A trophy made of metal and wood
The Governors' Cup, awarded to winners of the International League playoffs from 1933 to 2020

The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball. A champion has been determined at the end of each season since the league was formed in 1884.

Through 1932, champions were usually the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best win–loss record at the conclusion of the season. From 1933 to 2020, postseason playoffs were held to determine champions. Participants from 1933 to 1987 were usually the four teams with the highest winning percentages. From 1988 to 2020, the four qualifiers were the division winners and one or two wild card teams. The winner of each season's playoffs was awarded the Governors' Cup. These playoffs and the issuing of trophy were discontinued in 2021, when the winner was the team with the best regular-season record. In 2022, the league championship was determined by a single playoff game between the East and West division winners. Beginning with the 2023 season, the league adopted a split season format, in which the league championship is determined by a best-of-three playoff series between the winners of each half of the season, with the winner meeting the champion of the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A National Championship Game.[1]

The Rochester Red Wings have won 19 International League championships, more than any other team, followed by the Columbus Clippers (11) and the Baltimore Orioles, original Buffalo Bisons, and Toronto Maple Leafs (10). Among active IL franchises, Rochester has won 19 championships, the most of all teams, followed by Columbus (11) and the Durham Bulls and Syracuse Mets (8). During the era of the Governors' Cup playoffs from 1933 to 2020, the most cup titles were won by Columbus (11), followed by Rochester (10) and Syracuse (8).

History

Pre-playoff era (1884–1932)

Seventeen men and two boys wearing dark suits
The Rochester Red Wings, known as the Hustlers in 1909, won nine championships during the pre-playoff era (1884–1932), more than any other team.

The International League was founded in 1884.[2] The modern circuit traces its roots from several predecessor leagues: the Eastern League (1884), New York State League (1885), International League (1886–1887), International Association (1888–1890), Eastern Association (1891), and Eastern League (1892–1911).[3] It adopted consistent use of the International League name in 1912.[3] After the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[4] the league was known as the Triple-A East in 2021 before reverting to the International League moniker in 2022.[5][6]

A league champion has been determined at the end of each season. With few exceptions, champions from 1884 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 Trenton Trentonians, who won by four games over the Lancaster Ironsides in 1884.[7] The 1891 and 1892 seasons were contested as split seasons or "double seasons". Under this format, the schedule was split into two parts. The team with the best record at the end of the first season won the first pennant. Standings were then reset so that all clubs had clean records to begin the second season. If the same team won both seasons, they were declared the league champion.[8] This was the case in 1891 when the original Buffalo Bisons won both halves.[9] If a different team won the second season, the two winners would meet in a playoff series to determine the champion.[8] This happened in 1892 when the Binghamton Bingoes, winners of the second season, defeated the Providence Clamdiggers, winners of the first season, four games to two.[10] In 1932, the Newark Bears became the last team to win the championship by virtue of winning the regular-season pennant before a recurring series of playoffs were instituted.[11]

Governors' Cup era (1933–2020)

A man in a dark suit
Frank Shaughnessy devised a playoff system that was used for the Governor's Cup playoffs to determine a league champion.

Frank Shaughnessy, general manager of the International League's Montreal Royals, was interested in developing a way for multiple clubs to share in the excitement of postseason play. His new playoff format, devised to maintain the interest of fans and players alike during the Great Depression, provided an opportunity for four teams to compete for the league's championship. In 1933, he introduced his plan to league president Charles H. Knappe, and the result was the Governors' Cup playoffs. Several other leagues noticed the success of the "Shaughnessy Plan" and began using the system as well.[12]

The governors of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York and the lieutenant governors of the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, in which the league's eight teams were located at the time, sponsored a trophy to be awarded annually to the winner of the International League playoffs. The original trophy, designed by the supervisor of the league's umpires and silversmith W. B. Carpenter, was created out of solid silver.[12] In 1988, IL president Harold Cooper donated the trophy to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, where it is on permanent display. A new trophy was minted in its place to be presented to the winner of the Governors' Cup playoffs.[12]

Under this system, the top four teams in the league, based on winning percentage, competed for the championship. From 1933 to 1987, the first round typically consisted of a best-of-seven-games series between the first and fourth-place teams and a series between the second and third-place teams. The winners of these semifinals then faced one another for the championship in a best-of-seven series. The first Governors' Cup was won in 1933 by the original Buffalo Bisons, who defeated the Rochester Red Wings, 4–2.[13] Sporadically from 1966 to 1980, one or both rounds were reduced to best-of-five series. From 1981 to 2020, both rounds were the best-of-five.

