List of Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates
The Chicago Cubs farm system consists of four Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States. Additionally, the Cubs have squads playing in the Arizona League and the Dominican Summer League.[1] Four teams are independently owned, while the Arizona League Cubs and Dominican Summer League Cubs squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Cubs have been affiliated with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League since 1981, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Cubs.[2] It is also the longest affiliation in the team's history. Their newest affiliates are the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League, South Bend Cubs of the High Single-A Midwest League, and Low Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans who became Cubs affiliates in 2015.
Geographically, Chicago's closest domestic affiliate is the South Bend Cubs, which is approximately 75 miles (121 km) away. Chicago's furthest domestic affiliate is Arizona League Cubs, which is some 1,437 miles (2,313 km) away.
2021–present
The current structure of Minor League Baseball is the result of an overall contraction of the system beginning with the 2021 season.[3] Class A was reduced to two levels: High Single-A and Low Single-A.
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | High Single-A | Low Single-A | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Iowa Cubs[4] | Tennessee Smokies[4] | South Bend Cubs[4] | Myrtle Beach Pelicans[4] | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs |
1990–2020
Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. The Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.[5]
On June 30, 2020, it was announced that the 160 minor league baseball teams' seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] This marked the first time in the history of Minor League Baseball that a season had been canceled.[6]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Iowa Cubs[7] | Tennessee Smokies[7] | Myrtle Beach Pelicans[7] | South Bend Cubs[7] | Eugene Emeralds[8] | Arizona League Cubs 1 Arizona League Cubs 2 |
DSL Cubs Blue DSL Cubs Red |
| 2019 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs 1 Arizona League Cubs 2 |
DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2018 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs 1 Arizona League Cubs 2 |
DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2017 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2016 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2015 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs |
| 2014 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Kane County Cougars | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs |
| 2013 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Kane County Cougars | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs |
| 2012 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2011 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2010 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2009 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2008 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
| 2007 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2006 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2005 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2004 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2003 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2002 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2001 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 2000 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 1999 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Eugene Emeralds | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 1998 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 1997 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | Arizona League Cubs | DSL Cubs |
| 1996 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | — | DSL Cubs** |
| 1995 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | — | DSL Cubs** |
| 1994 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Williamsport Cubs | Huntington Cubs | DSL Cubs** |
| 1993 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs | DSL Cubs* |
| 1992 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Winston-Salem Spirits | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs | DSL Cubs†‡ |
| 1991 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Winston-Salem Spirits | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs | DSL Cubs† |
| 1990 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Winston-Salem Spirits | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs | — |
† Shared an affiliation with the Kansas City Royals.
‡ Shared an affiliation with the Colorado Rockies.
* Shared an affiliation with the Texas Rangers.
** Shared an affiliation with the San Diego Padres.
1963–1989
The foundation of the minors' current structure was the result of a reorganization initiated by Major League Baseball (MLB) before the 1963 season. The reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-AA, Class A, and Rookie) was a response to the general decline of the minors throughout the 1950s and early-1960s when leagues and teams folded due to shrinking attendance caused by baseball fans' preference for staying at home to watch MLB games on television. The only change made within the next 27 years was Class A being subdivided for the first time to form Class A Short Season in 1966.[5]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Charleston Wheelers, Peoria Chiefs, Winston-Salem Spirits | Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs |
| 1988 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Winston-Salem Spirits, Peoria Chiefs, Charleston Wheelers, | Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs |
| 1987 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Winston-Salem Spirits, Peoria Chiefs, | Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs |
| 1986 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Peoria Chiefs, Winston-Salem Spirits | Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs |
| 1985 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Winston-Salem Spirits, Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs |
| 1984 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Lodi Crushers, Quad Cities Cubs | Geneva Cubs | Pikeville Cubs |
| 1983 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs, Salinas Spurs | Geneva Cubs | Pikeville Cubs |
| 1982 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs, Salinas Spurs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs |
