affiliated with the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox of the Eastern League since 1993, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Orioles. Their newest affiliate is the Norfolk Tides of the International League, which became the Orioles' Triple-A club in 2007. The longest affiliation in team history was the 53-year relationship with the Rookie Appalachian League's Bluefield Orioles from 1958 to 2010.[2]
The Orioles have the shortest cumulative distance between its four full-season minor league affiliates in baseball at 487 miles (784 km).[3] The top four affiliates are located within a 200-mile (320 km) radius from Baltimore, with three of them situated in Maryland. Geographically, Baltimore's closest domestic affiliate is the Baysox of the Double-A Northeast, which is approximately 24 miles (39 km) away. Baltimore's furthest domestic affiliate is the Florida Complex League Orioles of the Rookie Florida Complex League some 892 miles (1,436 km) away.
Baltimore Orioles
edit2021–present
editThe current structure of Minor League Baseball is the result of an overall contraction of the system beginning with the 2021 season. Class A was reduced to two levels: High-A and Low-A. Class A Short Season teams and domestic Rookie League teams that operated away from Spring Training facilities were eliminated.[4] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.[5]
1990–2020
editMinor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. The Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.[10]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Norfolk Tides[11] | Bowie Baysox[12] | Frederick Keys[13] | Delmarva Shorebirds[14] | Aberdeen IronBirds[15] | GCL Orioles | DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2 |
| 2019 | |||||||
| 2018 | DSL Orioles | ||||||
| 2017 | |||||||
| 2016 | DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2 | ||||||
| 2015 | |||||||
| 2014 | |||||||
| 2013 | |||||||
| 2012 | DSL Orioles | ||||||
| 2011 | |||||||
| 2010 | Bluefield Orioles[16] GCL Orioles[17] |
DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2 | |||||
| 2009 | DSL Orioles | ||||||
| 2008 | |||||||
| 2007 | |||||||
| 2006 | Ottawa Lynx[11][18] | Bluefield Orioles | DSL Orioles VSL Orioles[17] | ||||
| 2005 | |||||||
| 2004 | DSL Orioles Venoco 2 | ||||||
| 2003 | Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles |
DSL Orioles Yaritagua | |||||
| 2002 | Rochester Red Wings[18] | DSL Orioles Cabudare | |||||
| 2001 | — | DSL Orioles | |||||
| 2000 | — | ||||||
| 1999 | — | ||||||
| 1998 | — | ||||||
| 1997 | — | ||||||
| 1996 | Frederick Keys High Desert Mavericks[19] |
— | — | ||||
| 1995 | — | — | — | ||||
| 1994 | Frederick Keys | Albany Polecats[20][21] | — | — | |||
| 1993 | — | — | |||||
| 1992 | Hagerstown Suns[22] | Kane County Cougars[21][23] | — | — | |||
| 1991 | — | — | |||||
| 1990 | Wausau Timbers[23] | — | Bluefield Orioles | — |
1963–1989
editThe foundation of the minors' current structure was the result of a reorganization initiated by Major League Baseball (MLB) before the 1963 season. The reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-AA, Class A and Rookie) was a response to the general decline of the minors throughout the 1950s and early-1960s when leagues and teams folded due to shrinking attendance caused by baseball fans' preference for staying at home to watch MLB games on television. The only change made within the next 27 years was Class A being subdivided for the first time to form Class A Short Season in 1966.[10]
(The Orioles were involved in minor league affiliate co-op agreements twice—the Pulaski Phillies with various other MLB clubs in 1976 and the Daytona Beach Islanders with the Texas Rangers in 1985.)
