Appalachian League

The Appalachian League of Professional Baseball is a Rookie-class Minor League Baseball league that began play in 1911. It operated as a Class D league (1911–1914), (1921–1925), (1937–1955) and (1957–1962) before becoming a Rookie league in 1963. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee. The league's season starts in June, after major league teams have signed players they selected in the annual amateur draft, and ends in September.

Appalachian League
SportBaseball
Founded1911
PresidentDan Moushon[1]
No. of teams10
CountryUSA
Most recent
champion(s)		Johnson City Cardinals (2019)
Most titlesBluefield Blue Jays (14)
ClassificationRookie Advanced
Official websitewww.appyleague.com

Along with the Pioneer League, it forms the second-lowest rung on the minor league ladder. Although classified as a Rookie league, the level of play is slightly higher than that of the two Rookie leagues based at the parent clubs' spring training complexes, the Gulf Coast League and Arizona League. Unlike these two leagues, Appalachian League games charge admission and sell concessions.

History

The original Appalachian League only existed for four seasons from 1911–1914 and all teams were independent with no MLB affiliation. The original league consisted of the Asheville Moonshiners, the Bristol Boosters, the Cleveland Counts, the Johnson City Soldiers, the Knoxville Appalachians, and the Morristown Jobbers.[2]

The second Appalachian League existed for five seasons from 1921–1925, and, as before, it consisted entirely of independent teams: the Bristol State-Liners, the Cleveland Manufacturers, the Greeneville Burley Cats, the second iteration of the Johnson City Soldiers, the Kingsport Indians, and the Knoxville Pioneers. Two of the 1921 locations have present-day teams in the Appalachian League: Kingsport, Tennessee, with the present-day Kingsport Mets, and Greeneville, Tennessee, with the present-day Greeneville Reds.[2]

The third iteration of the Appalachian league, which started in 1937, was shifted to D-level minor league, the lowest level in the pre-1963 MLB. It consisted of four teams: the Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, the third iteration of the Johnson City Soldiers, the Newport Canners, and the Pennington Gap Lee Bears.[2]

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[3][4]

Current teams
Current team locations:
  East Division
  West Division
Division Team MLB Affiliation City Stadium Capacity
East Bluefield Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays Bluefield, West Virginia and
Bluefield, Virginia		 Bowen Field at Peters Park 3,000
Burlington Royals Kansas City Royals Burlington, North Carolina Burlington Athletic Stadium 3,500
Danville Braves Atlanta Braves Danville, Virginia American Legion Field 2,588
Princeton Rays Tampa Bay Rays Princeton, West Virginia H. P. Hunnicutt Field 3,000
Pulaski Yankees New York Yankees[5] Pulaski, Virginia Calfee Park 2,500
West Bristol Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee Boyce Cox Field at DeVault Memorial Stadium 2,000
Elizabethton Twins Minnesota Twins Elizabethton, Tennessee Joe O'Brien Field 2,000
Greeneville Reds Cincinnati Reds Tusculum, Tennessee Pioneer Park 4,000
Johnson City Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals Johnson City, Tennessee TVA Credit Union Ballpark 3,800
Kingsport Mets New York Mets Kingsport, Tennessee Hunter Wright Stadium 2,000

Current team rosters
Main article: Appalachian League rosters

Complete team list

1911–14
  • Harriman Boosters (1911–14, as Bristol Boosters in 1911–13)
  • Johnson City Soldiers (1911–13)
  • Knoxville Reds (1911–14, as Knoxville Appalachians in 1911)
  • Middlesboro Colonels (1911–14, as Asheville Moonshiners in 1911–12)
  • Morristown Jobbers (1913–14, as Cleveland Counts in 1911–13; moved to Morristown during 1913 season)
  • Rome Romans (1911–13, as Morristown Jobbers in 1911–12)

