The Chicago Cubs farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while three—the Arizona Complex League Cubs and two Dominican Summer League Cubs squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Cubs have been affiliated with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs of the International League since 1981, making it the longest-running affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Cubs. Their newest affiliates are the High-A South Bend Cubs of the Midwest League and the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League, which became Cubs affiliates in 2015.
Geographically, Chicago's closest domestic affiliate is the South Bend Cubs, which are approximately away. Chicago's furthest domestic affiliate is the Rookie Arizona Complex League Cubs, which are some away.
Current affiliates
The Chicago Cubs farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.
ClassTeamLeagueLocationBallparkAffiliated Triple-A Iowa Cubs International League Des Moines, Iowa Principal Park 1981 Double-A Knoxville Smokies Southern League Knoxville, Tennessee Covenant Health Park 2007 High-A South Bend Cubs Midwest League South Bend, Indiana Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium 2015 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Carolina League Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Pelicans Ballpark 2015 Rookie ACL Cubs Arizona Complex League Mesa, Arizona Sloan Park 2021 DSL Cubs BlueDominican Summer LeagueBoca Chica, Santo DomingoBaseball City Complex 2016 DSL Cubs Red
Past affiliates Key SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Cubs season.
1922–1962 Minor League Baseball operated with five classes (Double-A, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D) from 1922 to 1935. Class A1, between Double-A and Class A, was added in 1936. The minors continued to operate with these six levels through 1945. Triple-A was established as the highest classification in 1946, and Class A1 became Double-A, with Class A through D remaining. These six levels continued through 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 ended any chance of the PCL being promoted.
SeasonTriple-A Double-AClass AClass BClass CClass D 1922 — — Wichita Falls Spudders — — — 1923 — — Wichita Falls Spudders — — — 1924 — — Wichita Falls Spudders — — — 1925 — — Wichita Falls Spudders — — — 1926 — — — — — — 1927 — Reading Keystones — — — — 1928 — Reading Keystones — — — — 1929 — Reading Keystones — — — — 1930 — Reading Keystones — — — — 1931 — — — — — — 1932 — Los Angeles Angels Wichita Aviators — — — 1933 — Los Angeles Angels — — — — 1934 — Los Angeles Angels — — Ponca City Angels — 1935 — Los Angeles Angels — Peoria TractorsPortsmouth Truckers Ponca City Angels — 1936 — Los Angeles Angels Birmingham Barons (A1) Portsmouth Cubs Ponca City Angels — 1937 — Los Angeles Angels Birmingham Barons (A1) Moline Plow BoysPortsmouth Cubs Ponca City Angels Eau Claire Bears 1938 — Los Angeles Angels Birmingham Barons (A1) Moline Plow BoysPortsmouth Cubs Helena SeaportersPonca City Angels Eau Claire BearsGreeneville Burley Cubs 1939 — Los Angeles AngelsMilwaukee Brewers — Bloomington BloomersMoline Plow Boys St. Joseph Angels Bisbee-Douglas BeesEau Claire BearsHopkinsville HoppersSioux Falls Canaries 1940 — Los Angeles AngelsMilwaukee Brewers Tulsa Oilers (A1) Moline Plow Boys St. Joseph Saints Greeneville Burley Cubs 1941 — Los Angeles AngelsMilwaukee Brewers Tulsa Oilers (A1) Macon PeachesPortsmouth Cubs Bisbee BeesMuskogee RedsStockton FliersZanesville Cubs Janesville CubsLake Charles Skippers 1942 — Los Angeles AngelsMilwaukee Brewers Tulsa Oilers (A1) Macon PeachesMadison BluesPortsmouth CubsVancouver Capilanos Ashland ColonelsZanesville Cubs Americus PioneersJanesville Cubs 1943 — Los Angeles Angels Nashville Volunteers (A1) Portsmouth Cubs Lockport Cubs Erwin Aces 1944 — Los Angeles Angels Nashville Volunteers (A1) Portsmouth Cubs — Erwin AcesLockport CubsMarion Diggers 1945 — Los Angeles Angels Nashville Volunteers (A1) Hagerstown OwlsPortsmouth Cubs Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets Elizabethton Betsy CubsStatesville Cubs 1946 Los Angeles Angels Nashville VolunteersTulsa Oilers Macon Peaches Davenport CubsHagerstown OwlsPortsmouth CubsShelby CubsTacoma Tigers Hutchinson CubsQuebec AlouettesVisalia Cubs Elizabethton Betsy CubsFayetteville CubsHopkinsville HoppersIola CubsJanesville BearsStatesville Cubs 1947 Los Angeles Angels Nashville VolunteersTulsa Oilers Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Davenport CubsFayetteville CubsPortsmouth CubsTacoma Tigers Clinton CubsHutchinson CubsSioux Falls CanariesVisalia Cubs Centralia CubsElizabethton Betsy CubsIola CubsJanesville CubsLumberton CubsMarion Cubs 1948 Los Angeles Angels Nashville Volunteers Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Decatur CommodoresFayetteville CubsSelma CloverleafsSpringfield Cubs Clinton CubsHutchinson Cubs / Springfield CubsSioux Falls CanariesVisalia Cubs Centralia CubsElizabethton Betsy CubsJanesville CubsLumberton CubsMarion CubsSt. Augustine Saints 1949 Los Angeles Angels Nashville Volunteers Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Decatur CubsSelma CloverleafsSpringfield Cubs Clinton SteersSioux Falls