The IL utilized a divisional alignment for the first time in 1963. The first-place teams from each division, North and South, met in the first round, as did the second-place teams, with the winners meeting in the finals.[14] The circuit reverted to having no divisions in 1964 but returned to the same playoff format with North and South Divisions for 1973 and 1974.[15][16]

From 1988 to 1991, the International League held an interleague partnership with the American Association, called the Triple-A Alliance, in which they played an interlocking schedule, and the leagues' champions met in the Triple-A Classic.[17] During this period, the IL was divided into East and West Divisions, and the division winners faced off in a best-of-five series to determine champions. After the dissolution of the Triple-A Alliance following the 1991 season, the International League maintained this divisional alignment but returned to having a semifinal round wherein the top two teams in each division played each other to qualify for the Governors' Cup finals.[17][18]

The league was split into three divisions, North, South, and West, from 1998 to 2020. Under this arrangement, the three division winners and a wild card team, the team with the best second-place record, qualified for the playoffs. The best-of-five semifinals pitted the North Division winner against the wild card team, and the South and West Division winners against each other. The winners then played in a best-of-five round to determine the champion.[19] The last team to win the championship this way was the Columbus Clippers, who won the last Governors' Cup in 2019.[20] The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Current era (2021–present)

The International League ceased operations before the 2021 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball.[5] In place of the International League, MLB created the Triple-A East, a circuit divided into three divisions, Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast.[21] Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Triple-A East the International League, and it carried on the history of the IL prior to reorganization.[6] Rather than hold playoffs for its championship, the Triple-A East's 2021 title was awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.[22] The Durham Bulls won this championship by four-and-a-half games ahead of the Buffalo Bisons.[23][24]

Along with these changes, all references to the Governors' Cup as the championship of the International League were discontinued and a different trophy was awarded.[25][26][27] In 2022, the league was reorganized in East and West Divisions.[28] Under this alignment, the winners of each division met in a single game to determine the league champion.[29]

Beginning in 2023, the regular-season was split into two halves, and the winners of each half meet in a best-of-three series for the league championship.[30][31]

Champions

Pre-playoff champions (1884–1932)

