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The Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) maintain a farm system consisting of four Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States. Additionally, the Red Sox own and operate complex-based rookie level squads playing in the Florida Complex League in Florida and the Dominican Summer League in the Dominican Republic.
Of the non-complex based teams, the Portland Sea Dogs have been a Red Sox affiliate since 2003, the Greenville Drive have been an affiliate since 2005, the Salem Red Sox have been an affiliate since 2009, and the Worcester Red Sox entered their debut season in 2021. The Worcester Red Sox succeeded the Pawtucket Red Sox, who were a Red Sox affiliate from 1970 through 2020.[a] The Salem Red Sox are owned by Fenway Sports Group, who also own the major league club, while the other three affiliates are independently owned.
Geographically, Worcester is Boston's closest domestic affiliate, located approximately 45 miles (72 km) from Fenway Park. Boston's furthest domestic affiliate is the Fenway South-based FCL Red Sox, located some 1,247 miles (2,007 km) away.
List of affiliates by season
The below tables list Red Sox affiliates for each season since the team established its first such relationship. Sections are grouped by era, based on changes in minor league classifications. Instances of the Red Sox sharing an affiliate with other MLB teams are independently counted in parentheses, with the partner team(s) listed in an endnote.
1928–1945
Major league teams had affiliate relationships with minor league teams as early as 1920, when the Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals each had a farm team in the Texas League.[1]: 278 The first team that had an affiliate relationship with the Red Sox was the Salem Witches of the New England League in 1928.[1]: 312
Prior to 1946, Double-A was the highest level of play in the minor leagues. Additional classifications were A through D, each of which was used by the Red Sox. Class A1 was created in 1936 and existed through 1945, and was also used by the Red Sox for several seasons. One Class E league existed in 1943, but was not used by the Red Sox.
| Year | Double-A | Class A1 | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | No./Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | — | — | Salem Witches | — | — | 1[1]: 312 | |
| 1929 | — | — | — | — | — | 0[1]: 317 | |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — | — | 0[1]: 324 | |
| 1931 | — | — | — | — | — | 0[1]: 327 | |
| 1932 | — | — | Hazleton Mountaineers Wilmington Pirates |
— | — | 2[1]: 332 | |
| 1933 | — | Reading Red Sox | — | — | — | 1[1]: 335 | |
| 1934 | Kansas City Blues | Reading Red Sox | Columbia Sandlappers / Asheville Tourists |
Joplin Miners | — | 4[1]: 339 | |
| 1935 | — | — | Charlotte Hornets | Shreveport Sports / Gladewater Bears |
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs | 3[1]: 343 | |
| 1936 | San Diego Padres Syracuse Chiefs |
Little Rock Travelers | Elmira Colonels | Rocky Mount Red Sox | Helena Seaporters Canton Terriers |
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Eau Claire Bears |
9[1]: 348 |
| 1937 | — | Little Rock Travelers | Hazleton Red Sox | Rocky Mount Red Sox | Brockville Blues Clarksdale Red Sox Canton Terriers |
Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Opelousas Indians Moultrie Packers Mansfield Red Sox |
11[1]: 355 |
| 1938 | Minneapolis Millers | Little Rock Travelers | Hazleton Red Sox | Rocky Mount Red Sox | Clarksdale Red Sox Canton Terriers |
Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Moultrie Packers Crookston Pirates |
10[1]: 361 |
| 1939 | Louisville Colonels | Little Rock Travelers | Scranton Red Sox | Rocky Mount Red Sox | Clarksdale Red Sox Canton Terriers |
Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Centreville Colts |
9[1]: 369 |
| 1940 | Louisville Colonels | — | Scranton Red Sox | Rocky Mount Red Sox | Canton Terriers | Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Centreville Red Sox |
7[1]: 376 |
| 1941 | Louisville Colonels | — | Scranton Red Sox | Greensboro Red Sox | Canton Terriers | Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Centreville Red Sox Owensboro Oilers |
7[1]: 384 |
| 1942 | Louisville Colonels | — | Scranton Red Sox | Greensboro Red Sox | Oneonta Indians Canton Terriers |
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Owensboro Oilers |
7[1]: 391 |
| 1943 | Louisville Colonels | — | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | — | — | 3[1]: 393 |
| 1944 | Louisville Colonels | — | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | — | Middletown Red Sox | 4[1]: 395 |
| 1945 | Louisville Colonels | — | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | Durham Bulls | — | 4[1]: 398 |
1946–1962
