The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams
In 2001, during the centennial celebration of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Minor League Baseball tasked baseball historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright to develop a list of the top 100 best minor league baseball teams of the century. Their list includes 69 distinct franchises from across the United States and in Canada and Mexico. There are representatives from every decade of the century.
Weiss and Wright developed a statistical formula to evaluate teams. First, a rating was given to each league. They assigned 100 points for Triple-A leagues down to 20 points for Class D leagues. The equivalent classifications of each league were used to adjust for changes in the minor league structure since 1900. Next, individual teams were graded based on winning percentage and total wins in order to assess each team's strength against its league and its season-long performance. The combination of these three metrics resulted in a statistical list of the century's top teams. Weiss and Wright further took into account intangibles such as winning a pennant, significant achievements, or reputation in creating their final list.[1]
Of the 69 franchises to make the list, 14 appeared more than once. The Baltimore Orioles took 6 places on the list, the most of any team, followed by the Ft. Worth Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs (5), Newark Bears and San Francisco Seals (4); Kansas City Blues, Los Angeles Angels, and St. Paul Saints (3); and Charlotte Hornets, Columbus Senators/Red Birds, Houston Buffaloes, Indianapolis Indians, Memphis Chicks, and Milwaukee Brewers (2). Thirty leagues are represented on the list. The league with the most entrants is the International League with 17. The other top leagues are the American Association (13); Pacific Coast League (10); Eastern League and Texas League (8); California League, Western Association, and Western League (4). Thirty-one teams competed at the Double-A classification level, the most of any class, followed by Class A (24); Class C (12); Class B (11); Triple-A (10); Class D (7); Class A1 and independent (2); and Class A-Advanced (1). Twenty-seven teams competed in the 1920s, the most of any decade, followed by the 1940s (16); 1930s (13); 1900s and 1950s (10); 1910s and 1980s (6); 1970s (5); 1990s (4); and 1960s (3).
The list
See also
References
- "About the Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "1. 1934 Los Angeles Angels". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "2. 1921 Baltimore Orioles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "3. 1937 Newark Bears". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "4. 1924 Fort Worth Panthers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "5. 1924 Baltimore Orioles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "6. 1920 St. Paul Saints". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "7. 1903 Jersey City Skeeters". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "8. 1937 Salisbury Indians". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "9. 1920 Baltimore Orioles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "10. 1925 San Francisco Seals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "11. 1981 Albuquerque Dukes". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "12. 1939 Kansas City Blues". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "13. 1943 Los Angeles Angels". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "14. 1920 Fort Worth Panthers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "15. 1922 Baltimore Orioles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "16. 1938 Newark Bears". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "17. 1922 Fort Worth Panthers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "18. 1923 Kansas City Blues". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "19. 1923 Baltimore Orioles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "20. 1922 Enid Harvesters". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "21. 1920 Toronto Maple Leafs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "22. 1911 Denver Grizzlies". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "23. 1992 Greenville Braves". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "24. 1927 Buffalo Bisons". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "25. 1954 Waco Pirates". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "26. 1931 Hartford Senators". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "27. 1902 Indianapolis Indians". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "28. 1929 Kansas City Blues". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "29. 1903 Los Angeles Angels". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "30. 1955 Keokuk Kernels". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "31. 1906 Portland Beavers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "32. 1921 Memphis Chicks". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "33. 1925 Ft. Worth Panthers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "34. 1952 Norfolk Tars". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "35. 1919 Baltimore Orioles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "36. 1951 Charlotte Hornets". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "37. 1980 Denver Bears". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "38. 1970 Hawaii Islanders". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "39. 1926 Toronto Maple Leafs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "40. 1952 Miami Sun Sox". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "41. 1907 Wichita Jobbers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "42. 1931 Houston Buffaloes". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "43. 1933 Columbus Red Birds". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "44. 1922 San Francisco Seals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "45. 1918 Toronto Maple Leafs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "46. 1921 Ft. Worth Panthers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "47. 1940 Nashville Vols". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "48. 1924 Memphis Chicks". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "49. 1924 Okmulgee Drillers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "50. 1928 San Francisco Seals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "51. 1902 Corsicana Oil Citys". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "52. 1920 London Tecumsehs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "53. 1932 Newark Bears". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "54. 1952 Milwaukee Brewers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "55. 1961 Reno Silver Sox". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "56. 1931 Charlotte Hornets". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "57. 1916 New London Planters". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "58. 1933 Davenport Blue Sox". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "59. 1905 Columbus Senators". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "60. 1975 Waterloo Royals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "61. 1950 Winston-Salem Cards". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "62. 1983 Reading Phillies". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "63. 1906 Des Moines Champions". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "64. 1949 Stroudsburg Poconos". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "65. 1941 Houston Buffaloes". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "66. 1910 Joplin Miners". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "67. 1949 Pensacola Fliers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "68. 1939 Sanford Lookouts". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "69. 1980 Nashville Sounds". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "70. 1978 Visalia Oaks". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "71. 1909 San Francisco Seals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "72. 1992 Columbus Clippers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "73. 1993 Harrisburg Senators". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "74. 1980 Peninsula Pilots". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "75. 1979 Saltillo Saraperos". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "76. 1902 Toronto Maple Leafs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "77. 1921 Independence Producers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "78. 1966 Spartanburg Phillies". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "79. 1955 Fresno Cardinals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "80. 1910 Sioux City Packers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "81. 1951 Hazard Bombers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "82. 1941 Wilson Tobs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "83. 1932 Tulsa Oilers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "84. 1946 Montreal Royals". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "85. 1948 Indianapolis Indians". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "86. 1941 Newark Bears". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "87. 1960 Toronto Maple Leafs". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "88. 1922 St. Paul Saints". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "89. 1990 West Palm Beach Expos". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "90. 1946 Scranton Red Sox". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "91. 1923 St. Paul Saints". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "92. 1947 Havana Cubans". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "93. 1978 Appleton Foxes". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "94. 1946 Abilene Blue Sox". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "95. 1986 Puebla Angeles". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "96. 1950 Quebec Braves". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "97. 1947 Lubbock Hubbers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "98. 1947 Stockton Ports". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "99. 1944 Hartford Laurels". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "100. 1944 Milwaukee Brewers". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.