Triple-A World Series

Postseason series to determine a champion of the Triple A classification of Minor League Baseball

The Triple A World Series was an interleague postseason championship series between the league champions of the affiliated Triple A leagues of Minor League Baseball to determine an overall champion of the classification held in 1983 and from 1998 to 2000. The 1983 Triple A World Series was held as a round robin tournament involving the champions of the American Association (AA), International League (IL), and Pacific Coast League (PCL) at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. A combination of low attendance and the three league presidents being unable to agree on a more suitable location resulted in the cancellation of a proposed 1984 series. Following the disbandment of the AA after the 1997 season, the Triple A World Series was revived as a contest between the IL and PCL from 1998 to 2000. Held at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada, the series was discontinued after three years of poor attendance. Two of the four Triple A World Series were won by International League teams, and two were won by Pacific Coast League teams. The Tidewater Tides (IL) won the initial 1983 series. The New Orleans Zephyrs (PCL) won in 1998, and the Vancouver Canadians (PCL) won in 1999. The Indianapolis Indians (IL) won the final series in 2000.

Periodically from 1904 to 1975, the champions from the top classification leagues of Minor League Baseball met in the postseason to determine a champion amongst them. The Little World Series (1904–1931) and Junior World Series (1932–1975) usually consisted of a best of seven (or eight) series modeled on the World Series of Major League Baseball. Most often, it was held between the champions of the International League (IL) and the American Association (AA), though the Pacific Coast League (PCL) participated in place of the IL in 1919. Officials from the International League voted to discontinue the series after 1975 due to their playoff teams being weakened by major league call ups, the unavailability of some stadiums late in the year, high travel expenses, and low attendance, which led to low revenue for team owners.

During the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, International League president Harold Cooper conceived the idea of a Triple A World Series when television stations broadcast Triple A games in the absence of major league games. In late 1982, Louisville Redbirds owner A. Ray Smith mentioned the idea to Columbus Clippers president George Sisler Jr. On October 28, representatives from all three leagues met to give final approval to the series. Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, was selected as the site for the first Triple A World Series because its Cardinals had set the all time minor league attendance record that season. The series was to be televised on ESPN. The 1983 Triple A World Series was played from September 15–19. The total attendance for all four dates was 26,914 people, for an average of 6,728 per game. League officials believed something needed to be done to boost the series' popularity and attendance. They considered ensuring the home team's participation, playing the series before the Labor Day holiday, and moving to a new location. PCL president Bill Cutler proposed moving the series to Las Vegas for 1984. The IL supported this move, but the AA wanted to keep it in Louisville. Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn, who felt uneasy about playing games in Las Vegas due to the presence of legalized gambling, cancelled the series in April 1984 after the three Triple A presidents could not come to an agreement as to its location. There was not another postseason meeting of these minor leagues until 1988, when the International League and the American Association held the first Triple A Classic, a best of seven series played in conjunction with the Triple A Alliance. The Triple A Classic continued as an annual event until league owners voted to end the Triple A Alliance after 1991.

On July 9, 1997, Triple A owners voted for a realignment plan that resulted in the American Association disbanding and its teams being absorbed by the International League and Pacific Coast League in 1998. A committee was established to explore the possibility of reviving the Triple A World Series in a four team IL versus PCL format involving either the champions and runners up from each league or the incorporation of each league championship series into the series' semifinals. Plans were finalized before the start of the 1998 season. The IL and PCL champions would meet in a best of five series at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, home of the PCL's Las Vegas Stars. The agreement was joint venture between the two Triple A leagues, Major League Baseball, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and was scheduled to run for three years, from 1998 to 2000. The site was chosen because of its reasonable travel costs and other offerings in the city. The series were to be televised on ESPN2. Attendance at the 1999 series, played in five games from September 20–25, improved slightly to 4,002 per game. Before the 2000 Triple A World Series, IL and PCL officials entered into negotiations with officials from Las Vegas about continuing the event beyond the original three year deal. At the same time, they also explored other possible neutral sites for future games, including Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, New York, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Another option was a home and home arrangement where games would be played at the home stadiums of each participant. However, this decision was reversed months later when the leagues decided to suspend the series for 2001—citing poor attendance—and find a new format for 2002. Ultimately, the Triple A World Series was discontinued, and the International League and the Pacific Coast League returned to ending their seasons after the crowning of their own champions. No other postseason meetings between the leagues occurred until 2006 with the creation of the Bricktown Showdown, a single game to determine a champion of the Triple A classification.

Two of the four Triple A World Series were won by International League teams, and two were won by Pacific Coast League teams. The Tidewater Tides (IL) won the initial 1983 series. The New Orleans Zephyrs (PCL) won in 1998, and the Vancouver Canadians (PCL) won in 1999. The Indianapolis Indians (IL) won the final series in 2000. IL and PCL teams tied in the all time series with two wins apiece. The only American Association team to participate lost in their only series appearance. +Overall Triple A World Series resultsYearWinning team (MLB affiliation)LeagueScoreLosing team (MLB affiliation)LeagueRef. (Reference)1983Tidewater Tides (NYM)ILPortland Beavers (PHI)Denver Bears (CWS)PCLAA1998New Orleans Zephyrs (HOU)PCLBuffalo Bisons (CLE)IL1999Vancouver Canadians (OAK)PCLCharlotte Knights (CWS)IL2000Indianapolis Indians (MIL)ILMemphis Redbirds (STL)PCL

One player from the winning team was recognized for their outstanding play in the series and was given the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. +Most Valuable Player Award winnersYearPlayerTeam (MLB affiliation)LeaguePositionRef. (Reference)1983Tidewater Tides (NYM)ILFirst baseman1998New Orleans Zephyrs (HOU)PCLLeft fielder1999Vancouver Canadians (OAK)PCLCenter fielder2000Indianapolis Indians (MIL)ILShortstop