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Rochester Red Wings | Hagerstown Suns[24] | Frederick Keys[12] | Erie Orioles | Bluefield Orioles |
| 1988 | Charlotte Knights[25] | Hagerstown Suns | |||
| 1987 | Charlotte Orioles[25] | Newark Orioles | |||
| 1986 | |||||
| 1985 | Hagerstown Suns, Daytona Beach Islanders[26][27] | ||||
| 1984 | Hagerstown Suns | ||||
| 1983 | Hagerstown Suns, San Jose Bees | ||||
| 1982 | Hagerstown Suns[22] | — | |||
| 1981 | Miami Orioles | — | |||
| 1980 | — | ||||
| 1979[28] | — | ||||
| 1978 | — | ||||
| 1977 | — | ||||
| 1976 | — | Bluefield Orioles Pulaski Phillies | |||
| 1975 | Asheville Orioles[29] | Miami Orioles, Lodi Orioles[30][31] | — | Bluefield Orioles | |
| 1974[32] | — | ||||
| 1973 | Miami Orioles, Lodi Lions[31] | — | |||
| 1972 | Miami Orioles, Lodi Orions[30] | Lewiston Broncs | |||
| 1971 | Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs[33] | Miami Orioles, Stockton Ports[34] | Aberdeen Pheasants[35] | ||
| 1970 | Miami Marlins, Stockton Ports | ||||
| 1969 | |||||
| 1968 | Elmira Pioneers | ||||
| 1967 | |||||
| 1966 | |||||
| 1965[36] | Tri-City Atoms,[37] Stockton Ports, Fox Cities Foxes,[38] Aberdeen Pheasants | — | |||
| 1964 | Stockton Ports, Fox Cities Foxes, Aberdeen Pheasants | — | |||
| 1963[39] | — |
1954–1962
editThe minors operated with six levels (Triple-A, Double-A and Classes A, B, C and D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from Triple-A to Open in 1952 due to the possibility of becoming a third major league. This arrangement ended following the 1957 season when the relocation of the National League's Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast killed any chance of the PCL being promoted. The 1963 reorganization resulted in the Eastern and South Atlantic Leagues being elevated from Class A to Double-A, five of seven Class D circuits plus the ones in B and C upgraded to A, and the Appalachian League reclassified from D to Rookie.[10]
St. Louis Browns
edit| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | — | San Antonio Missions | Wichita Indians Lewiston Broncs |
York White Roses Anderson Rebels |
Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Judges Thetford Mines Miners Pocatello Bannocks |
Ada Herefords Wytheville Statesmen Valdosta Browns |
| 1952 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Scranton Miners | Aberdeen Pheasants Stockton Ports Pine Bluff Judges Pocatello Bannocks |
Ada Herefords Independence Browns Wellsville Rockets | ||
| 1951 | — | Anderson Rebels | Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Judges |
Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Appleton Papermakers | ||
| 1950 | Baltimore Orioles | Wichita Indians | Wichita Falls Spudders | Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Judges Marshall Browns | ||
| 1949 | Elmira Pioneers | Springfield Browns Wichita Falls Spudders |
Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Cardinals Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Globe-Miami Browns Muskogee Reds Marshall Browns Salinas Colts/Potros de Tijuana |
Mayfield Clothiers Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Wausau Lumberjacks Olean Oilers | ||
| 1948[43] | Toledo Mud Hens | Springfield Browns Wichita Falls Spudders Port Chester Clippers |
Aberdeen Pheasants Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Globe-Miami Browns Muskogee Reds Hannibal Pilots Modesto Reds |
Mayfield Clothiers Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Wausau Lumberjacks Belleville Stags Griffin Pimientos Peekskill Highlanders | ||
| 1947 | Springfield Browns | Aberdeen Pheasants Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Globe-Miami Browns Muskogee Reds Hannibal Pilots |
Mayfield Clothiers Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Newark Moundsmen Wausau Lumberjacks Belleville Stags Baton Rouge Red Sticks | |||
| 1946 | Springfield Browns Spartanburg Peaches |
Aberdeen Pheasants Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Paris Red Peppers |
Mayfield Clothiers Pittsburg Browns Newark Moundsmen | |||
| 1945 | — | Toledo Mud Hens | — | — | Newark Moundsmen | |
| 1944 | — | Memphis Chickasaws | — | — | ||
| 1943 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1942 | — | San Antonio Missions | Springfield Browns | Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Huntington Jewels |
Dothan Browns | |
| 1941 | — | Springfield Browns Meridian Eagles |
Youngstown Browns St. Joseph Ponies/Carthage Browns |
Mayfield Browns Lafayette White Sox Paragould Browns Pueblo Rollers | ||
| 1940 | — | Springfield Browns | Palestine Pals Youngstown Browns Topeka Owls Tyler Trojans |
Mayfield Browns Lafayette White Sox Paragould Browns Pennington Gap Miners | ||
| 1939 | — | — | Youngstown Browns Topeka Owls |
Mayfield Browns Lafayette White Sox Paragould Browns Pennington Gap Miners Lincoln Links Beaver Falls Bees Fayetteville Angels | ||
| 1938 | — | — | Springfield Browns Meridian Scrappers |
Palestine Pals Johnstown Johnnies |
Mayfield Clothiers Lafayette White Sox Findlay Browns Easton Cubs Lincoln Links Batesville White Sox | |
| 1937 | — | — | San Antonio Missions Des Moines Demons |
Meridian Scrappers Terre Haute Tots |
Mayfield Clothiers Lafayette White Sox Findlay Browns Easton Browns Fairbury Jeffs Osceola Indians Superior Blues | |
| 1936 | — | — | San Antonio Missions | — | Palestine Pals | Lafayette White Sox |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1934 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1933 | — | — | San Antonio Missions Joplin Miners |
— | — | — |
| 1932 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders/ Longview Cannibals |
— | Fort Smith Twins/ Muskogee Chiefs |
Rock Island Islanders |
| 1931 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1929 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1928 | — | — | — | — | — |
References
edit- ^ "Orioles Affiliates". Baltimore Orioles. Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Eddy, Matt. "Numbers Game: Infrequent Flyers," Baseball America, April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018
- ^ Brown, Maury. "MLB Invites 119 Clubs To Be Minor League Affiliates; Here’s Who Made It And Who Didn’t," Forbes, Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Trezza, Joe. "O's extend invites to Minor League affiliates," MLB.com, Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020
- ^ Hall, David. "Norfolk Tides to remain Orioles’ affiliate for another decade," The Virginian-Pilot (Newport News, VA), Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021
- ^ "Baysox Officially Accept Invitation To Remain Double-A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles," Bowie Baysox, Thursday, February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021
- ^ McRoberts, Randy. "Aberdeen IronBirds to play High-A baseball as part of MLB’s new Minor League agreement, unsure on timetable," The Aegis (Bel Air, MD), Friday, February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021
- ^ a b c Cronin, John (Spring 2013). "Truth in the Minor League Class Structure: The Case for the Reclassification of the Minors". The Baseball Research Journal. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ a b "Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles", Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.