CanariesVisalia Cubs Carthage CubsJanesville CubsLumberton AuctioneersRutherford County OwlsSt. Augustine Saints 1950 Los Angeles AngelsSpringfield Cubs Nashville Volunteers Des Moines BruinsGrand Rapids Jets Rock Hill Chiefs Clovis PioneersSioux Falls CanariesSpringfield CubsVisalia Cubs Carthage CubsJanesville CubsMoultrie CubsRutherford County Owls 1951 Los Angeles AngelsSpringfield Cubs Nashville Volunteers Des Moines BruinsGrand Rapids Jets Greensboro PatriotsRock Hill Chiefs Clovis PioneersSioux Falls CanariesTopeka OwlsVisalia Cubs Carthage CubsJanesville CubsRutherford County Owls 1952 Los Angeles Angels (Open)Springfield Cubs — Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Greensboro Patriots Sioux Falls CanariesTopeka OwlsVisalia Cubs Blackwell BroncosHickory RebelsJanesville Cubs 1953 Los Angeles Angels (Open)Springfield Cubs — Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Cedar Rapids Indians Sioux Falls CanariesStockton Ports Gainesville OwlsHickory RebelsJanesville Cubs 1954 Los Angeles Angels (Open) Beaumont Exporters Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Cedar Rapids Indians Blackwell BroncosMagic Valley CowboysStockton Ports Gainesville OwlsHickory Rebels 1955 Los Angeles Angels (Open) — Des Moines BruinsMacon Peaches Burlington Bees Lafayette OilersMagic Valley CowboysVicksburg Hill Billies Gainesville Owls / Ponca City CubsParis Lakers 1956 Los Angeles Angels (Open) Tulsa Oilers Des Moines Bruins Burlington Bees Lafayette OilersMagic Valley Cowboys Crestview BravesParis LakersPonca City Cubs 1957 Portland Beavers (Open) Fort Worth CatsMemphis Chickasaws Des Moines Bruins Burlington Bees Bakersfield BearsLafayette OilersMagic Valley Cowboys Paris LakersPonca City CubsPulaski Cubs 1958 Portland Beavers Fort Worth Cats Pueblo Bruins Burlington Bees Magic Valley Cowboys Carlsbad PotashersParis LakersPulaski Cubs 1959 Fort Worth Cats San Antonio Missions Lancaster Red Roses Burlington Bees — Carlsbad PotashersMorristown CubsParis Lakers 1960 Houston Buffs San Antonio Missions Lancaster Red Roses — St. Cloud Rox Carlsbad PotashersMorristown Cubs 1961 Houston Buffs San Antonio Missions — Wenatchee Chiefs St. Cloud Rox Carlsbad PotashersMorristown Cubs 1962 Salt Lake City Bees San Antonio Missions — Wenatchee Chiefs St. Cloud Rox Palatka Cubs
1963–1989 Prior to the 1963 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) initiated a reorganization of Minor League Baseball that resulted in a reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-A, Class A, and Rookie) in 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.
SeasonTriple-ADouble-AClass AClass A Short SeasonRookie 1963 Salt Lake City Bees Amarillo Gold Sox Pocatello ChiefsSt. Cloud RoxWenatchee Chiefs — — 1964 Salt Lake City Bees Fort Worth Cats St. Cloud RoxWenatchee Chiefs — Treasure Valley Cubs 1965 Salt Lake City Bees Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs Duluth-Superior DukesQuincy CubsWenatchee Chiefs — Treasure Valley Cubs 1966 Tacoma Cubs Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs Lodi CrushersQuincy Cubs Duluth-Superior Dukes Treasure Valley Cubs 1967 Tacoma Cubs Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs Lodi CrushersQuincy Cubs — Caldwell Cubs 1968 Tacoma Cubs San Antonio Missions Lodi CrushersQuincy Cubs — Caldwell Cubs 1969 Tacoma Cubs San Antonio Missions Quincy Cubs Huron Cubs Caldwell Cubs 1970 Tacoma Cubs San Antonio Missions Quincy Cubs Huron Cubs Caldwell Cubs 1971 Tacoma Cubs San Antonio Missions Quincy Cubs — Caldwell Cubs 1972 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Quincy Cubs — GCL Cubs 1973 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Quincy Cubs — GCL Cubs 1974 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Key West Conchs — GCL Cubs 1975 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Key West Cubs — GCL Cubs 1976 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Pompano Beach Cubs — GCL Cubs 1977 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Pompano Beach Cubs Geneva Cubs GCL Cubs 1978 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Pompano Beach Cubs Geneva Cubs GCL Cubs 1979 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Quad Cities Cubs Geneva Cubs GCL Cubs 1980 Wichita Aeros Midland Cubs Quad Cities Cubs Geneva Cubs GCL Cubs 1981 Iowa Oaks Midland Cubs Quad Cities Cubs Geneva Cubs GCL Cubs 1982 Iowa Cubs Midland Cubs Quad Cities CubsSalinas Spurs Geneva Cubs GCL Cubs 1983 Iowa Cubs Midland Cubs Quad Cities CubsSalinas Spurs Geneva Cubs Pikeville Cubs 1984 Iowa Cubs Midland Cubs Lodi CrushersQuad Cities Cubs Geneva Cubs Pikeville Cubs 1985 Iowa Cubs Pittsfield Cubs Peoria ChiefsWinston-Salem Spirits Geneva Cubs Wytheville Cubs 1986 Iowa Cubs Pittsfield Cubs Peoria ChiefsWinston-Salem Spirits Geneva Cubs Wytheville Cubs 1987 Iowa Cubs Pittsfield Cubs Peoria ChiefsWinston-Salem Spirits Geneva Cubs Wytheville Cubs 1988 Iowa Cubs Pittsfield Cubs Charleston WheelersPeoria ChiefsWinston-Salem Spirits Geneva Cubs Wytheville Cubs 1989 Iowa Cubs Charlotte Knights Charleston WheelersPeoria Chiefs Winston-Salem Spirits Geneva Cubs Wytheville Cubs
1990–2020 Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, 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.