Key
Record Regular-season win–loss record
GA Games ahead of the second-place team
Champions
Year Champion Record GA Runner-up Ref.
1884 Trenton Trentonians 46–39 4 Lancaster Ironsides [7]
1885 Syracuse Stars 52–37 3+1⁄2 Utica Pent-Ups [32]
1886 Utica Pent-Ups 62–34 5+1⁄2 Rochester Maroons [33]
1887 Toronto Canucks 65–36 3 Buffalo Bisons [34]
1888 Syracuse Stars 81–30 5+1⁄2 Toronto Canucks [35]
1889 Detroit Wolverines 72–39 6+1⁄2 Syracuse Stars [36]
1890 Detroit Wolverines[a] 31–19 1 Toronto Canucks [38]
1891 Buffalo Bisons —[b] — — [9]
1892 Binghamton Bingoes —[c] — Providence Clamdiggers [10]
1893 Erie Blackbirds 63–41 1 Springfield Ponies [39]
1894 Providence Grays 78–34 18 Erie Blackbirds [40]
1895 Springfield Maroons 79–36 6+1⁄2 Providence Grays [41]
1896 Providence Grays 71–47 3+1⁄2 Buffalo Bisons [42]
1897 Syracuse Stars 83–50 3+1⁄2 Toronto Maple Leafs [43]
1898 Montreal Royals 68–48 3 Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons [44]
1899 Rochester Bronchos 72–43 9 Montreal Royals [45]
1900 Providence Clamdiggers 84–52 5+1⁄2 Rochester Bronchos [46]
1901 Rochester Bronchos 89–49 9 Toronto Maple Leafs [47]
1902 Toronto Maple Leafs 85–42 —[d] Buffalo Bisons [48]
1903 Jersey City Skeeters 92–33 11+1⁄2 Buffalo Bisons [49]
1904 Buffalo Bisons 88–46 8 Baltimore Orioles [50]
1905 Providence Clamdiggers 83–47 1⁄2 Baltimore Orioles [51]
1906 Buffalo Bisons 85–55 3+1⁄2 Jersey City Skeeters [52]
1907 Toronto Maple Leafs 83–51 9 Buffalo Bisons [53]
1908 Baltimore Orioles 83–57 2 Providence Grays [54]
1909 Rochester Hustlers 90–61 5 Newark Indians [55]
1910 Rochester Bronchos 92–61 4+1⁄2 Newark Indians [56]
1911 Rochester Hustlers 98–54 3+1⁄2 Baltimore Orioles [57]
1912 Toronto Maple Leafs 91–62 5 Rochester Hustlers [58]
1913 Newark Indians 95–57 4 Rochester Hustlers [59]
1914 Providence Grays 95–59 5+1⁄2 Buffalo Bisons [60]
1915 Buffalo Bisons 86–50 2 Providence Grays [61]
1916 Buffalo Bisons 82–58 5 Providence Grays [62]
1917 Toronto Maple Leafs 93–61 1+1⁄2 Providence Grays [63]
1918 Toronto Maple Leafs 88–39 1 Binghamton Bingoes [64]
1919 Baltimore Orioles 100–49 8 Toronto Maple Leafs [65]
1920 Baltimore Orioles 110–43 2+1⁄2 Toronto Maple Leafs [66]
1921 Baltimore Orioles 119–47 20 Rochester Colts [67]
1922 Baltimore Orioles 115–52 10 Rochester Tribe [68]
1923 Baltimore Orioles 111–53 11 Rochester Tribe [69]
1924 Baltimore Orioles 117–48 19 Toronto Maple Leafs [70]
1925 Baltimore Orioles 105–61 4 Toronto Maple Leafs [71]
1926 Toronto Maple Leafs 109–57 8 Baltimore Orioles [72]
1927 Buffalo Bisons 112–56 10 Syracuse Stars [73]
1928 Rochester Red Wings 90–74 —[e] Buffalo Bisons [74]
1929 Rochester Red Wings 103–65 11 Toronto Maple Leafs [75]
1930 Rochester Red Wings 105–62 8 Baltimore Orioles [76]
1931 Rochester Red Wings 101–67 2 Newark Bears [77]
1932 Newark Bears 109–59 15+1⁄2 Baltimore Orioles [11]

Governors' Cup champions (1933–2020)

