Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game

Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game

Logo for the 2016 championship
Frequency Annual
Location(s) Varies (see prose)
Inaugurated September 19, 2006
(AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States)
Most recent September 20, 2016
(AutoZone Park, Memphis, Tennessee, United States)
Previous event September 22, 2015
(Southwest University Park, El Paso, Texas, United States)
Next event September 19, 2017
(PNC Field, Moosic, Pennsylvania, United States)
Participants The league champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League
Organized by Triple-A Baseball
Website
Official website

The Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, previously known as the Bricktown Showdown, is a single championship game held annually between the league champions of the International League (IL) and Pacific Coast League (PCL) Triple-A leagues of minor league baseball to determine an overall champion of class Triple-A baseball. The championship consists of a single nine-inning game to determine a champion. Which team will serve as the home team is determined by the outcome of the Triple-A All-Star Game; the team from the winning league is designated as the home team.

From 2006 to 2010, it was held annually at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, home of the PCL's Oklahoma City RedHawks, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Since 2011, the game has been hosted in a different Triple-A city each year.

History

AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, site of the first five Triple-A National Championship Games (2006–2010)

On July 12, 2006, a press release was issued announcing the creation of a single championship game between the league champions of the Triple-A International League and the Pacific Coast League to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball.[1] The goal was for the Bricktown Showdown to develop and prosper like the Triple-A All-Star Game did since its creation in 1987. The initial Showdown was approved only as a one-time meeting by Major League Baseball.[2]

This championship game was the first time since the Las Vegas Triple-A World Series (1998–2000) that the IL and PCL would meet to determine a Triple-A champion. A previous World Series was also held in 1983 and also included the now defunct American Association (AA). Prior to this, the IL and AA (excluding the PCL) held a series of championships between the two leagues, called the Triple-A Classic (1988–1991) and also the Little World Series or Junior World Series (1905–1975).

The first Bricktown Showdown—the name being derived from Oklahoma City's AT&T Bricktown Ballpark at which the even was held—was played on September 19, 2006. The PCL's Tucson Sidewinders defeated the IL's Toledo Mud Hens, 5–2, in front of an announced paid attendance of 12,572 and a national television audience watching on ESPN2.[3] Following the event's success, subsequent meetings were planned.[2]

The game was rebranded as the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game in 2009. This was done to increase the event's national appeal and to emphasize its significance as a championship game.[4]

Since 2011, the game has been held in a different Triple-A city each year.[5] The first city to host under this new format was Albuquerque, New Mexico, home of the Albuquerque Isotopes of the PCL. Games have since been held in other Triple-A cities.

Results

Outfielder A. J. Pollock of the Reno Aces was selected as the game's MVP in 2012.
Year Winning team (MLB affiliation) League Score Losing team (MLB affiliation) League Ballpark MVP Ref.
2006Tucson Sidewinders (ARI)PCL5–2Toledo Mud Hens (DET)ILAT&T Bricktown BallparkHairston, ScottScott Hairston[3]
2007Sacramento River Cats (OAK)PCL7–1Richmond Braves (ATL)ILAT&T Bricktown BallparkMerloni, LouLou Merloni[6]
2008Sacramento River Cats (OAK)PCL4–1Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (NYY)ILAT&T Bricktown BallparkGissell, ChrisChris Gissell[7]
2009Durham Bulls (TB)IL5–4Memphis Redbirds (STL)PCLAT&T Bricktown BallparkHellickson, JeremyJeremy Hellickson[8]
2010Columbus Clippers (CLE)IL12–6Tacoma Rainiers (SEA)PCLAT&T Bricktown BallparkHead, JeradJerad Head[9]
2011Columbus Clippers (CLE)IL8–3Omaha Storm Chasers (KC)PCLIsotopes ParkMartinez, JoeJoe Martinez[10]
2012Reno Aces (ARI)PCL10–3Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS)ILDurham Bulls Athletic ParkPollock, A. J.A. J. Pollock[11]
2013Omaha Storm Chasers (KC)PCL2–1Durham Bulls (TB)ILCoca-Cola ParkDwyer, ChrisChris Dwyer[12]
2014Omaha Storm Chasers (KC)PCL4–2Pawtucket Red Sox (BOS)ILBB&T BallparkHayes, BrettBrett Hayes[13]
2015Fresno Grizzlies (HOU)PCL7–0Columbus Clippers (CLE)ILSouthwest University ParkDevenski, ChrisChris Devenski[14]
2016Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY)IL3–1El Paso Chihuahuas (SD)PCLAutoZone ParkParmelee, ChrisChris Parmelee[15]

Appearances by team

Defunct teams appear in italics.

Appearances Team League Wins Losses Win % Most recent
win		 Most recent
appearance
3Columbus ClippersIL21.66720112015
3Omaha Storm ChasersPCL21.66720142014
2Sacramento River CatsPCL201.00020082008
2Durham Bulls IL11.50020092013
2Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersIL11.50020162016
2Pawtucket Red SoxIL02.000—2014
1Fresno GrizzliesPCL101.00020152015
1Reno AcesPCL101.00020122012
1Tucson SidewindersPCL101.00020062006
1El Paso ChihuahuasPCL01.000—2016
1Memphis RedbirdsPCL01.000—2009
1Richmond BravesIL01.000—2007
1Tacoma RainiersPCL01.000—2010
1Toledo Mud HensIL01.000—2006

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bricktown Showdown To Determine Triple-A Baseball Champion" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. July 12, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Triple-A Baseball Championship Game To Remain in Oklahoma City for 2007 and 2008" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. January 11, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Tucson Sidewinders 5, Toledo Mud Hens 2" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Triple-A Championship Game Renamed". Triple-A Baseball. August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ Hill, Benjamin (February 8, 2011). "Isotopes to Host Triple-A Championship". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sacramento River Cats (85-60) 7, Richmond Braves (77-65) 1" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sacramento River Cats (84-61) 4, Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees (88-57) 1" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Durham Bulls (84-61) 5, Memphis Redbirds (77-68) 4" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Tacoma Rainiers (74-70) 6, Columbus Clippers (80-65) 12" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Columbus Clippers (89-56) 8, Omaha Storm Chasers (79-64) 3" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Pawtucket Red Sox (79-66) 3, Reno Aces (82-63) 10" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Omaha Storm Chasers (71-74) 2, Durham Bulls (87-58) 1" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Omaha Storm Chasers (77-67) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox (79-66) 2" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ Anteola, Bryant-Jon (September 22, 2015). "The Greatest Growl: Grizzlies Earn Crown". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  15. ↑ "El Paso vs. Scranton/WB - September 20, 2016". MiLB.com. September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
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