The Junior World Series was a postseason championship series between champions of two of the three highest minor league baseball leagues modeled on the World Series of Major League Baseball. It was called the Little World Series (no relation to the Little League World Series) until 1932, and acquired other official names at different times.
The various iterations of the Junior World Series were played for most of the years of the 20th century, off and on depending on the fortunes of the various leagues involved. Most often it was held between the champions of the International League (IL) and the American Association (AA). This left the third, and sometimes stronger, minor circuit called the Pacific Coast League (PCL) out of this minor league championship series. After not being held in 1972 and 1974, the last Junior World Series was held in 1975.
The Junior World Series was superseded by the Triple-A Classic, held from 1988 to 1991. Then, from 1998 to 2000, the Triple-A World Series pitted the IL and PCL champs against each other (as the AA had folded in 1997). The Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game was established in 2006.
Little World Series YearWinning team (MLB affiliation)LeagueScoreLosing team (MLB affiliation)League1904Buffalo Bisons (none)IL2–1St. Paul Saints (none)AA1906Buffalo Bisons (none)IL3–2–1Columbus Senators (none)AA1907Toronto Maple Leafs (none)IL4–1Columbus Senators (none)AA1917Indianapolis Indians (none)AA4–1Toronto Maple Leafs (none)IL1919Vernon Tigers (none)PCL5–4St. Paul Saints (none)AA1920Baltimore Orioles (none)IL5–1St. Paul Saints (none)AA1921Louisville Colonels (none)AA5–3Baltimore Orioles (none)IL1922Baltimore Orioles (none)IL5–2St. Paul Saints (none)AA1923Kansas City Blues (none)AA5–4Baltimore Orioles (none)IL1924St. Paul Saints (none)AA5–4–1Baltimore Orioles (none)IL1925Baltimore Orioles (none)IL5–3Louisville Colonels (none)AA1926Toronto Maple Leafs (none)IL5–0Louisville Colonels (none)AA1927Toledo Mud Hens (none)AA5–1Buffalo Bisons (none)IL1928Indianapolis Indians (none)AA5–1–1Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL1929Kansas City Blues (none)AA5–4Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL1930Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL5–3Louisville Colonels (none)AA1931Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL5–3St. Paul Saints (none)AA
Junior World Series YearWinning team (MLB affiliation)LeagueScoreLosing team (MLB affiliation)League1932Newark Bears (NYY)IL4–2Minneapolis Millers (none)AA1933Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA5–3Buffalo Bisons (none)IL1934Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA5–4Toronto Maple Leafs (CIN)IL1935No series held1936Milwaukee Brewers (none)AA4–1Buffalo Bisons (none)IL1937Newark Bears (NYY)IL4–3Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA1938Kansas City Blues (NYY)AA4–3Newark Bears (NYY)IL1939Louisville Colonels (BOS)AA4–3Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL1940Newark Bears (NYY)IL4–2Louisville Colonels (BOS)AA1941Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA4–2Montreal Royals (BRO)IL1942Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA4–1Syracuse Chiefs (CIN)IL1943Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA4–1Syracuse Chiefs (CIN)IL1944Baltimore Orioles (CLE)IL4–2Louisville Colonels (BOS)AA1945Louisville Colonels (BOS)AA4–2Newark Bears (NYY)IL1946Montreal Royals (BRO)IL4–2Louisville Colonels (BOS)AA1947Milwaukee Brewers (BSN)AA4–3Syracuse Chiefs (CIN)IL1948Montreal Royals (BRO)IL4–1St. Paul Saints (BRO)AA1949Indianapolis Indians (PIT)AA4–2Montreal Royals (BRO)IL1950Columbus Red Birds (STL)AA4–2Baltimore Orioles (SLB)IL1951Milwaukee Brewers (BSN)AA4–2Montreal Royals (BRO)IL1952Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL4–3Kansas City Blues (NYY)AA1953Montreal Royals (BRO)IL4–1Kansas City Blues (NYY)AA1954Louisville Colonels (BOS)AA4–2Syracuse Chiefs (PHI)IL1955Minneapolis Millers (NYG)AA4–3Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL1956Indianapolis Indians (CLE)AA4–0Rochester Red Wings (STL)IL1957Denver Bears (NYY)AA4–1Buffalo Bisons (KCA)IL1958Minneapolis Millers (BOS)AA4–0Montreal Royals (LAD)IL1959Havana Sugar Kings (CIN)IL4–3Minneapolis Millers (BOS)AA1960Louisville Colonels (MLN)AA4–2Toronto Maple Leafs (none)IL1961Buffalo Bisons (PHI)IL4–0Louisville Colonels (MLN)AA1962Atlanta Crackers (STL)IL4–3Louisville Colonels (MLN)AA1970Syracuse Chiefs (NYY)IL4–1Omaha Royals (KCR)AA1971Rochester Red Wings (BAL)IL4–3Denver Bears (WSA)AA1972Kodak World Baseball Classic held instead of Series1973Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS)IL4–1Tulsa Oilers (STL)AA1974No series held1975Evansville Triplets (DET)AA4–1Tidewater Tides (NYM)IL
Records In Game 2 of the 1956 Junior World Series, Roger Maris set a record with seven runs batted in.
Game 4 of the 1944 Junior World Series between the Baltimore Orioles and Louisville Colonels drew 52,833 fans to Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, an all-time record for a Minor League Baseball postseason game.
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References Specific
General
External links Interleague Post-season Play at the official website of the International League