The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams explained

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

	Season	Team	Record	League	Class
1	1934	Los Angeles Angels		Pacific Coast League	Double-A	^[2]
2	1921	Baltimore Orioles		International League	Double-A	^[3]
3	1937	Newark Bears		International League	Double-A	^[4]
4	1924	Ft. Worth Panthers		Texas League	Class A	^[5]
5	1924	Baltimore Orioles		International League	Double-A	^[6]
6	1920	St. Paul Saints		American Association	Double-A	^[7]
7	1903	Jersey City Skeeters		Eastern League	Class A	^[8]
8	1937	Salisbury Indians		Eastern Shore League	Class D	^[9]
9	1920	Baltimore Orioles		International League	Double-A	^[10]
10	1925	San Francisco Seals		Pacific Coast League	Double-A	^[11]
11	1981	Albuquerque Dukes		Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	^[12]
12	1939	Kansas City Blues		American Association	Double-A	^[13]
13	1943	Los Angeles Angels		Pacific Coast League	Double-A	^[14]
14	1920	Ft. Worth Panthers		Texas League	Class B	^[15]
15	1922	Baltimore Orioles		International League	Double-A	^[16]
16	1938	Newark Bears		International League	Double-A	^[17]
17	1922	Ft. Worth Panthers		Texas League	Class A	^[18]
18	1923	Kansas City Blues		American Association	Double-A	^[19]
19	1923	Baltimore Orioles		International League	Double-A	^[20]
20	1922	Enid Harvesters		Western Association	Class C	^[21]
21	1920	Toronto Maple Leafs		International League	Double-A	^[22]
22	1911	Denver Grizzlies		Western League	Class A	^[23]
23	1992	Greenville Braves		Southern League	Double-A	^[24]
24	1927	Buffalo Bisons		International League	Double-A	^[25]
25	1954	Waco Pirates		Big State League	Class B	^[26]
26	1931	Hartford Senators		Eastern League	Class A	^[27]
27	1902	Indianapolis Indians		American Association	Independent	^[28]
28	1929	Kansas City Blues		American Association	Double-A	^[29]
29	1903	Los Angeles Angels		Pacific Coast League	Independent	^[30]
30	1955	Keokuk Kernels		Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League	Class B	^[31]
31	1906	Portland Beavers		Pacific Coast League	Class A	^[32]
32	1921	Memphis Chicks		Southern Association	Class A	^[33]
33	1925	Ft. Worth Panthers		Texas League	Class A	^[34]
34	1952	Norfolk Tars		Piedmont League	Class B	^[35]
35	1919	Baltimore Orioles		International League	Double-A	^[36]
36	1951	Charlotte Hornets		Tri-State League	Class B	^[37]
37	1980	Denver Bears		American Association	Triple-A	^[38]
38	1970	Hawaii Islanders		Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	^[39]
39	1926	Toronto Maple Leafs		International League	Double-A	^[40]
40	1952	Miami Sun Sox		Florida International League	Class B	^[41]
41	1907	Wichita Jobbers		Western Association	Class C	^[42]
42	1931	Houston Buffaloes		Texas League	Class A	^[43]
43	1933	Columbus Red Birds		American Association	Double-A	^[44]
44	1922	San Francisco Seals		Pacific Coast League	Double-A	^[45]
45	1918	Toronto Maple Leafs		International League	Double-A	^[46]
46	1921	Ft. Worth Panthers		Texas League	Class A	^[47]
47	1940	Nashville Vols		Southern Association	Class A1	^[48]
48	1924	Memphis Chicks		Southern Association	Class A	^[49]
