thumb|alt=A trophy made of metal and wood|The Governors' Cup, awarded to winners of the [[International League playoffs from 1933 to 2020]]
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball. A champion has been determined at the end of each season since the league was formed in 1884.
Through 1932, champions were usually the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best win–loss record at the conclusion of the season. From 1933 to 2020, postseason playoffs were held to determine champions. Participants from 1933 to 1987 were usually the four teams with the highest winning percentages. From 1988 to 2020, the four qualifiers were the division winners and one or two wild card teams. The winner of each season's playoffs was awarded the Governors' Cup. These playoffs and the issuing of trophy were discontinued in 2021, when the winner was the team with the best regular-season record. In 2022, the league championship was determined by a single playoff game between the East and West division winners. Beginning with the 2023 season, the league adopted a split season format, in which the league championship is determined by a best-of-three playoff series between the winners of each half of the season, with the winner meeting the champion of the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A National Championship Game.
The Rochester Red Wings have won 19 International League championships, more than any other team, followed by the Columbus Clippers (11) and the Baltimore Orioles, original Buffalo Bisons, and Toronto Maple Leafs (10). Among active IL franchises, Rochester has won 19 championships, the most of all teams, followed by Columbus (11) and the Durham Bulls and Syracuse Mets (8). During the era of the Governors' Cup playoffs from 1933 to 2020, the most cup titles were won by Columbus (11), followed by Rochester (10) and Syracuse (8).
History
Pre-playoff era (1884–1932)
thumb|alt=Seventeen men and two boys wearing dark suits|The [[Rochester Red Wings, known as the Hustlers in 1909, won nine championships during the pre-playoff era (1884–1932), more than any other team.]]
The International League was founded in 1884. The modern circuit traces its roots from several predecessor leagues: the Eastern League (1884), New York State League (1885), International League (1886–1887), International Association (1888–1890), Eastern Association (1891), and Eastern League (1892–1911). It adopted consistent use of the International League name in 1912. the league was known as the Triple-A East in 2021 before reverting to the International League moniker in 2022.
A league champion has been determined at the end of each season. With few exceptions, champions from 1884 to 1932 were simply the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best win–loss record at the conclusion of the regular championship season. The first league champions were the Trenton Trentonians, who won by four games over the Lancaster Ironsides in 1884. The 1891 and 1892 seasons were contested as split seasons or "double seasons". Under this format, the schedule was split into two parts. The team with the best record at the end of the first season won the first pennant. Standings were then reset so that all clubs had clean records to begin the second season. If the same team won both seasons, they were declared the league champion. This was the case in 1891 when the original Buffalo Bisons won both halves. If a different team won the second season, the two winners would meet in a playoff series to determine the champion. In 1932, the Newark Bears became the last team to win the championship by virtue of winning the regular-season pennant before a recurring series of playoffs were instituted.
Governors' Cup era (1933–2020)
thumb|alt=A man in a dark suit|[[Frank Shaughnessy devised a playoff system that was used for the Governor's Cup playoffs to determine a league champion.]]
Frank Shaughnessy, general manager of the International League's Montreal Royals, was interested in developing a way for multiple clubs to share in the excitement of postseason play. His new playoff format, devised to maintain the interest of fans and players alike during the Great Depression, provided an opportunity for four teams to compete for the league's championship. In 1933, he introduced his plan to league president Charles H. Knappe, and the result was the Governors' Cup playoffs. Several other leagues noticed the success of the "Shaughnessy Plan" and began using the system as well.
The governors of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York and the lieutenant governors of the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, in which the league's eight teams were located at the time, sponsored a trophy to be awarded annually to the winner of the International League playoffs. The original trophy, designed by the supervisor of the league's umpires and silversmith W. B. Carpenter, was created out of solid silver. Sporadically from 1966 to 1980, one or both rounds were reduced to best-of-five series. From 1981 to 2020, both rounds were the best-of-five.
The IL utilized a divisional alignment for the first time in 1963. The first-place teams from each division, North and South, met in the first round, as did the second-place teams, with the winners meeting in the finals. The circuit reverted to having no divisions in 1964 but returned to the same playoff format with North and South Divisions for 1973 and 1974.
From 1988 to 1991, the International League held an interleague partnership with the American Association, called the Triple-A Alliance, in which they played an interlocking schedule, and the leagues' champions met in the Triple-A Classic. During this period, the IL was divided into East and West Divisions, and the division winners faced off in a best-of-five series to determine champions. After the dissolution of the Triple-A Alliance following the 1991 season, the International League maintained this divisional alignment but returned to having a semifinal round wherein the top two teams in each division played each other to qualify for the Governors' Cup finals.
The league was split into three divisions, North, South, and West, from 1998 to 2020. Under this arrangement, the three division winners and a wild card team, the team with the best second-place record, qualified for the playoffs. The best-of-five semifinals pitted the North Division winner against the wild card team, and the South and West Division winners against each other. The winners then played in a best-of-five round to determine the champion. The last team to win the championship this way was the Columbus Clippers, who won the last Governors' Cup in 2019. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Triple-A East the International League, and it carried on the history of the IL prior to reorganization. The Durham Bulls won this championship by four-and-a-half games ahead of the Buffalo Bisons.