Key
Score Score of the Governors' Cup championship series
P Regular-season pennant winner (1933–1962, 1964–1972, 1975–1987)
N North Division winner (1963, 1973–1974, 1998–2020)
S South Division winner (1963, 1973–1974, 1998–2020)
E East Division winner (1988–1997)
W West Division winner (1988–2020)
Champions
Year Champion Score Runner-up Other playoff teams Ref.
1933 Buffalo Bisons 4–2 Rochester Red Wings Baltimore Orioles & Newark BearsP [13]
1934 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 Rochester Red Wings Albany Senators & Newark BearsP [78]
1935 Syracuse Chiefs 4–3 Montreal RoyalsP Buffalo Bisons & Newark Bears [79]
1936 Buffalo BisonsP 4–2 Baltimore Orioles Newark Bears & Rochester Red Wings [80]
1937 Newark BearsP 4–0 Baltimore Orioles Montreal Royals & Syracuse Chiefs [81]
1938 Newark BearsP 4–1 Buffalo Bisons Rochester Red Wings & Syracuse Chiefs [82]
1939 Rochester Red Wings 4–3 Newark Bears Buffalo Bisons & Jersey City GiantsP [83]
1940 Newark Bears 4–3 Baltimore Orioles Jersey City Giants & Rochester Red WingsP [84]
1941 Montreal Royals 4–3 Newark BearsP Buffalo Bisons & Rochester Red Wings [85]
1942 Syracuse Chiefs 4–0 Jersey City Giants Montreal Royals & Newark BearsP [86]
1943 Syracuse Chiefs 4–2 Toronto Maple LeafsP Montreal Royals & Newark Bears [87]
1944 Baltimore OriolesP 4–3 Newark Bears Buffalo Bisons & Toronto Maple Leafs [88]
1945 Newark Bears 4–3 Montreal RoyalsP Baltimore Orioles & Toronto Maple Leafs [89]
1946 Montreal RoyalsP 4–1 Syracuse Chiefs Baltimore Orioles & Newark Bears [90]
1947 Syracuse Chiefs 4–3 Buffalo Bisons Jersey City GiantsP & Montreal Royals [91]
1948 Montreal RoyalsP 4–1 Syracuse Chiefs Newark Bears & Rochester Red Wings [92]
1949 Montreal RoyalsP 4–1 Buffalo Bisons Jersey City Giants & Rochester Red Wings [93]
1950 Baltimore Orioles 4–2 Rochester Red WingsP Jersey City Giants & Montreal Royals [94]
1951 Montreal RoyalsP 4–1 Syracuse Chiefs Buffalo Bisons & Rochester Red Wings [95]
1952 Rochester Red Wings 4–2 Montreal RoyalsP Syracuse Chiefs & Toronto Maple Leafs [96]
1953 Montreal Royals 4–0 Rochester Red WingsP Baltimore Orioles & Buffalo Bisons [97]
1954 Syracuse Chiefs 4–3 Montreal Royals Rochester Red Wings & Toronto Maple LeafsP [98]
1955 Rochester Red Wings 4–0 Toronto Maple Leafs Havana Sugar Kings & Montreal RoyalsP [99]
1956 Rochester Red Wings 4–3 Toronto Maple LeafsP Miami Marlins & Montreal Royals [100]
1957 Buffalo Bisons 4–1 Miami Marlins Richmond Virginians & Toronto Maple LeafsP [101]
1958 Montreal RoyalsP 4–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Columbus Jets & Rochester Red Wings [102]
1959 Havana Sugar Kings 4–2 Richmond Virginians Buffalo BisonsP & Columbus Jets [103]
1960 Toronto Maple LeafsP 4–1 Rochester Red Wings Buffalo Bisons & Richmond Virginians [104]
1961 Buffalo Bisons 4–1 Rochester Red Wings Charleston Marlins & Columbus JetsP [105]
1962 Atlanta Crackers 4–3 Jacksonville SunsP Rochester Red Wings & Toronto Maple Leafs [106]
1963 Indianapolis IndiansS 4–2 Atlanta Crackers Syracuse ChiefsN & Toronto Maple Leafs [14]
1964 Rochester Red Wings 4–2 Syracuse Chiefs Buffalo Bisons & Jacksonville SunsP [107]
1965 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 Columbus JetsP Atlanta Crackers & Syracuse Chiefs [108]
1966 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 Richmond Braves Columbus Jets & Rochester Red WingsP [109]
1967 Toledo Mud Hens 4–1 Columbus Jets Richmond BravesP & Rochester Red Wings [110]
1968 Jacksonville Suns 4–0 Columbus Jets Rochester Red Wings & Toledo Mud HensP [111]
1969 Syracuse Chiefs 4–1 Columbus Jets Louisville Colonels & Tidewater TidesP [112]
1970 Syracuse ChiefsP 3–1 Columbus Jets Rochester Red Wings & Tidewater Tides [113]
1971 Rochester Red WingsP 3–2 Tidewater Tides Charleston Charlies & Syracuse Chiefs [114]
1972 Tidewater Tides 3–2 Louisville ColonelsP Charleston Charlies & Rochester Red Wings [115]
1973 Pawtucket Red Sox 3–2 Charleston CharliesS Rochester Red WingsN & Tidewater Tides [15]
1974 Rochester Red WingsN 4–3 Syracuse Chiefs Memphis BluesS & Richmond Braves [16]
1975 Tidewater TidesP 3–1 Syracuse Chiefs Charleston Charlies & Rochester Red Wings [116]
1976 Syracuse Chiefs 3–1 Richmond Braves Memphis Blues & Rochester Red WingsP [117]
1977 Charleston Charlies 4–0 Pawtucket Red SoxP Richmond Braves & Tidewater Tides [118]