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 ended any chance of the PCL being promoted.[2]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | No./Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Louisville Colonels | New Orleans Pelicans | Scranton Red Sox | Lynn Red Sox Roanoke Red Sox |
Durham Bulls Oneonta Red Sox |
Geneva Red Birds Milford Red Sox New Iberia Cardinals Tarboro Tars |
11[1]: 407 |
| 1947 | Louisville Colonels Toronto Maple Leafs |
New Orleans Pelicans | Scranton Red Sox | Lynn Red Sox Roanoke Red Sox |
Oneonta Red Sox San Jose Red Sox |
Milford Red Sox Wellsville Nitros |
10[1]: 416 |
| 1948 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Lynn Red Sox Roanoke Red Sox |
Auburn Cayugas El Paso Texans Oneonta Red Sox San Jose Red Sox |
Milford Red Sox Oroville Red Sox Valley Rebels Wellsville Nitros |
13[1]: 426 |
| 1949 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | Oneonta Red Sox San Jose Red Sox |
Hornell Maple Leafs Marion Red Sox Valley Rebels |
9[1]: 436 |
| 1950 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | Oneonta Red Sox San Jose Red Sox |
Kinston Eagles Marion Red Sox |
8[1]: 446 |
| 1951 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Ro-Sox | Oneonta Red Sox San Jose Red Sox |
High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Marion Red Sox |
8[1]: 455 |
| 1952 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Albany Senators | Roanoke Ro-Sox | San Jose Red Sox | High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms | 6[1]: 465 |
| 1953 | Louisville Colonels | — | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots Roanoke Ro-Sox |
San Jose Red Sox | Salisbury Rocots | 6[1]: 473 |
| 1954 | Louisville Colonels | — | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots | San Jose Red Sox | Bluefield Blue-Grays Corning Red Sox |
6[1]: 479 |
| 1955 | Louisville Colonels | — | Montgomery Rebels | Greensboro Patriots | San Jose Red Sox | Bluefield Blue-Grays Corning Red Sox |
6[1]: 486 |
| 1956 | San Francisco Seals† | Oklahoma City Indians | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots | San Jose JoSox | Corning Red Sox Lafayette Red Sox Lexington Red Sox |
8[1]: 491 |
| 1957 | San Francisco Seals† | Oklahoma City Indians | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots | — | Corning Red Sox Lafayette Red Sox Lexington Red Sox |
7[1]: 496 |
| 1958 | Minneapolis Millers | Memphis Chickasaws | Allentown Red Sox | Raleigh Capitals | — | Corning Red Sox Lexington Red Sox Waterloo Hawks |
7[1]: 500 |
| 1959 | Minneapolis Millers | — | Allentown Red Sox | Raleigh Capitals | — | Alpine Cowboys Corning Cor-Sox Waterloo Hawks |
6[1]: 505 |
| 1960 | Minneapolis Millers | — | Allentown Red Sox | Raleigh Capitals | — | Alpine Cowboys Corning Red Sox Waterloo Hawks |
6[1]: 509 |
| 1961 | Seattle Rainiers | — | Johnstown Red Sox | Winston-Salem Red Sox | — | Alpine Cowboys Olean Red Sox Waterloo Hawks |
6[1]: 513 |
| 1962 | Seattle Rainiers | — | York White Roses | Winston-Salem Red Sox | Pocatello Chiefs | Olean Red Sox Waterloo Hawks |
6[1]: 517 |
† Open classification (used by the PCL during 1952–1957)
Sources:[3][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 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. The only change made within the next 27 years was some Class A teams adopting "Short Season" schedules starting in 1965.[2][b]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | No./Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Seattle Rainiers | Reading Red Sox | Waterloo Hawks Wellsville Red Sox Winston-Salem Red Sox |
— | 5[1]: 523 | |
| 1964 | Seattle Rainiers | Reading Red Sox | Waterloo Hawks Wellsville Red Sox Winston-Salem Red Sox Statesville Colts[c] |
— | 5(1)[1]: 528 | |
| 1965 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Pittsfield Red Sox | Waterloo Hawks Wellsville Red Sox Winston-Salem Red Sox |
— | Harlan Red Sox | 6[1]: 532 |
| 1966 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Pittsfield Red Sox | Oneonta Red Sox Waterloo Hawks Winston-Salem Red Sox |
— | Covington Red Sox | 6[1]: 536 |
| 1967 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Pittsfield Red Sox | Greenville Red Sox Waterloo Hawks Winston-Salem Red Sox |
— | — | 5[1]: 540 |
| 1968 | Louisville Colonels | Pittsfield Red Sox | Greenville Red Sox Waterloo Hawks Winston-Salem Red Sox |
Jamestown Falcons | — | 6[1]: 544 |
| 1969 | Louisville Colonels | Pittsfield Red Sox | Greenville Red Sox Winston-Salem Red Sox Winter Haven Red Sox |
Jamestown Falcons | — | 6[1]: 548 |
| 1970 | Louisville Colonels | Pawtucket Red Sox | Greenville Red Sox Winston-Salem Red Sox Winter Haven Red Sox |
Jamestown Falcons | — | 6[1]: 552 |
| 1971 | Louisville Colonels | Pawtucket Red Sox | Greenville Red Sox Winston-Salem Red Sox Winter Haven Red Sox |
Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=List_of_Boston_Red_Sox_minor_league_affiliates