The 1974 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 19 and September 23. Eight teams played a 144-game schedule, with the top two teams in each division qualifying for the post-season.
The Rochester Red Wings won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Syracuse Chiefs in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Peninsula Whips relocated to Memphis, Tennessee and were renamed the Memphis Blues. The club remained affiliated with the Montreal Expos. The Toledo Mud Hens ended their affiliation with the Detroit Tigers and began an affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies. The divisions were renamed to Northern Division and Southern Division, as the league only had three American League team affiliates compared to five National League affiliates.
Teams 1974 International League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Northern Pawtucket Red Sox Pawtucket, Rhode Island Boston Red Sox McCoy Stadium Rochester Red Wings Rochester, New York Baltimore Orioles Silver Stadium Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse, New York New York Yankees MacArthur Stadium Toledo Mud Hens Toledo, Ohio Philadelphia Phillies Lucas County Stadium Southern Charleston Charlies Charleston, West Virginia Pittsburgh Pirates Watt Powell Park Memphis Blues Memphis, Tennessee Montreal Expos Blues Stadium Richmond Braves Richmond, Virginia Atlanta Braves Parker Field Tidewater Tides Norfolk, Virginia New York Mets Met Park
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Memphis Blues finished with the best record in the league in their inaugural season. The regular season schedule changed from 146-games to 144-games.
Standings 1974 IL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed 20 November 2024. Northern Division Team Win Loss % GB Rochester Red Wings 88 56 – Syracuse Chiefs 74 70 14 Toledo Mud Hens 70 74 18 Pawtucket Red Sox 57 87 31
Southern Division Team Win Loss % GB Memphis Blues 87 55 – Richmond Braves 75 65 11 Charleston Charlies 62 81 25.5 Tidewater Tides 57 82 28.5
League Leaders Batting leaders 1974 IL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed 20 November 2024. Stat Player Total AVG Jim Rice, Pawtucket Red Sox .337 H Rob Andrews, Rochester Red Wings 165 R Bob Beall, Richmond Braves 105 2B Larvell Blanks, Richmond Braves 29 3B Bill Flowers, Charleston Charlies 8 HR Jim Rice, Pawtucket Red Sox 25 RBI Jim Rice, Pawtucket Red Sox 93 SB Pepe Mangual, Memphis Blues 46
Pitching leaders 1974 Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed 20 November 2024. Stat Player Total W Bill Kirkpatrick, Rochester Red Wings 15 ERA Jamie Easterly, Richmond Braves 2.54 CG Scott McGregor, Syracuse Chiefs 12 SV Mickey Scott, Rochester Red Wings 17 SO Jim Burton, Pawtucket Red Sox 146 IP Scott McGregor, Syracuse Chiefs 199
Playoffs The Rochester Red Wings won their seventh Governors' Cup, defeating the Syracuse Chiefs in seven games. The semi-finals and finals were expanded from a best-of-five series to a best-of-seven series.
Playoff bracket
Awards International League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Jim Rice, Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher of the Year Scott McGregor, Syracuse Chiefs Rookie of the Year Jim Rice, Pawtucket Red Sox Manager of the Year Karl Kuehl, Memphis Blues
See also 1974 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website