1978 Richmond Braves 4–3 Pawtucket Red Sox Charleston CharliesP & Toledo Mud Hens [119]
1979 Columbus ClippersP 4–3 Syracuse Chiefs Richmond Braves & Tidewater Tides [120]
1980 Columbus ClippersP 4–1 Toledo Mud Hens Richmond Braves & Rochester Red Wings [121]
1981 Columbus ClippersP 2–1[f] Richmond Braves Rochester Red Wings & Tidewater Tides [123]
1982 Tidewater Tides 3–0 Rochester Red Wings Columbus Clippers & Richmond BravesP [124]
1983 Tidewater Tides 3–1 Richmond Braves Charleston Charlies & Columbus ClippersP [125]
1984 Pawtucket Red Sox 3–2 Maine Guides Columbus ClippersP & Toledo Mud Hens [126]
1985 Tidewater Tides 3–1 Columbus Clippers Maine Guides & Syracuse ChiefsP [127]
1986 Richmond BravesP 3–2 Rochester Red Wings Pawtucket Red Sox & Tidewater Tides [128]
1987 Columbus Clippers 3–0 Tidewater TidesP Pawtucket Red Sox & Rochester Red Wings [129]
1988 Rochester Red WingsW 3–1 Tidewater TidesE — [130]
1989 Richmond BravesW 3–1 Syracuse ChiefsE — [131]
1990 Rochester Red WingsE 3–2 Columbus ClippersW — [132]
1991 Columbus ClippersW 3–0 Pawtucket Red SoxE — [133]
1992 Columbus ClippersW 3–2 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red BaronsE Pawtucket Red Sox & Richmond Braves [18]
1993 Charlotte KnightsW 3–2 Rochester Red WingsE Ottawa Lynx & Richmond Braves [134]
1994 Richmond BravesW 3–0 Syracuse Chiefs Charlotte Knights & Pawtucket Red SoxE [135]
1995 Ottawa Lynx 3–1 Norfolk TidesW Richmond Braves & Rochester Red WingsE [136]
1996 Columbus ClippersW 3–0 Rochester Red Wings Norfolk Tides & Pawtucket Red SoxE [137]
1997 Rochester Red WingsE 3–2 Columbus ClippersW Charlotte Knights & Pawtucket Red Sox [138]
1998 Buffalo BisonsN 3–2 Durham BullsS Louisville RedbirdsW & Syracuse SkyChiefs [19]
1999 Charlotte Knights 3–1 Durham BullsS Columbus ClippersW & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red BaronsN [139]
2000 Indianapolis IndiansW 3–2 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons Buffalo BisonsN & Durham BullsS [140]
2001 Louisville RiverBatsW 1–0[g] Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons Buffalo BisonsN & Norfolk TidesS [142]
2002 Durham BullsS 3–0 Buffalo Bisons Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red BaronsN & Toledo Mud HensW [143]
2003 Durham BullsS 3–0 Pawtucket Red SoxN Louisville BatsW & Ottawa Lynx [144]
2004 Buffalo BisonsN 3–1 Richmond BravesS Columbus ClippersW & Durham Bulls [145]
2005 Toledo Mud HensW 3–0 Indianapolis Indians Buffalo BisonsN & Norfolk TidesS [146]
2006 Toledo Mud HensW 3–2 Rochester Red Wings Charlotte KnightsS & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red BaronsN [147]
2007 Richmond Braves 3–2 Durham BullsS Scranton/Wilkes-Barre YankeesN & Toledo Mud HensW [148]
2008 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre YankeesN 3–1 Durham BullsS Louisville BatsW & Pawtucket Red Sox [149]
2009 Durham BullsS 3–0 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre YankeesN Gwinnett Braves & Louisville BatsN [150]
2010 Columbus Clippers 3–1 Durham BullsS Louisville BatsW & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre YankeesN [151]
2011 Columbus ClippersW 3–1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs Durham BullsS & Pawtucket Red SoxN [152]
2012 Pawtucket Red Sox 3–0 Charlotte KnightsS Indianapolis IndiansW & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre YankeesN [153]
2013 Durham BullsS 3–1 Pawtucket Red SoxN Indianapolis IndiansW & Rochester Red Wings [154]
2014 Pawtucket Red Sox 3–2 Durham BullsS Columbus ClippersW & Syracuse ChiefsN [155]
2015 Columbus ClippersW 3–2 Indianapolis Indians Norfolk TidesS & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersN [156]
2016 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersN 3–1 Gwinnett BravesS Columbus ClippersW & Lehigh Valley IronPigs [157]
2017 Durham BullsS 3–1 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersN Indianapolis IndiansW & Lehigh Valley IronPigs [158]
2018 Durham BullsS 3–2 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Lehigh Valley IronPigsN & Toledo Mud HensW [159]
2019 Columbus ClippersW 3–0 Durham Bulls Gwinnett StripersS & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersN [20]
2020 None (season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic) [4]

