1. 1990–present

2. 1963–1989

3. 1934–1962

4. References

5. External links

The Philadelphia Phillies farm system consists of nine Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic.^[1] Six teams are owned by the major league club, while three—the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Lakewood BlueClaws, and Williamsport Crosscutters—are independently owned.

On April 14, 1934, the Phillies entered into their first affiliation agreement with the New York–Penn League Hazleton Mountaineers.^[2] The Phillies have been affiliated with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League since 2001, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Phillies.^[3] Their newest affiliate is the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the International League who became the Phillies' Triple-A club in 2008.

Geographically, Philadelphia's closest domestic affiliate is the Reading Fightin Phils of the Double-A Eastern League which is approximately {{convert|51|mi|km}} away. Philadelphia's furthest domestic affiliates are the Clearwater Threshers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and Gulf Coast League Phillies of the Rookie League Gulf Coast League which share a facility some {{convert|931|mi|km}} away.

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 Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consists of domestic and foreign circuits.^[4]

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.^[4]

1934–1962

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.^[4]

References

External links

• Major League Baseball Prospect News: Philadelphia Phillies
• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/affiliate.cgi?id=PHI Baseball-Reference: Philadelphia Phillies League Affiliations]
• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Philadelphia_Phillies_Minor_League_Affiliates BR Bullpen: Philadelphia Phillies Minor League Affiliates]

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