Teams carry over rosters each year and keep 5 minor leaguers. Teams have 14 batters (min. 100 AB, and min. 500 AB required at each position) and 11 or 12 pitchers (must have 154 GS and 400 relief innings) on the season roster. Players who meet the minimums (pitcher minimums for this purpose are 100 IP for starters and 30 IP for relievers) the next year must be kept on the season roster, traded or cut. Players who do not meet the minimums may be sent to the team's minor league roster as one of the 7 minor leaguers. Each year, teams must decide when to take a hot minor league prospect over a current need on the roster, and whether to keep a borderline player with potential which makes for interesting drafting and trade decisions.
History: Began with 20-team draft in 1992 based on the '91 season. First overall pick was Roger Clemens, selected by the Connecticut Chill. Contraction to 16 teams occurred in 1993, then expansion back to 20 in 1994. In 2004, four teams (Massachussetts, Orlando, Wisconsin, and Hawaii) were added.
Divisions:
Colonial Piedmont Prairie Pacific
Brooklyn Bombers Kentucky Fillies Austin Sentinel Arizona Eagles
Connecticut Chill Miami Ospreys Chicago Sting California Redwoods
Maine Lobsters New Orleans Thunder Kansas Comets Colorado Alpines
Massachusetts Generals North Carolina Greyhounds Nebraska Blaze Hawaii Rainbows
Rhode Island Admirals Orlando Pelicans St. Louis Stallions Portland Pioneers
Vermont Maples Tennessee Smokies Wisconsin Bluegills Wyoming Cavalry
American Classic Results:
American Classic I (1992): North Carolina d. Arizona American Classic VII (1999): St. Louis d. Connecticut
American Classic II (1993): North Carolina d. Arizona American Classic VIII (2000): Connecticut d. Portland
American Classic III (1994): Kansas d. Kentucky American Classic IX (2001): California d. Vermont
American Classic IV (1996): Vermont d. Colorado American Classic X (2002): Tennessee d. St. Louis
American Classic V (1997): Vermont d. Nebraska American Classic XI (2003): Portland d. New Orleans
American Classic VI (1998): Kansas d. North Carolina American Classic XII (2004): Tennessee d. Chicago
Despite its lack of postseason success until 2000, the Connecticut Chill has been a dominant franchise, at least in the regular season, compiling 109 victories in the disappointing 1994 season when it lost to a severe underdog Kentucky team. Incredibly, Vermont has never won less than 91 games! Three times the Maples have posted triple-digit wins, twice leading to a championship, and 2001 a bitter defeat after taking a 3 games to 1 lead against California. North Carolina has been consistently excellent as well, having never posted a losing season.
The Rhode Island, New Orleans, Austin (formerly South Dakota), and Chicago (formerly Montana) franchises were 1994 expansion teams. Due to generous protection limits allowed in the expansion draft, these franchises were not competitive until a supplemental expansion draft in 1998. In 2000, New Orleans was the first expansion team to finally win a division.
A number of the franchises have experienced a relocation and/or nickname change, although as a traditionalist I have tried to limit such changes (although they are sometimes helpful to add interest to the league). For example, the league started with all teams using state names, and with the '94 expansion, some teams elected to use their home city name instead of the state name. Funny how little things can add interest to a league.
Clink on a link below for more on the AA:
1992 Standings 1993 Standings 1994 Standings 1996 Standings
1992 Recap 1993 Leaders 1994 Recap 1996 Recap
1992 Leaders 1993 Stats 1994 Leaders 1996 Leaders
1992 Stats 1994 Stats 1996 Stats
1997 Standings 1998 Standings 1999 Standings 2000 Standings
1997 Recap 1998 Recap 1999 Recap 2000 Recap
1997 Leaders 1998 Leaders 1999 Leaders 2000 Leaders
1997 Stats 1998 Stats 1999 Stats 2000 Stats
2001 Standings 2002 Standings 2003 Standings
2001 Recap 2002 Recap 2003 Recap
2001 Leaders 2002 Leaders 2003 Leaders
2001 Stats 2002 Stats 2003 Stats
2001 Postseason 2002 Postseason 2003 Postseason
Lifetime Batting Stats Lifetime Pitching Stats
All-Time Batting Leaders All-Time Pitching Leaders
Single Season Batting Records Single Season Pitching Records
Franchise Movement Historical Drafts & Trades
