The 1998 International League season took place from April to September 1998.
The Buffalo Bisons defeated the Durham Bulls to win the league championship.
Four new teams joined the International League in 1998. Three of these teams, the Buffalo Bisons, Indianapolis Indians, and the Louisville Redbirds joined as a result of the dissolution of the American Association. All three cities had previously competed in the IL at some point in time. One team, the Durham Bulls became a Triple-A expansion team. The Bulls were previously a Class A baseball team. [1] As a result of these moves, the IL expanded from 10 teams to 14 teams. A new division, the IL South, was formed. The playoffs would be determined by the three division winners and one wild card winner.
International League - North Division | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
Buffalo Bisons | 81 | 62 | .566 | – |
Syracuse SkyChiefs | 80 | 62 | .563 | ½ |
Pawtucket Red Sox | 77 | 64 | .546 | 3 |
Rochester Red Wings | 70 | 74 | .486 | 11.5 |
Ottawa Lynx | 69 | 74 | .483 | 12 |
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons | 67 | 75 | .472 | 13.5 |
International League - South Division | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
Durham Bulls | 80 | 64 | .556 | – |
Norfolk Tides | 70 | 72 | .493 | 9 |
Charlotte Knights | 70 | 73 | .490 | 9.5 |
Richmond Braves | 64 | 80 | .444 | 16 |
International League - West Division | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
Louisville Redbirds | 77 | 67 | .535 | – |
Indianapolis Indians | 76 | 67 | .531 | ½ |
Columbus Clippers | 67 | 77 | .465 | 10 |
Toledo Mud Hens | 52 | 89 | .369 | 23.5 |
North Division Champion (Buffalo 81-62) defeated Wild Card Champion (Syracuse 80-62) 3 games to 2
South Division Champion (Durham 80-64) defeated West Division Champion (Louisville 77-67) 3 games to 1
Buffalo defeated Durham 3 games to 2
Buffalo advanced on to the first Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas, Nevada. The World Series pitted the International League Champions (Buffalo) against the Pacific Coast League Champions (New Orleans). The New Orleans Zephyrs won the Series three games to one.
The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the winged mammal and baseball bats, such as those manufactured locally under the Louisville Slugger brand. The team plays their home games at Louisville Slugger Field, which opened in 2000. The Bats previously played at Cardinal Stadium from 1982 to 1999.
The American Association (AA) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated primarily in the Midwestern and South Central United States from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997. It was classified as a Triple-A league, which is one grade below Major League Baseball, for most of its existence.
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory Field, which opened in 1996. The Indians previously played at Owen J. Bush Stadium from 1931 to 1996 and at two versions of Washington Park from 1902 to 1931.
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, and are named in reference to Northeastern Pennsylvania being home to the first trolley system in the United States. The RailRiders have played their home games at PNC Field since its opening in 1989.
The Triple-A World Series was an interleague postseason championship series between the league champions of the affiliated Triple-A leagues of Minor League Baseball to determine an overall champion of the classification held in 1983 and from 1998 to 2000.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1878 throughout the world.
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball (MLB).
The 2009 International League season began on Thursday, April 9, with all fourteen teams competing on opening day. The regular season ended on Monday, September 7.
The 2007 International League season took place from April to September 2007.
The 2006 International League season took place from April to September 2006.
The 2005 International League season took place from April to September 2005.
The 2004 International League season took place between April and September 2004.
The 2003 International League season took place from April to September 2003.
The 2002 International League season took place from April to September 2002.
The 2001 International League season took place from April to September 2001.
The 2000 International League season took place from April to September 2000.
The 1999 International League season took place from April to September 1999.
The Thruway Cup is an annual competition between Minor League Baseball's Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings, and Syracuse Mets of the International League. The Cup standings are compiled from the games the teams play against each other through the course of the regular season. The team at the top of the standings at the end of the season is crowned the Thruway Cup champion and wins the Thruway Cup trophy. Unique to this competition, it was agreed that any team winning the trophy three times would get to "retire" the cup and keep it as their own. As of the end of the 2021 season, Rochester has won ten times, Buffalo nine times, and Syracuse four times.
The Triple-A Classic was an interleague postseason championship series held annually between the league champions of the American Association (AA) and International League (IL) Triple-A leagues of Minor League Baseball from 1988 to 1991.