2021–present

Key
Score Score of the championship series
Champions
Year Champion Score Runner-up Ref.
2021 Durham Bulls —[h] Buffalo Bisons [24]
2022 Durham Bulls 1–0 Nashville Sounds [160]
2023 Norfolk Tides 2–1 Durham Bulls [161]

Wins by team

Active International League teams appear in bold.

Team Wins Year(s)
Rochester Red Wings (Rochester Bronchos/Hustlers) 19 1899, 1901, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997
Columbus Clippers 11 1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2019
Baltimore Orioles 10 1908, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1944, 1950
Buffalo Bisons (1886–1970) 1891, 1904, 1906, 1915, 1916, 1927, 1933, 1936, 1957, 1961
Toronto Maple Leafs 1902, 1907, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1926, 1934, 1960, 1965, 1966
Durham Bulls 8 2002, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
Montreal Royals 1898, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1958
Syracuse Mets (Syracuse Chiefs) 1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976
Norfolk Tides (Tidewater Tides) 6 1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2023
Newark Bears 5 1932, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1945
Providence Grays (Providence Clamdiggers) 1894, 1896, 1900, 1905, 1914
Richmond Braves 1978, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007
Pawtucket Red Sox 4 1973, 1984, 2012, 2014
Syracuse Stars 3 1885, 1888, 1897
Toledo Mud Hens 1967, 2005, 2006
Buffalo Bisons (1979–present) 2 1998, 2004
Charlotte Knights 1993, 1999
Detroit Wolverines 1889, 1890
Indianapolis Indians 1963, 2000
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) 2008, 2016
Atlanta Crackers 1 1962
Binghamton Bingoes 1892
Charleston Charlies 1977
Erie Blackbirds 1893
Havana Sugar Kings 1959
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Jacksonville Suns) 1968
Jersey City Skeeters 1903
Louisville Bats (Louisville RiverBats) 2001
Newark Indians 1913
Ottawa Lynx 1995
Springfield Maroons 1895
Toronto Canucks 1887
Trenton Trentonians 1884
Utica Pent-Ups 1886

Governors' Cup wins by team

Team Governors'
Cup wins 		Year(s)
Columbus Clippers 11 1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2019
Rochester Red Wings 10 1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997
Syracuse Mets (Syracuse Chiefs) 8 1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976
Montreal Royals 7 1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1958
Durham Bulls 6 2002, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018
Norfolk Tides (Tidewater Tides) 5 1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985
Richmond Braves 1978, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007
Buffalo Bisons (1886–1970) 4 1933, 1936, 1957, 1961
Newark Bears 1937, 1938, 1940, 1945
Pawtucket Red Sox 1973, 1984, 2012, 2014
Toronto Maple Leafs 1934, 1960, 1965, 1966
Toledo Mud Hens 3 1967, 2005, 2006
Baltimore Orioles 2 1944, 1950
Buffalo Bisons (1979–present) 1998, 2004
Charlotte Knights 1993, 1999
Indianapolis Indians 1963, 2000
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) 2008, 2016
Atlanta Crackers 1 1962
Charleston Charlies 1977
Havana Sugar Kings 1959
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Jacksonville Suns) 1968
Louisville Bats (Louisville RiverBats) 2001
Ottawa Lynx 1995

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The league disbanded on July 9.[37] Of the teams remaining in the league at the time, Detroit was in first place, making them the de facto champions.
  2. ^ The 1891 season was contested as a double season. Buffalo won the championship by virtue of having won both halves.
  3. ^ The 1892 season was contested as a double season. Providence won the first half, and Binghamton won the second. In the championship series, Binghamton defeated Providence, 4–2.
  4. ^ Toronto won the championship with a winning percentage of .669 (85–42) versus Buffalo's .662 (88–45).
  5. ^ Rochester won the championship with a winning percentage of .549 (90–74) versus Buffalo's .548 (92–76).
  6. ^ Columbus, with a 2–1 series lead, was declared the champion after the playoffs were canceled due to rain and unplayable field conditions.[122]
  7. ^ Louisville, with a 1–0 series lead, was declared the champion after the playoffs were canceled in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.[141]
  8. ^ No playoffs were held. Durham won the championship by virtue of having the league's best regular-season record (77–43). They finished 4+1⁄2 games ahead of Buffalo.[23]

References

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