49	1924	Okmulgee Drillers		Western Association	Class C	^[50]
50	1928	San Francisco Seals		Pacific Coast League	Double-A	^[51]
51	1902	Corsicana Oil Citys		Texas League	Class D	^[52]
52	1920	London Tecumsehs		Michigan–Ontario League	Class B	^[53]
53	1932	Newark Bears		International League	Double-A	^[54]
54	1952	Milwaukee Brewers		American Association	Triple-A	^[55]
55	1961	Reno Silver Sox		California League	Class C	^[56]
56	1931	Charlotte Hornets		Piedmont League	Class C	^[57]
57	1916	New London Planters		Eastern League	Class B	^[58]
58	1933	Davenport Blue Sox		Mississippi Valley League	Class B	^[59]
59	1905	Columbus Senators		American Association	Class A	^[60]
60	1975	Waterloo Royals		Midwest League	Class A	^[61]
61	1950	Winston-Salem Cards		Carolina League	Class B	^[62]
62	1983	Reading Phillies		Eastern League	Double-A	^[63]
63	1906	Des Moines Champions		Western League	Class A	^[64]
64	1949	Stroudsburg Poconos		North Atlantic League	Class D	^[65]
65	1941	Houston Buffaloes		Texas League	Class A1	^[66]
66	1910	Joplin Miners		Western Association	Class C	^[67]
67	1949	Pensacola Fliers		Southeastern League	Class B	^[68]
68	1939	Sanford Lookouts		Florida State League	Class D	^[69]
69	1980	Nashville Sounds		Southern League	Double-A	^[70]
70	1978	Visalia Oaks		California League	Class A	^[71]
71	1909	San Francisco Seals		Pacific Coast League	Class A	^[72]
72	1992	Columbus Clippers		International League	Triple-A	^[73]
73	1993	Harrisburg Senators		Eastern League	Double-A	^[74]
74	1980	Peninsula Pilots		Carolina League	Class A	^[75]
75	1979	Saltillo Saraperos		Mexican League	Triple-A	^[76]
76	1902	Toronto Maple Leafs		Eastern League	Class A	^[77]
77	1921	Independence Producers		Southwestern League	Class D	^[78]
78	1966	Spartanburg Phillies		Western Carolinas League	Class A	^[79]
79	1955	Fresno Cardinals		California League	Class C	^[80]
80	1910	Sioux City Packers		Western League	Class A	^[81]
81	1951	Hazard Bombers		Mountain States League	Class D	^[82]
82	1941	Wilson Tobs		Coastal Plain League	Class D	^[83]
83	1932	Tulsa Oilers		Western League	Class A	^[84]
84	1946	Montreal Royals		International League	Triple-A	^[85]
85	1948	Indianapolis Indians		American Association	Triple-A	^[86]
86	1941	Newark Bears		International League	Double-A	^[87]
87	1960	Toronto Maple Leafs		International League	Triple-A	^[88]
88	1922	St. Paul Saints		American Association	Double-A	^[89]
89	1990	West Palm Beach Expos		Florida State League	Class A-Advanced	^[90]
90	1946	Scranton Red Sox		Eastern League	Class A	^[91]
91	1923	St. Paul Saints		American Association	Double-A	^[92]
92	1947	Havana Cubans		Florida International League	Class C	^[93]
93	1978	Appleton Foxes		Midwest League	Class A	^[94]
94	1946	Abilene Blue Sox		West Texas–New Mexico League	Class C	^[95]
95	1986	Angeles Negros de Puebla		Mexican League	Triple-A	^[96]
96	1950	Quebec Braves		Canadian–American League	Class C	^[97]
97	1947	Lubbock Hubbers		West Texas–New Mexico League	Class C	^[98]
98	1947	Stockton Ports		California League	Class C	^[99]
99	1944	Hartford Laurels		Eastern League	Class A	^[100]
100	1944	Milwaukee Brewers		American Association	Double-A	^[101]

