Minor League Pillows

The San Francisco Seals were a minor league baseball team in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 until 1957 before transferring to Phoenix, Arizona. The organization was named for the abundant California sea lion and harbor seal populations in the Bay Area. The 1909, 1922, 1925, and 1928 Seals were recognized as being among the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.

The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL, until the last iteration ended playing in 2010.

Joliet first hosted minor league baseball in 1890. The Joliet Convicts became members of the Independent level Illinois-Iowa League. In their first season of play, the Joliet Convicts placed 6th with a record of 56–59 in the eight–team Illinois-Iowa League. W.E. Buckley and Ed Culberson served as the Joliet managers as the Convicts finished 14.0 games behind the 1st place Ottumwa Coal Palace Kings in the final standings. The Joliet use of the "Convicts" moniker was in reference to local industry, with Joliet, Illinois being home to the Joliet Correctional Center beginning in 1858.

One team, from Springfield, Illinois played in the Central League from 1912-1917. Another team, from Springfield, Ohio played in the Ohio State League in 1908 and 1911. The Springfield Reapers/Portsmouth Cobblers, a minor league baseball team, played in the Central League and Ohio State League between 1908 and 1917.

The Lizards faced off against the Albuquerque Dons at Municipal Park on July 23, 1932. Although the final score was 9-6, the game did go 13 innings with “excellent defensive play by the Tucsonans.” “Fine fielding by Joe Silva and Vincent DeMaggio” made them standouts in the losing Lizard cause. The Lizards and Dons were members of the Arizona-Texas League. But trouble was looming at the league’s door. A short item, following the game story, said the Dons were in financial trouble. Team members had not been paid since June 1st.

In 1892, minor league baseball began, as the Jacksonville Lunatics joined the eight–team 1892 Illinois–Iowa League. The Lunatics finished with a 30–57 record to place 4th in the league standings as four of the league members folded during the season. Only Jacksonville, the Joliet Convicts, Rockford Hustlers and Rock Island-Moline Twins competed the season and Jacksonville finished 27.0 games behind 1st place Joilet. The Illinois–Iowa League folded after the season. With the Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League folded, the Jacksonville Lunatics joined the eight–team 1907 Iowa State League. The Lunatics placed 4th in the standings with a 63–61 record, ending the season 16.0 games behind the 1st place Waterloo Cubs.

The Tacoma Tugs was the name of the minor league baseball team in Tacoma, Washington in 1979. The team had formerly been named directly after the major league affiliated teams, the Tigers, Giants, Cubs, Twins, and Yankees. Following an affiliation change to the Cleveland Indians, a local contest was held and long-time Tacoma resident, Gary W. Grip won with his entry, the Tacoma Tugs. Grip drew his inspiration for the name from the many tugboats in the Tacoma waters. The franchise was renamed the Tacoma Tugs, marking the first time the team's nickname did not align with its major league club. After one season as the Tugs, the team returned to the Tigers nickname in 1980.

Idaho Falls has hosted a number of minor league teams in the Pioneer League since 1940. From 1986 to 1991 and then again from 1993 to 1999 the team was affiliated with and named after the Atlanta Braves. The team is now called the Idaho Falls Chukars and is independent.

The Salem Witches were a baseball team of the New England League, a minor league in American major league baseball. The team played a total of five non-consecutive seasons using the "Witches" moniker. Salem also hosted the New England League Salem Fairies (1887) and Salem (1891–1892), as well as Salem of the New England Association (1895). Salem first had a team in the 1884 Massachusetts State Association

The Tucson Toros were a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. The original Toros were a Triple-A minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League from 1969 to 1997, where they won the PCL Championship in 1991 and 1993. They were affiliated with several Major League Baseball teams over the years, most notably with the Houston Astros. A later team named the Toros played in the independent Golden Baseball League.

The Las Vegas Wranglers were a minor league baseball team that played in various leagues in the 1940s and 1950s. They were Las Vegas's first professional team in any sport.

The Madison Muskies were a Class A minor league baseball team that played in the Midwest League from 1982 to 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1993, the team relocated to Comstock Park, Michigan and became today's West Michigan Whitecaps. The Muskies were an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

The Tucson Toros were a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the US. The original Toros were a Triple-A minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League from 1969 to 1997, where they won the PCL Championship in 1991 and 1993. They were affiliated with several Major League Baseball teams over the years, most notably with the Houston Astros. A later team named the Toros played in the independent Golden Baseball League.

The Bisbee Bees were a Minor League Baseball team that represented Bisbee, Arizona from 1928 to 1941. The Bisbee Bees played as members of the Arizona State League (1928–1930) and Arizona–Texas League (1931–1932, 1937–1941). The Bees were an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 1930, Cincinnati Reds in 1937 and Chicago Cubs from 1939 to 1941.

Hannibal teams played under a variety of monikers throughout their history. The first Hannibal minor league team was known as the Hannibal Cannibals, beginning play in the 1908 Illinois–Missouri League and continuing in the Central Association from 1909 to 1912. Baseball Hall of Fame member Jake Beckley played and managed for the 1911 Hannibal Cannibals. On August 25, 1911, Roy Brown of the Hannibal Cannibals pitched a no-hitter against the Monmouth Browns as Hannibal won the game 3–0.

The Davenport Blue Sox was the name given to three minor league baseball teams based in Davenport, Iowa. The first version of the Blue Sox played in the Class B Three-I League from 1913–1916. The second played in the Class D Mississippi Valley League from 1929–1933, and the third version played in the Western League from 1934–1937. From 1936–1937, the team was a minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Blue Sox played their home games at Municipal Stadium from 1931–1937 and were the foundation for today's tenant, the Quad Cities River Bandits.