| 1981 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs, | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs |
| 1980 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs, | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs |
| 1979 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs, | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs |
| 1978 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Pompano Beach Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs |
| 1977 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Pompano Beach Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs |
| 1976 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Pompano Beach Cubs | — | GCL Cubs |
| 1975 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Key West Cubs | — | GCL Cubs |
| 1974 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Key West Cubs | — | GCL Cubs |
| 1973 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quincy Cubs | — | GCL Cubs |
| 1972 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quincy Cubs | — | GCL Cubs |
| 1971 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Quincy Cubs | — | Caldwell Cubs |
| 1970 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Quincy Cubs | Huron Cubs | Caldwell Cubs |
| 1969 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Key West Cubs, Quincy Cubs | Huron Cubs | Caldwell Cubs |
| 1968 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Lodi Crushers, Quincy Cubs | — | Caldwell Cubs |
| 1967 | Tacoma Cubs | — | Quincy Cubs, Lodi Crushers | — | Caldwell Cubs |
| 1966 | Tacoma Cubs | — | Lodi Crushers, Quincy Cubs | — | — |
| 1965 | Salt Lake City Bees | — | — | — | — |
| 1964 | Salt Lake City Bees | — | — | — | — |
| 1963 | Salt Lake City Bees | — | — | — | — |
1922–1962
The minors operated with six classes (Triple-A, Double-A, and Classes A, B, C, and D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from Triple-A to Open in 1952 due to the possibility of becoming a third major league. This arrangement ended following the 1957 season when the relocation of the National League's Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast killed any chance of the PCL being promoted. The 1963 reorganization resulted in the Eastern and South Atlantic Leagues being elevated from Class A to Double-A, five of seven Class D circuits plus the ones in B and C upgraded to A, and the Appalachian League reclassified from D to Rookie.[5]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | — | San Antonio Missions | — | — | — | — |
| 1961 | Houston Buffs | San Antonio Missions | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | Houston Buffs | San Antonio Missions | Lancaster Red Roses | — | — | — |
| 1959 | Fort Worth Cats | San Antonio Missions | Lancaster Red Roses | — | — | — |
| 1958 | Portland Beavers | Fort Worth Cats | Pueblo Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1957 | — | Memphis Chickasaws, Fort Worth Cats | Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1956 | — | Tulsa Oilers | Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | Macon Peaches, Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1954 | — | Beaumont Exporters | Macon Peaches, Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1953 | Springfield Cubs | — | Macon Peaches, Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1952 | Springfield Cubs | — | Des Moines Bruins, Macon Peaches | — | — | — |
| 1951 | Los Angeles Angels, Springfield Cubs | Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins, Grand Rapids Jets | — | — | — |
| 1950 | Los Angeles Angels, Springfield Cubs | Nashville Volunteers | Grand Rapids Jets, Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1949 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins, Macon Peaches | — | — | — |
| 1948 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers | Macon Peaches, Des Moines Bruins | — | — | — |
| 1947 | Los Angeles Angels | Tulsa Oilers, Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins, Macon Peaches | — | — | — |
| 1946 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers, Tulsa Oilers | Macon Peaches | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | — | — |
| 1944 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | — | — |
| 1943 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | — | — |
| 1942 | — | Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers | — | — | — | — |
| 1941 | — | Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels | — | — | — | — |
| 1939 | — | Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers | — | — | — | — |
| 1938 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | — | — |
| 1937 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | Ponca City Angels | — |
| 1936 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | Ponca City Angels | — |
| 1935 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | Ponca City Angels | — |
| 1934 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | Ponca City Angels | — |
| 1933 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | Ponca City Angels | — |
| 1932 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Wichita Aviators | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — |
| 1929 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — |
| 1928 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — |
| 1927 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — |
| 1924 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — |
| 1923 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — |
| 1922 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — |
References
- "Cubs Affiliates". Chicago Cubs. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- "Chicago Cubs Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- Yellon, Al (2020-09-01). "MLB's proposal to MiLB could change the minor leagues forever". Bleed Cubbie Blue. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- Bastian, Jordan (December 9, 2020). "Cubs announce 2021 affiliate invitations". MLB. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Cronin, John (Spring 2013). "Truth in the Minor League Class Structure: The Case for the Reclassification of the Minors". The Baseball Research Journal. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- Wagner, James (2020-06-30). "Minor League Baseball Season Is Canceled for the First Time". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
- "Cubs Extend Four Affiliations Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- "Emeralds, Cubs Extend PDC Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. August 6, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.