External links

• Top 100 Teams
• About the Top 100 Teams

Notes and References

1. Web site: About the Top 100 Teams . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
2. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 1. 1934 Los Angeles Angels . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
3. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 2. 1921 Baltimore Orioles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
4. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 3. 1937 Newark Bears . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
5. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 4. 1924 Fort Worth Panthers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
6. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 5. 1924 Baltimore Orioles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
7. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 6. 1920 St. Paul Saints . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
8. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 7. 1903 Jersey City Skeeters . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
9. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 8. 1937 Salisbury Indians . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
10. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 9. 1920 Baltimore Orioles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
11. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 10. 1925 San Francisco Seals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
12. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 11. 1981 Albuquerque Dukes . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
13. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 12. 1939 Kansas City Blues . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
14. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 13. 1943 Los Angeles Angels . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
15. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 14. 1920 Fort Worth Panthers. MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
16. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 15. 1922 Baltimore Orioles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
17. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 16. 1938 Newark Bears . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
18. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 17. 1922 Fort Worth Panthers. MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
19. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 18. 1923 Kansas City Blues . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
20. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 19. 1923 Baltimore Orioles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
21. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 20. 1922 Enid Harvesters . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
22. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 21. 1920 Toronto Maple Leafs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
23. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 22. 1911 Denver Grizzlies . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
24. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 23. 1992 Greenville Braves . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
25. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 24. 1927 Buffalo Bisons . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
26. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 25. 1954 Waco Pirates . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
27. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 26. 1931 Hartford Senators . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
28. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 27. 1902 Indianapolis Indians . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
29. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 28. 1929 Kansas City Blues . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
30. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 29. 1903 Los Angeles Angels . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
31. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 30. 1955 Keokuk Kernels . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
32. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 31. 1906 Portland Beavers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
33. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 32. 1921 Memphis Chicks . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
34. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 33. 1925 Ft. Worth Panthers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
35. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 34. 1952 Norfolk Tars . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
36. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 35. 1919 Baltimore Orioles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
37. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 36. 1951 Charlotte Hornets . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
38. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 37. 1980 Denver Bears . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
39. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 38. 1970 Hawaii Islanders . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
40. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 39. 1926 Toronto Maple Leafs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
41. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 40. 1952 Miami Sun Sox . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
42. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 41. 1907 Wichita Jobbers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
43. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 42. 1931 Houston Buffaloes . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
44. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 43. 1933 Columbus Red Birds . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
45. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 44. 1922 San Francisco Seals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
46. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 45. 1918 Toronto Maple Leafs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
47. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 46. 1921 Ft. Worth Panthers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
48. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 47. 1940 Nashville Vols . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
49. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 48. 1924 Memphis Chicks . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
50. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 49. 1924 Okmulgee Drillers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
51. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 50. 1928 San Francisco Seals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
52. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 51. 1902 Corsicana Oil Citys . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
53. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 52. 1920 London Tecumsehs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
54. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 53. 1932 Newark Bears . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
55. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 54. 1952 Milwaukee Brewers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
56. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 55. 1961 Reno Silver Sox . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
57. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 56. 1931 Charlotte Hornets . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
58. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 57. 1916 New London Planters . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
59. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 58. 1933 Davenport Blue Sox . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
60. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 59. 1905 Columbus Senators . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
61. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 60. 1975 Waterloo Royals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
62. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 61. 1950 Winston-Salem Cards . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
63. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 62. 1983 Reading Phillies . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
64. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 63. 1906 Des Moines Champions . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
65. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 64. 1949 Stroudsburg Poconos . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
66. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 65. 1941 Houston Buffaloes . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
67. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 66. 1910 Joplin Miners . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
68. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 67. 1949 Pensacola Fliers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
69. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 68. 1939 Sanford Lookouts . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
70. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 69. 1980 Nashville Sounds . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
71. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 70. 1978 Visalia Oaks . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
72. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 71. 1909 San Francisco Seals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
73. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 72. 1992 Columbus Clippers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
74. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 73. 1993 Harrisburg Senators . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
75. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 74. 1980 Peninsula Pilots . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
76. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 75. 1979 Saltillo Saraperos . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
77. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 76. 1902 Toronto Maple Leafs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
78. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 77. 1921 Independence Producers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
79. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 78. 1966 Spartanburg Phillies . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
80. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 79. 1955 Fresno Cardinals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
81. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 80. 1910 Sioux City Packers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
82. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 81. 1951 Hazard Bombers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
83. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 82. 1941 Wilson Tobs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
84. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 83. 1932 Tulsa Oilers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
85. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 84. 1946 Montreal Royals . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
86. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 85. 1948 Indianapolis Indians . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
87. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 86. 1941 Newark Bears . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
88. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 87. 1960 Toronto Maple Leafs . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
89. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 88. 1922 St. Paul Saints . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
90. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 89. 1990 West Palm Beach Expos . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
91. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 90. 1946 Scranton Red Sox . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
92. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 91. 1923 St. Paul Saints . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
93. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 92. 1947 Havana Cubans . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
94. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 93. 1978 Appleton Foxes . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
95. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 94. 1946 Abilene Blue Sox . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
96. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 95. 1986 Puebla Angeles . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
97. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 96. 1950 Quebec Braves . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
98. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 97. 1947 Lubbock Hubbers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
99. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 98. 1947 Stockton Ports . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
100. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 99. 1944 Hartford Laurels . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.
101. Web site: Weiss . Bill . Wright . Marshall . 100. 1944 Milwaukee Brewers . MiLB.com . 2001 . January 15, 2023.