Minor League Baseball

One rank below the Major League Baseball teams are other professional baseball teams that play in the Minor League Baseball league. All Minor League Baseball teams are separately operated businesses, but they all do belong to the Minor League Baseball organization. All teams affiliated with the Minor League Baseball umbrella organization are also affiliated with Major League Baseball. Teams that are professional baseball, but do not want to be linked to Major League Baseball are called independent leagues.
In Minor League baseball history Minor League Baseball teams are all directly affiliated with a major league team, with one big exception, the Mexican League. Examples of Minor League Baseball teams affiliation to Major League Baseball teams are Omaha Royals with the Kansas City Royals, Columbus Clippers so far affiliated with the New York Yankees will be affiliated in 2007 with the Washington Nationals instead. Some Minor League Baseball teams are owned by Major League Baseball teams, such as the Richmond Braves (owned by the Atlanta Braves) and the Springfield Cardinals (owned by the St. Louis Cardinals).

The reason for the Minor League Baseball teams is to develop players for the Major League and have them available when needed. Therefore Minor League Baseball player search is an important part of the team’s structure.

Through a joke in baseball history minor league baseball also has the nicknames of “farm system”, “farm club” or “farm teams”. The joke “growing players down on the farm like corn “ originated with Branch Rickey, The St. Louis Cardinals general manager in the 1930s.

Minor League baseball salaries are usually negotiable, besides in the first season. A first season contract allows a maximum of $1100 per month (other money like meal money or signing bonus and such not included). Player’s scores and talents are recorded in the Minor League Baseball archive.

Similar to Major League Baseball there exists a fantasy Minor League Baseball game, where fans and sports fanatics can bet on players and teams performances and win or loose money.

Minor league teams have their own Minor League Baseball logos. The logos are craetd by young and fresh artists and are actually high in demand on for example Minor League Baseball hats. More and more stores sell Minor League Baseball league accessories, such as Minor League Baseball caps and Minor League Baseball cards. Lots of teams also have their own mascot and Minor League Baseball mascot and player appearances are scheduled for their fans.

A 1998 Minor League Baseball expansion added two new teams to the system due to an expansion in the Major League Baseball teams. The then in the Major League added teams the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays needed Minor League Baseball teams affiliated to them as a source of fresh players and talent.