List of Houston Astros minor league affiliates

1990–present

The current structure of minor league baseball has been in effect since the 1990 season when the Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Advanced A. The Rookie level consists of domestic and foreign circuits, the latter based in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.^[1]

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 (AAA, AA, 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 Short Season A in 1966.^[1]

Pre-1963

The minors operated with six classes (AAA, AA, A, B, C, D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from AAA 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 A to AA, 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. The Alabama–Florida League folded following the 1962 campaign.^[1]

References

External links

• Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates Baseball-Reference.com