1921–25

1937–55, 1957–present
  • Bluefield Blue Jays (Bluefield Blue-Grays in 1946–55; as Bluefield Dodgers in 1957; 1957–2010 as Bluefield Orioles)
  • Bristol Twins (1940–55)
  • Bristol Pirates (2014–present, as Bristol Tigers from 1969–94, as Bristol White Sox from 1995–2013)
  • Burlington Royals (1969–84, 1986–present, as Pulaski Phillies in 1969-77; as Paintsville Highlanders in 1978; as Paintsville Yankees in 1979–82; as Paintsville Brewers in 1983–84; suspended operations in 1985; as Burlington Indians in 1986–2006)
  • Covington Astros (1965–76, as Harlan Red Sox in 1965; as Covington Red Sox in 1966)
  • Danville Braves (1982–present, as Pulaski Braves in 1982–92)
  • Elizabethton Twins (1969, 1971–present, as Wytheville Senators in 1969; suspended operations in 1970; as Wytheville Braves in 1971–73)
  • Erwin Mountaineers (1940)
  • Greeneville Burley Cubs (1938–42)
  • Greeneville Reds (2018–present, as Martinsville Phillies in 1988–98; as Martinsville Astros in 1999–2003; as Greeneville Astros in 2004–2017)
  • Johnson City Cardinals (1937–55, 1957–61, as Johnson City Soldiers in 1937–38; as Johnson City Cardinals in 1939–55; as Johnson City Phillies from 1957–60)
  • Johnson City Cardinals (1961–present, as Harlan Smokies in 1961–62; as Harlan Yankees in 1963; as Johnson City Yankees in 1964–74)
  • Kingsport Pirates (1955, 1957, 1959–63, as Kingsport Cherokees in 1955; as Kingsport Orioles in 1957; suspended operations in 1958; as Kingsport Senators in 1959)
  • Kingsport Mets (1969–82, 1984–present, as Kingsport Royals in 1969-73; as Kingsport Braves in 1974–79; suspended operations in 1983)
  • Lynchburg Senators (1959)
  • Marion A's (1946–55, as Welch Miners in 1946–55; moved to Marion during 1955 season)
  • Marion Mets (1965–76)
  • Martinsville Astros (1999–2003)
  • Martinsville Phillies (1988–1998)
  • Middlesboro Cubsox (1961–63, as Middlesboro Senators in 1961–62)
  • Morristown Cubs (1937–55, 1957–60, as Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox in 1937-42; as Erwin Aces in 1943; as Erwin Cubs in 1944; as Elizabethton Betsy Cubs in 1945–48; as Elizabethton Betsy Local in 1949–50; as Elizabethton Phils in 1951; as Pulaski Phillies in 1952–55; as Pulaski Cubs in 1957–58)
  • New River Rebels (1946–50)
  • Newport Canners (1937–42)
  • Pennington Gap Miners (1937–40, as Pennington Gap Lee Bears in 1937–38; as Pennington Gap Bears in 1939)
  • Princeton Rays (1988–present, as Princeton Pirates in 1988-89; as Princeton Patriots in 1990; as Princeton Reds in 1991-96, as Princeton Devil Rays in 1997-2008)
  • Pulaski Counts (1946–50)
  • Pulaski Yankees (1982–95, 1997–2006, 2008–present as Pikeville Brewers in 1982; as Pikeville Cubs in 1983–84; as Wytheville Cubs 1985–89; as Huntington Cubs in 1990–94; as River City Rumblers in 1995; suspended operations in 1996; as Pulaski Rangers in 1997–2002; as Pulaski Blue Jays in 2003–2006; suspended operations in 2007; as Pulaski Mariners in 2008–14)
  • Salem Rebels (1955, 1957–67)
  • Wytheville Reds (1938–55, 1957–65, 1967, as Kingsport Cherokees in 1938–41; as Kingsport Dodgers in 1942; as Kingsport Cherokees in 1943–52; as Wytheville Statesmen in 1953–55; as Wytheville Cardinals in 1957–59; as Wytheville Senators in 1960; as Wytheville Twins in 1961–63; as Wytheville A's in 1964; as Wytheville Senators in 1965; suspended operations in 1966)

Champions
Main article: List of Appalachian League champions

League champions have been determined by different means since the Appalachian League's formation in 1911. Before 1984, the champions were usually the league pennant winners. With only a few early exceptions, champions since 1984 have been the winner of postseason playoffs.[6]

Hall of Fame
Main article: Appalachian League Hall of Fame

The Appalachian League Hall of Fame was started in 2019.[7]

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See also

References
  1. 2019 Appalachian League Media Guide
  2. "Minor League Baseball: the Appalachian League (Advanced-Rookie Classification)". Billssportsmaps.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  3. "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  4. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. "Pulaski will be Yanks affiliate for '15 season". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-10.
  6. "Standings". 2017 Appalachian League Media Guide and Record Book. Minor League Baseball. pp. 39–61. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  7. "Hall of Fame". Appalachian League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
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