Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award

The Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award, formerly known as the John H. Johnson President's Award or simply the President's Award, is presented annually by Minor League Baseball (MiLB) to recognize "a 'complete' baseball franchise that has demonstrated franchise stability and significant contributions to its community, league, and the baseball industry."^[1] It is considered MiLB's top honor and is usually awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings.^[2] The award, first issued in 1974, was created by MiLB president Hank Peters as the President's Award.^[3] It was renamed in 1988 in honor of John H. Johnson, who served as the president of Minor League Baseball from 1979 until his death in January 1988.^[4][5] It became known as the MiLB Organization of the Year Award in 2021 after Major League Baseball assumed control of the minor leagues.^[6][7]

Minor League Baseball
Organization of the Year Award

Sport	Baseball
League	Minor League Baseball
Awarded for	Best franchise in Minor League Baseball
Country	United States Canada Mexico
Presented by	Minor League Baseball
History
First award	Rochester Red Wings (1974)
Most recent	Hartford Yard Goats (2024)

Forty-four teams have won the award. The Albuquerque Dukes, Billings Mustangs, Durham Bulls, Iowa Cubs, Rochester Red Wings, and Tacoma Rainiers have each won the award twice, more than any other teams. International League franchises have won the award nine times, more than any other league, followed by the Pacific Coast League (8); the American Association and Midwest League (5); the Eastern League (5); the Texas League (4); the Northwest League and Pioneer League (3); the California League and Carolina League (2); and the Appalachian League, Mexican League, South Atlantic League, and Southern League (1). Twenty-three winners have competed at the Triple-A classification level, more than any other class, followed by Double-A (10); Single-A/Class A (8); Rookie (4); High-A/Class A-Advanced (3); and Class A Short Season (2).

Winners

Key

(#)	Number of wins by teams who won the award multiple times

Winners

Year	Team	League	Class	Ref.
1974	Rochester Red Wings (1)	International League	Triple-A	[8]
1975	Tacoma Twins (1)	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[9]
1976	Diablos Rojos del México	Mexican League	Triple-A	[10]
1977	Fresno Giants	California League	Class A	[11]
1978	Iowa Oaks (1)	American Association	Triple-A	[12]
1979	Denver Bears	American Association	Triple-A	[13]
1980	Quad City Cubs	Midwest League	Class A	[14]
1981	Great Falls Giants	Pioneer League	Rookie	[15]
1982	Tacoma Tigers (2)	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[16]
1983	Louisville Redbirds	American Association	Triple-A	[17]
1984	Albuquerque Dukes (1)	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[18]
1985	Las Vegas Stars	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[19]
1986	El Paso Diablos	Texas League	Double-A	[20]
1987	Syracuse Chiefs	International League	Triple-A	[21]
1988	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Triple-A	[22]
1989	Durham Bulls (1)	Carolina League	Class A	[23]
1990	Pawtucket Red Sox	International League	Triple-A	[24]
1991	Albuquerque Dukes (2)	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[25]
1992	Buffalo Bisons	American Association	Triple-A	[26]
1993	Norfolk Tides	International League	Triple-A	[27]
1994	Billings Mustangs (1)	Pioneer League	Rookie	[28]
1995	Columbus Clippers	International League	Triple-A	[29]
1996	Salt Lake Buzz	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[30]
1997	Richmond Braves	International League	Triple-A	[31]
1998	Lynchburg Hillcats	Carolina League	Class A-Advanced	[32]
1999	Tulsa Drillers	Texas League	Double-A	[33]
2000	Portland Sea Dogs	Eastern League	Double-A	[34]
2001	Eugene Emeralds	Northwest League	Class A Short Season	[35]
2002	Iowa Cubs (2)	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[36]
2003	Reading Phillies	Eastern League	Double-A	[37]
2004	Rochester Red Wings (2)	International League	Triple-A	[38]
2005	Trenton Thunder	Eastern League	Double-A	[39]
2006	Altoona Curve	Eastern League	Double-A	[40]
2007	Midland RockHounds	Texas League	Double-A	[41]
2008	Cedar Rapids Kernels	Midwest League	Class A	[42]
2009	San Jose Giants	California League	Class A-Advanced	[43]
2010	Billings Mustangs (2)	Pioneer League	Rookie	[44]
2011	Tennessee Smokies	Southern League	Double-A	[45]
2012	Dayton Dragons	Midwest League	Class A	[46]
2013	Vancouver Canadians	Northwest League	Class A Short Season	[47]
2014	Durham Bulls (2)	International League	Triple-A	[48]
2015	South Bend Cubs	Midwest League	Class A	[49]
2016	Fort Wayne TinCaps	Midwest League	Class A	[50]
2017	Greenville Drive	South Atlantic League	Class A	[51]
2018	Albuquerque Isotopes	Pacific Coast League	Triple-A	[52]
2019	Pulaski Yankees	Appalachian League	Rookie	[53]
2020	None selected (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)			[54]
2021	Spokane Indians	High-A West	High-A	[55]
2022	Nashville Sounds	International League	Triple-A	[56]
2023	Amarillo Sod Poodles	Texas League	Double-A	[57]
2024	Hartford Yard Goats	Eastern League	Double-A	[58]

References

Specific

1. "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
2. "TinCaps Win Johnson President's Award". Minor League Baseball. November 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
3. "Rochester Called Best of Minors". The News Tribune. Tacoma. December 4, 1974. p. C-1 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "President Honored". The Tribune. Seymour. November 22, 1988. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Minor League Presidents". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
6. "MiLB Announces 2021 Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. December 7, 2021. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
7. Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
8. "1974 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
9. "1975 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
10. "1976 Mexican League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
11. "1977 California League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
12. "1978 American Association". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
13. "1979 American Association". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
14. "1980 Midwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
15. "1981 Pioneer League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
16. "1982 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
17. "1983 American Association". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
18. "1984 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
19. "1985 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
20. "1986 Texas League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
21. "1987 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
22. "1988 American Association". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
23. "1989 Carolina League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
24. "1990 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
25. "1991 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
26. "1992 American Association". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
27. "1993 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
28. "1994 Pioneer League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
29. "1995 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
30. "1996 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
31. "1997 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
32. "1998 Carolina League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
33. "1999 Texas League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
34. "2000 Eastern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
35. "2001 Northwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
36. "2002 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
37. "2003 Eastern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
38. "2004 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
39. "2005 Eastern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
40. "2006 Eastern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
41. "2007 Texas League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
42. "2008 Midwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
43. "2009 California League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
44. "2010 Pioneer League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
45. "2011 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
46. "2012 Midwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
47. "2013 Northwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
48. "2014 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
49. "2015 Midwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
50. "2016 Midwest League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
51. "2017 South Atlantic League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
52. "2018 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
53. "2019 Appalachian League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
54. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
55. "Spokane Indians Named MiLB Organization of the Year". Minor League Baseball. December 7, 2021. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
56. "MiLB Announces 2022 Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
57. "MiLB Announces 2023 Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. November 8, 2023. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
58. "Yard Goats Named Organization of the Year by Minor League Baseball". Minor League Baseball. October 8, 2024. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.

General

• "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.