Continuing with a historical review of the Phillies Minor League teams ... today I look at the Phillies history of “lower level” affiliations prior to the inception of the classification re-designation in 1963.
Before the 1963 season there was a restructuring of the minor leagues which introduced the basic classifications of today ... AAA, AA, A. Prior to that lower levels of the minors were generally ranked Classes B through D in descending order, with Class D being the closer equivalent of today's Rookie leagues, that structure would remain intact through 1962. There was a great deal of movement back then from year to year regarding affiliations... here’s the list of teams I found for the Phillies on Baseball Reference.
Phillies Lower Level Affiliates - 1938 to 1962 :
1938 - Montgomery Rebels - Montgomery, AL - Class B ( Southeastern League)
1938 - Centreville Colts - Centreville, MD - Class D ( Eastern Shore League )
1939 - Mayodan Millers - Mayodan, NC - Class D ( Bi-State League )
1939 - Johnstown Johnies - Johnstown, PA - Class D ( Pennsylvania State Association )
1939 - 1940 - Pensacola Pilots - Pensacola, FL - Class B ( Southeastern League)
1939 - 1940 - Moultrie Packers - Moultrie, GA - Class D ( Georgia-Florida League )
1939 - 1940 - Portsmouth Cubs - Portsmouth, VA - Class D ( Piedmont League )
1940 - Ottawa- Ogdensburg Senators - Ottawa, ON, CA - Class C ( Canadian American League )
1940 - 1941 - Wausau Timberjacks - Wausau, WI - Class D - ( Northern League )
1940 - 1941 - Martinsville Manufacturers - Martinsville, VA - Class D ( Bi-State League )
1940 - Dover Orioles - Dover, DE - Class D ( Eastern Shore League )
1941 - Allentown Wings - Allentown, PA - Class B ( Interstate League )
1942 - Rome Colonels - Rome, NY - Class C ( Canadian American League )
1942-1943 - Trenton Packers - Trenton, NJ - Class B ( Interstate League )
1944 - 1955 - Bradford Blue Wings/Phillies - Bradford, PA - Class D ( Pennsylvania- Ontario - New York League )
1944 - 1952 - Wilmington Blue Rocks - Wilmington, DE - Class B ( Interstate League )
1945 - Greensboro Patriots - Greensboro, NC - Class C ( Carolina League )
1945 - Concord Weavers - Concord, NC - Class D ( North Carolina State League )
1946 - 1948 - Dover Phillies - Dover, DE - Class D ( Eastern Shore League )
1946 - 1950 - Schenectady Blue Jays - Schenectady, NY - Class C ( Canadian American League )
1946 - 1952 - Salina Blue Jays - Salina, KS - Class C ( Western League )
1946 - 1954 - Terre Haute Phillies - Terre Haute, IN - Class B ( Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League )
1946 - Green Bay Blue Jays - Green Bay, WI - Class D ( Wisconsin State League )
1946 - 1950 - Americus Phillies - Americus, GA - Class D ( Georgia-Florida League )
1947 - 1949 - Appleton Papermakers - Appleton, WI - Class D ( Wisconsin State League )
1947 - 1950 - Carbondale Pioneers - Carbondale, PA - Class D ( North Atlantic League )
1947 - 1950 - Vandergrift Pioneers - Vandergrift, PA - Class C ( Middle Atlantic League )
1948 - 1951 - Klamath Falls Gems - Klamath Falls, OR - Class D ( Far West League )
1948 - Baton Rouge Red Sticks - Baton Rouge, LA - Class D ( Evangeline League )
1948 -1949 - Portland Pilots - Portland, ME - Class B ( New England League )
1949 - Seaford Eagles - Seaford, DE - Class D ( Eastern Shore League )
1949 - Pulaski Counts - Pulaski, VA - Class D ( Appalachian League )
1950 -1951 - Lima Phillies - Lima, OH - Class D ( Ohio-Indiana League )
1951 - 1957 - Salt Lake City Bees - Salt Lake City, UT - Class C ( Pioneer League )
1951 - 1952 - Grand Forks Chiefs - Grand Forks, ND - Class C ( Northern League )
1951 - Pittsfield Phillies - Pittsfield, MA - Class C ( Canadian-American League)
1951 - Elizabethtown Phillies - Elizabethtown, TN - Class D ( Appalachian League)
1952 - Miami Eagles - Miami, OK - Class D ( Kansas - Oklahoma - Missouri League)
1952 - 1953 - Granby Phillies - Granby, QC, CA - Class C ( Provincial League )
1953 - 1956 - Mattoon Phillies - Mattoon, IL - Class D ( Mississippi-Ohio Valley League)
1954 - 1955 - Trois-Rivieres Phillies - Trois-Rivieres, QC, CA - Class C ( Provincial League )
1955 - Reidsville Phillies - Redisville, NC - Class B ( Carolina League )
1956 - 1958 - Olean Oilers - Olean, NY - Class D ( PA-Ontario- NY League )
1956 -1962 - Bakersfield Boosters/Bears - Bakersfield, CA - Class C ( California League )
1956 - Wilson Tobs - Wilson, NC - Class B ( Carolina League )
1956 - Tifton Phillies - Tifton, GA - Class D ( Georgia-Florida League)
1957 - Lewiston Broncs - Lewiston, ID - Class B ( Northwest League )
1957 - 1958 - High Point - Thomasville Hi-Toms - High Point, NC - Class B ( Carolina League )
1957 - 1960 - Tampa Tarpons - Tampa, FL - Class D ( Florida State League )
1957 - 1960 - Johnson City Phillies - Johnson City, TN - Class D ( Appalachian League )
1957 - 1958 - Brunswick Phillies - Brunswick, GA - Class D ( Georgia- Florida League )
1959 - 1961 - Des Moines Demons - Des Moines, IA - Class B ( Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League )
1959 - 1961 - Elmira Pioneers - Elmira, NY - Class D ( NY-Penn League )
1961 - 1962 - Dothan Phillies - Dothan, AL - Class D ( Alabama-Florida League )
1961-1962 - Magic Valley Cowboys - Twin Falls, ID - Class C ( Pioneer League )
1962 - 1965 ( re classified as an A league in 1963 during the minor league re organization) - Miami Marlins - Miami, FL - Class D ( Florida State League )
Some interesting towns on the list, many I wasn’t aware that the Phillies once had affiliates within 😳.
Till tomorrow ... Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Photo is field in Terre Haute, IN
