Midwest League Reference Book

Midwest League Affiliates

This page is an index to pages in the Midwest League Reference Book about the MWL's major league affiliations.

Most of the pages linked to below are incomplete, and will likely remain so for some time. I work on this project as my schedule permits.

For better or worse, one league purpose is developing players for the major leagues. These pages look at the relationship between the MWL's teams and their major league affiliates.

Most big-league teams have been affiliated with one or more Midwest League teams at some point; the only exception, now, is Colorado. These pages display each major league team's relationship with the league and the league's teams.

Here's a summary of each franchise's participation in the Midwest League and its predecessors. Each link leads to more information about the affiliation's history.

                                 Best
Team (Last Champ) Years Champ   Record   Comments
Angels (1994)       45     4       1     Los Angeles, California, Anaheim
Astros (2000)       16     1       0
Athletics (2004)    35     2       4     Kansas City, Oakland
Blue Jays            5     0       0
Braves               9     0       1     Boston, Milwaukee, Atlanta
Brewers (1995)      37     4       1     includes Seattle Pilots
Cardinals (2002)    49     3       6
Cubs (1979)         47     4       2
Diamondbacks (2005) 13     1       1
Dodgers             16     0       2
Giants (1991)       42     3       3     New York, San Francisco
Indians (1986)      21     3       3
Mariners (1981)     26     1       1
Marlins (2001)      10     1       2
Mets                 6     0       0
Nationals           11     0       0     entirely Montreal Expos
Orioles (1964)      10     2       2     includes St. Louis Browns
Padres (2009)       20     1       1
Phillies             4     0       0
Pirates             12     0       0
Rangers             11     0       0     includes 2nd Washington Senators
Rays                 2     0       0     entirely Devil Rays
Red Sox (1960)      17     3       4
Reds (1992)         31     2       2
Rockies              0     0       0
Royals (2008)       29     4       3
Tigers (2007)       22     4       6
Twins (1987)        46     3       1
White Sox (1993)    35    12      11
Yankees              3     0       0

Co-ops               7     0       0
Indies (1953)       32     4       5

A few things stand out in this table:

• The Cardinals have sent more teams here than any other franchise.
  • Then the Cubs, then the Twins, then the Giants and Angels--all of whom have logged more than 40 MWL seasons.
• However you measure, the White Sox are easily the most successful franchise.
  • On a smaller scale, the Tigers & Red Sox have done very well.
• Futility? The Pirates, the Expos (now the Nats), and the Rangers (older Nats).
  • The Astros may merit a mention, and perhaps the Dodgers.

Notes:
If I didn't mention an obvious predecessor, it's because they weren't represented in the ISL/M-OVL/MWL.

Some of the material on this page originated as the January 23, 2000, Midwest League Tidbit on the Midwest League Mailing List.