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
The American Association, which was founded in 1902, 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.
The first championship playoffs were held in 1933. 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. Similar playoffs were held in 1934, but the league returned to recognizing the regular-season pennant winner as champion in 1935.
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. 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.
The circuit disbanded after the 1962 season, but was reorganized for 1969. The first champions in this second iteration of the league were the regular-season pennant winners. The Omaha Royals won by virtue of a six-game lead over the Tulsa Oilers. 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.
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. 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. The final American Association championship was won by the Buffalo Bisons, who defeated the Iowa Cubs, 3–0.
Champions Pre-playoff champions (1902–1932) +KeyRecordRegular-season win–loss recordGAGames ahead of the second-place team
+Champions Year Champion Record Runner-up 1902 Indianapolis Indians 96–45 Louisville Colonels 1903 St. Paul Apostles 88–46 Louisville Colonels 1904 St. Paul Apostles 95–52 Columbus Senators 1905 Columbus Senators 100–52 Milwaukee Brewers 1906 Columbus Senators 91–57 Milwaukee Brewers 1907 Columbus Senators 90–64 Toledo Mud Hens 1908 Indianapolis Indians 92–61 Louisville Colonels 1909 Louisville Colonels 93–75 Milwaukee Brewers 1910 Minneapolis Millers 107–61 Toledo Mud Hens 1911 Minneapolis Millers 99–66 Kansas City Blues 1912 Minneapolis Millers 105–60 Toledo Mud Hens 1913 Milwaukee Brewers 100–67 Minneapolis Millers 1914 Milwaukee Brewers 98–68 Louisville Colonels 1915 Minneapolis Millers 92–62 St. Paul Saints 1916 Louisville Colonels 101–66 Indianapolis Indians 1917 Indianapolis Indians 90–63 Louisville ColonelsSt. Paul Saints 1918 Kansas City Blues 43–30 Columbus Senators 1919 St. Paul Saints 94–60 Kansas City Blues 1920 St. Paul Saints 115–49 Louisville Colonels 1921 Louisville Colonels 98–70 Minneapolis Millers 1922 St. Paul Saints 107–60 Minneapolis Millers 1923 Kansas City Blues 112–54 St. Paul Saints 1924 St. Paul Saints 96–70 Indianapolis Indians 1925 Louisville Colonels 106–61 Indianapolis Indians 1926 Louisville Colonels 105–62 Indianapolis Indians 1927 Toledo Mud Hens 101–67 Kansas City BluesMilwaukee Brewers 1928 Indianapolis Indians 99–68 Minneapolis Millers 1929 Kansas City Blues 111–56 St. Paul Saints 1930 Louisville Colonels 93–60 St. Paul Saints 1931 St. Paul Saints 104–63 Kansas City Blues 1932 Minneapolis Millers 100–68 Columbus Red Birds
Playoff era champions (1933–1962, 1969–1997)
+KeyScoreScore of the championship seriesPRegular-season pennant winnerEEast Division winnerWWest Division winner
+Champions Year Champion Score Runner-up Other playoff teams 1933 4–2 — 1934 4–3 — 1935 — — 1936 4–1 Kansas City Blues & St. Paul Saints 1937 4–2 Minneapolis Millers & Toledo Mud Hens 1938 Kansas City Blues 4–3 Indianapolis Indians & Milwaukee Brewers 1939 4–1 Kansas City Blues & Minneapolis Millers 1940 4–2 Kansas City Blues Columbus Red Birds & Minneapolis Millers 1941 4–1 Louisville Colonels Minneapolis Millers & Kansas City Blues 1942 4–0 Toledo Mud Hens Kansas City Blues & Milwaukee Brewers 1943 3–0 Milwaukee Brewers & Toledo Mud Hens 1944 4–0 Milwaukee Brewers & Toledo Mud Hens 1945 4–2 Indianapolis Indians & Milwaukee Brewers 1946 4–0 Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints 1947 4–3 Louisville Colonels Kansas City Blues & Minneapolis Millers 1948 St. Paul Saints 4–3 Columbus Red Birds Indianapolis Indians & Milwaukee Brewers 1949 4–3 Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints 1950 4–3 Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints 1951 4–2 Kansas City Blues & Louisville Colonels 1952 Kansas City Blues 4–3 Minneapolis Millers & St. Paul Saints 1953 Kansas City Blues 4–3 Toledo Sox Indianapolis Indians & Louisville Colonels 1954 4–1 Columbus Red Birds & Minneapolis Millers 1955 4–0 Omaha Cardinals Denver Bears & Louisville Colonels 1956 4–0 Minneapolis Millers & Omaha Cardinals 1957 4–2 Minneapolis Millers & Wichita Braves 1958 4–0 Charleston Senators & Wichita Braves 1959 4–3 Fort Worth Cats Louisville Colonels & Omaha Cardinals 1960 4–2 Houston Buffs & St. Paul Saints 1961 4–2 Houston Buffs Denver Bears & Indianapolis Indians 1962 4–2 Indianapolis Indians & Omaha Dodgers 1969 — Tulsa Oilers — 1970 4–1 — 1971 4–3 — 1972 Evansville Triplets 3–0 Wichita Aeros — 1973 Tulsa Oilers 4–3 Iowa Oaks — 1974 Tulsa Oilers 4–3 — 1975 Evansville Triplets 4–2 — 1976 4–2 — 1977 4–2 — 1978 4–1 — 1979 Evansville Triplets 4–2 — 1980 Springfield Redbirds 4–1 — 1981 4–0 Evansville Triplets & Springfield Redbirds 1982 4–2 — 1983 4–0 Louisville Redbirds Iowa Cubs & Oklahoma City 89ers 1984 4–1 Indianapolis Indians & Iowa Cubs 1985 4–1 — 1986 4–3 — 1987 4–1 Louisville Redbirds & Oklahoma City 89ers 1988 3–1 — 1989 3–2 — 1990 3–2 — 1991 Denver Zephyrs 3–2 — 1992 4–0 — 1993 Iowa Cubs 4–3 — 1994 3–1 Louisville Redbirds & New Orleans Zephyrs 1995 3–2 Indianapolis Indians & Omaha Royals 1996 3–1 Buffalo Bisons & Omaha Royals 1997 Buffalo Bisons 3–0 Iowa Cubs Indianapolis Indians & New Orleans Zephyrs
Wins by team
Team Wins Year(s)Louisville Colonels151909, 1916, 1921, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1962Indianapolis Indians121902, 1908, 1917, 1928, 1949, 1956, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994Columbus Red Birds (Columbus Senators)101905, 1906, 1907, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1950Minneapolis Millers91910, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1932, 1935, 1955, 1958, 1959St. Paul Saints (St. Paul Apostles)81903, 1904, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1931, 1948Denver Zephyrs (Denver Bears)71957, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1991Kansas City Blues61918, 1923, 1929, 1938, 1952, 1953Milwaukee Brewers51913, 1914, 1936, 1947, 1951Omaha Royals41969, 1970, 1978, 1990Evansville Triplets31972, 1975, 1979Louisville Redbirds1984, 1985, 1995Oklahoma City 89ers21992, 1996Tulsa Oilers1973, 1974Buffalo Bisons11997Iowa Cubs1993Springfield Redbirds1980Toledo Mud Hens1927
See also
List of International League champions List of Pacific Coast League champions
Notes
References Specific
General