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International League Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
International League facts for kids
International League logo
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| Sport | Baseball |
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| Founded | 1884 |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Country(ies) | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Durham Bulls (2017) |
| Most championships | Rochester Red Wings (19) |
| TV partner(s) | MiLB.TV, MLB Network, and local sports networks |
| Official website | www.ilbaseball.com |
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the eastern United States and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.
It was so named because throughout its history the International League has had teams in Canada, Cuba, and Puerto Rico as well as those in the United States. However, since the relocation of the Ottawa Lynx to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to become the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for the 2008 season, all of the league's teams are now based in the U.S. Today, the league is composed of 14 teams across 9 states stretching from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and from Rochester, New York, to Lawrenceville, Georgia.
A league champion is determined at the end of every season. The Rochester Red Wings have won 19 International League titles, the most in the league's history, followed by the Buffalo Bisons (12) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (11). Since the introduction of the Governors' Cup in 1933, the most cup titles have been won by Rochester and the Columbus Clippers (10), followed by the Syracuse Chiefs (8) and the Montreal Royals (7). After the season, the IL champion plays in the Triple-A National Championship Game against the Pacific Coast League champion to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball. The Columbus Clippers have won two national championships, more than any other IL teams.
Images for kids
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International League baseball executives in 1915
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Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.