The 1961 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 17 and September 22. Eight teams played a 154-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the post-season.
The Buffalo Bisons won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Rochester Red Wings in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Rochester Red Wings ended their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals and began an affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles. The Montreal Royals relocated to Syracuse, New York and were renamed the Syracuse Chiefs. The club also ended their affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers and began an affiliation with the Minnesota Twins. The Miami Marlins relocated to San Juan, Puerto Rico and were renamed the San Juan Marlins. The club also ended their affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles and began an affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Marlins would eventually relocate once again during the season to Charleston, West Virginia and be renamed the Charleston Marlins. The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their affiliation with the Cleveland Indians.
Teams 1961 International League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Buffalo Bisons Buffalo, New York Philadelphia Phillies War Memorial Stadium Columbus Jets Columbus, Ohio Pittsburgh Pirates Jets Stadium Jersey City Jerseys Jersey City, New Jersey Cincinnati Reds Roosevelt Stadium Richmond Virginians Richmond, Virginia New York Yankees Parker Field Rochester Red Wings Rochester, New York Baltimore Orioles Red Wing Stadium San Juan Marlins Charleston Marlins San Juan, Puerto Rico Charleston, West Virginia St. Louis Cardinals Sixto Escobar Stadium Watt Powell Park Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse, New York Minnesota Twins MacArthur Stadium Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto, Ontario None Maple Leaf Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Columbus Jets finished with the best record in the league for the first time in franchise history. On May 19, The San Juan Marlins relocated to Charleston, West Virginia and became the Charleston Marlins. On September 11, the Rochester Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs held a one-game playoff for the final playoff position. The Red Wings defeated the Maple Leafs 12-11 in ten innings to clinch the final post-season berth.
Standings 1961 IL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed November 16, 2024 International League Team Win Loss % GB Columbus Jets 92 62 – San Juan Marlins/Charleston Marlins 88 66 4 Buffalo Bisons 85 67 6 Rochester Red Wings 77 78 15.5 Toronto Maple Leafs 76 79 16.5 Richmond Virginians 71 83 21 Jersey City Jerseys 70 82 21 Syracuse Chiefs 56 98 36
League Leaders Batting leaders 1961 IL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 16 ,2024 Stat Player Total AVG Ted Savage, Buffalo Bisons .325 H Ted Savage, Buffalo Bisons 178 R Ted Savage, Buffalo Bisons 111 2B Jim Pendleton, Jersey City Jerseys 33 3B Lou Jackson, Toronto Maple Leafs 18 HR Boog Powell, Rochester Red Wings 32 RBI Félix Torres, Buffalo Bisons 97 SB Ted Savage, Buffalo Bisons 31
Pitching leaders 1961 IL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 16, 2024 Stat Player Total W Ray Washburn, San Juan / Charleston 16 L Fred Kipp, Richmond Virginians 16 ERA Ray Washburn, San Juan / Charleston 2.34 CG Al Jackson, Columbus Jets Dave Stenhouse, Jersey City Jerseys Ray Washburn, San Juan / Charleston 12 SHO Herb Moford, Rochester Red Wings 5 SO Bob Veale, Columbus Jets 208 IP Herb Moford, Rochester Red Wings 219.0
Playoffs The Buffalo Bisons won their fourth Governors' Cup, defeating the Rochester Red Wings in five games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Player awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Ted Savage, Buffalo Bisons Pitcher of the Year Diomedes Olivo, Columbus Jets Rookie of the Year Tom Tresh, Richmond Virginians
See also 1961 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website