- ^ a b "Orioles extend working agreements with Minor League affiliates in Norfolk, Bowie and Frederick through 2014", Baltimore Orioles press release, Thursday, August 12, 2010.
- ^ Swatek, Greg. "Keys part ways with Orioles, join MLB Draft League," The Frederick News-Post, Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020
- ^ "Orioles extend working agreements with Bowie, Frederick and Delmarva", Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, October 2, 2006.
- ^ Goldberg, Stan "Pumping some iron in Aberdeen" The Frederick News-Post, Thursday, August 5, 2004
- ^ a b Drellich, Evan. "Orioles end affiliation with Bluefield club", MLB.com, Sunday, August 29, 2010.
- ^ a b "Orioles will drop Venezuelan team for 2007", Baltimore Orioles press release, Wednesday, February 14, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Orioles sign affiliation with Ottawa", Baltimore Orioles press release, Tuesday, September 24, 2002.
- ^ Team History – High Desert Mavericks.
- ^ Baker, Kent "South Atlantic League will have Delmarva Shorebirds next season Kirk group buying team, will move it to Salisbury" The Baltimore Sun, Thursday, September 21, 1995
- ^ a b "O's, Polecats agree" Associated Press, Thursday, October 1, 1992
- ^ a b Parasiliti, Bob "Hagerstown Suns sign two-year pact to remain affiliated with Nationals" The Herald-Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland), Wednesday, September 22, 2010
- ^ a b Gauthier, Tom. "Introducing the Kane County Cougars", Bowling Green Hot Rods, Wednesday, October 21, 2009.
- ^ Team History – Hagerstown Suns.
- ^ a b Team History – Charlotte Knights.
- ^ Rhodes, Beth "FSL Expansion Islanders A Mix Of Orioles, Rangers" Orlando (FL) Sentinel, Wednesday, April 10, 1985
- ^ Rhodes, Beth "White Sox To Field Class A Team In Daytona Beach" Orlando (FL) Sentinel, Wednesday, December 10, 1986
- ^ Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1979.
- ^ "Jarrett, Keith. "What's in a name?" Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times, Sunday, May 13, 2007". Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ^ a b "Lodi is dropped by Baltimore Orioles; Cal League future in doubt" Lodi (CA) News-Sentinel, Saturday, September 27, 1975
- ^ a b "Spring training: Lodi Orioles doing well in fine weather" Lodi (CA) News-Sentinel, Friday, March 29, 1974
- ^ Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1974.
- ^ Guinn, Jeff & Bragan, Bobby. When Panthers Roared: The Fort Worth Cats and Minor League Baseball. Fort Worth, Texas: TCU Press, 1999.
- ^ a b Team History – Stockton Ports.
- ^ Horwath, Bryan. "Business: Could pro baseball return to Aberdeen?" American News (Aberdeen, South Dakota), Thursday, September 25, 2014.
- ^ Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1965.
- ^ a b c d Northwest League of Professional Baseball 2012 Media Guide.
- ^ a b Team History – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
- ^ Official Baseball Record Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1963.
- ^ Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1957.
- ^ King, David. San Antonio at Bat: Professional Baseball in the Alamo City. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 2004.
- ^ Holmes, Devena. "Pheasant Park (AKA Aberdeen Municipal Ballpark)(AKA Johnson Field)", Aberdeen (SD) Area History, Friday, June 1, 2012.
- ^ Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1948.