The Phoenix Firebirds was a minor league AAA baseball team affiliated with the Giants from 1986 until the team folded in 1997. Beginning in 1958 and until 1986 the minor league team was called the Giants.

Several different minor league baseball teams have called the city of Orlando, Florida home from 1919–2003. Most have played in the Florida State League. The Minnesota Twins arrived in 1963 and set up a new affiliate called the Orlando Twins. The franchise joined the Southern League in 1973. The Twins played at Tinker Field in downtown Orlando, near the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. In 1990, the team was renamed the Orlando Sun Rays. In 1993, the Chicago Cubs became the team's new major-league affiliate, and the team was renamed the Orlando Cubs. While still a Chicago Cubs affiliate, the team renamed itself once again in 1997 and became the Orlando Rays.

The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, through 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League. The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.

The Lewiston Broncs were a minor league baseball team based in Lewiston, Idaho, and played from 1952 through 1974. Locally, the team was known as "Lewis-Clark" to include the adjacent twin city of Clarkston, Washington. The Broncs were a member of the Western International League ("Willy") from 1952–54, and its successor, the Northwest League, from 1955–74. The Broncs won the NWL championships in 1961.

The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia. The team was named for the city and used the oak tree and the acorn as its symbols.

Allentown Peanuts refers to two baseball teams: one that played in the Central League in 1888, and another that played in the Atlantic League from 1898 to 1900. They were based in Allentown, Pennsylvania and had no big league affiliations. In 1898, they went 55-67 under managers James McGeehan and Billy Sharsig, and in 1899 they went 37-47 under manager Sharsig.

The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL.

The Muncie Fruit Jars were a professional minor league baseball team based in Muncie, Indiana. The club was first formed in 1906 as a team in the class-C Interstate Association. The Fruit Jars' name was inspired by Muncie's local economy, which was the home of Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, famous for producing glass canning jars. The team was expelled from the league on May 18, 1906, after posting a 4-12 record. Less than two months later, the league folded on July 8, 1906. The team was fielded again in 1908 as a member of the class-D Indiana-Ohio League. The league began play on May 9, however it was forced to fold on June 8, 1908.

The Birmingham Barons are a Minor League Baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and plays at Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. The current edition of the Barons was previously located in Montgomery, Alabama, and known as the Montgomery Rebels.

Columbia's former minor league baseball team

The Salinas Spurs were a California League team that played from 1982 to 1987 and again from 1989 to 1992. Located in Salinas, California, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs from 1982 to 1983, the Seattle Mariners from 1984 to 1987, and in 1989 they had a partial working agreement with the San Francisco Giants.

The Shenandoah Huns were a minor league baseball club, based in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania in 1894 and 1895. The team was formed when the Scranton Miners jumped from the Pennsylvania State League to the Eastern League on July 26, 1894. A week later the Huns were formed to replace Scranton in the league on August 2. The team continued to play in the Pennsylvania State League the following year, but disbanded during the season on May 20, 1895. Prior to the Huns, Shenandoah fielded the Shenandoah Hungarian Rioters a minor league team that played from 1888 to 1889 in the Middle States League and the Central League.

The Denver Bears were a minor league professional baseball team dating from the 50's until 1983 when the team was renamed the Zephyrs. There was an earlier Denver Bears team playing in the Western League from 1901 to 1954, but this logo is from the team that played at what became known later as Mile High Stadium, but was originally known as Bears Stadium, after the team.

The Iowa Oaks were a minor league baseball team based in Des Moines, Iowa from 1969 to 1981. The team was affiliated originally with the Oakland Athletics, then with the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. The team became the Iowa Cubs in 1982 after affiliating with the Chicago Cubs.

The Idaho Falls Spuds were the first minor league baseball team based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Playing from 1926 to 1928, the Spuds played as members of the Class C level Utah-Idaho League, winning league championships in 1926 and 1927 and hosting home games at Highland Park. The Idaho Falls Spuds were followed by the Idaho Falls Russets, who joined the Pioneer League in 1940. Today, the Idaho Falls Chukars franchise continues play in the Pioneer League.

The Hawaii Islanders were a minor league baseball team based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for 27 seasons from 1961 through 1987. Originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, the Islanders played their home games at Honolulu Stadium, Aloha Stadium and Les Murakami Stadium. After being one of the most successful minor league teams, the Islanders faltered and ultimately moved to the mainland as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 1988.

The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods (1903, 1905, 1909–1914, 1918–1960, 1974–1976). The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000.

The La Grande Babes were a minor league baseball team based in La Grande, Oregon in 1908, as Le Grande teams played between 1891 and 1913 with different monikers each season. La Grande teams played as members of the Pacific Interstate League in 1891, Inland Empire League in 1902 and 1908 and Western Tri-State League in 1912 to 1913. The La Grande Rhonders won the 1891 Pacific Interstate League and the La Grande Babes won the 1908 Inland Empire League Championships.

The original Buffalo Bisons baseball club played in the National League between 1879 and 1885. The Bisons played their games at Riverside Park (1879–1883) and Olympic Park (1884–1885) in Buffalo, New York. The NL Bisons are included in the history of the minor-league team of the same name that still plays today; it is thus the only NL team from the 19th century that both still exists and no longer plays in Major League Baseball.

The Las Vegas Wranglers were a minor league baseball team that played in various leagues in the 1940s and 1950s. They were Las Vegas's first professional team in any sport.