Along with these changes, all references to the Governors' Cup as the championship of the International League were discontinued and a different trophy was awarded. In 2022, the league was reorganized in East and West Divisions. Under this alignment, the winners of each division met in a single game to determine the league champion.
Beginning in 2023, the regular-season was split into two halves, and the winners of each half meet in a best-of-three series for the league championship.
Champions
Pre-playoff champions (1884–1932)
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:85%"
|+Key
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Record
|Regular-season win–loss record
|-
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|GA
|Games ahead of the second-place team
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Champions
!scope="col" | Year
!scope="col" | Champion
!scope="col" | Record
!scope="col" |
!scope="col" | Runner-up
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|
|-
| 1884
!scope="row"| Trenton Trentonians
| 46–39 || || style="text-align:left"| Lancaster Ironsides ||
|-
| 1886
!scope="row"| Utica Pent-Ups
| 62–34 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Maroons ||
|-
| 1887
!scope="row"| Toronto Canucks
| 65–36 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1888
!scope="row"| Syracuse Stars
| 81–30 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Canucks ||
|-
| 1889
!scope="row"| Detroit Wolverines
| 72–39 || || style="text-align:left"| Syracuse Stars ||
|-
| 1890
!scope="row"| Detroit Wolverines
| 31–19 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Canucks ||
|-
| 1891
!scope="row"| Buffalo Bisons
| || || style="text-align:center"| ||
|-
| 1894
!scope="row"| Providence Grays
| 78–34 || || style="text-align:left"| Erie Blackbirds ||
|-
| 1895
!scope="row"| Springfield Maroons
| 79–36 || || style="text-align:left"| Providence Grays ||
|-
| 1896
!scope="row"| Providence Grays
| 71–47 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1897
!scope="row"| Syracuse Stars
| 83–50 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1898
!scope="row"| Montreal Royals
| 68–48 || || style="text-align:left"| Wilkes-Barre Coal Barons ||
|-
| 1899
!scope="row"| Rochester Bronchos
| 72–43 || || style="text-align:left"| Montreal Royals ||
|-
| 1900
!scope="row"| Providence Clamdiggers
| 84–52 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Bronchos ||
|-
| 1901
!scope="row"| Rochester Bronchos
| 89–49 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1902
!scope="row"| Toronto Maple Leafs
| 85–42 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1903
!scope="row"| Jersey City Skeeters
| 92–33 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1904
!scope="row"| Buffalo Bisons
| 88–46 || || style="text-align:left"| Baltimore Orioles ||
|-
| 1905
!scope="row"| Providence Clamdiggers
| 83–47 || || style="text-align:left"| Baltimore Orioles ||
|-
| 1906
!scope="row"| Buffalo Bisons
| 85–55 || || style="text-align:left"| Jersey City Skeeters ||
|-
| 1907
!scope="row"| Toronto Maple Leafs
| 83–51 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1908
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 83–57 || || style="text-align:left"| Providence Grays ||
|-
| 1909
!scope="row"| Rochester Hustlers
| 90–61 || || style="text-align:left"| Newark Indians ||
|-
| 1910
!scope="row"| Rochester Bronchos
| 92–61 || || style="text-align:left"| Newark Indians ||
|-
| 1911
!scope="row"| Rochester Hustlers
| 98–54 || || style="text-align:left"| Baltimore Orioles ||
|-
| 1912
!scope="row"| Toronto Maple Leafs
| 91–62 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Hustlers ||
|-
| 1913
!scope="row"| Newark Indians
| 95–57 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Hustlers ||
|-
| 1914
!scope="row"| Providence Grays
| 95–59 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1915
!scope="row"| Buffalo Bisons
| 86–50 || || style="text-align:left"| Providence Grays ||
|-
| 1916
!scope="row"| Buffalo Bisons
| 82–58 || || style="text-align:left"| Providence Grays ||
|-
| 1917
!scope="row"| Toronto Maple Leafs
| 93–61 || || style="text-align:left"| Providence Grays ||
|-
| 1918
!scope="row"| Toronto Maple Leafs
| 88–39 || || style="text-align:left"| Binghamton Bingoes ||
|-
| 1919
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 100–49 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1920
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 110–43 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1921
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 119–47 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Colts ||
|-
| 1922
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 115–52 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Tribe ||
|-
| 1923
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 111–53 || || style="text-align:left"| Rochester Tribe ||
|-
| 1924
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 117–48 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1925
!scope="row"| Baltimore Orioles
| 105–61 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1926
!scope="row"| Toronto Maple Leafs
| 109–57 || || style="text-align:left"| Baltimore Orioles ||
|-
| 1927
!scope="row"| Buffalo Bisons
| 112–56 || || style="text-align:left"| Syracuse Stars ||
|-
| 1928
!scope="row"| Rochester Red Wings
| 90–74 || || style="text-align:left"| Buffalo Bisons ||
|-
| 1929
!scope="row"| Rochester Red Wings
| 103–65 || || style="text-align:left"| Toronto Maple Leafs ||
|-
| 1930
!scope="row"| Rochester Red Wings
| 105–62 || || style="text-align:left"| Baltimore Orioles ||
|-
| 1931
!scope="row"| Rochester Red Wings
| 101–67 || || style="text-align:left"| Newark Bears ||
|-
| 1932
!scope="row"| Newark Bears
| 109–59 || || style="text-align:left"| Baltimore Orioles ||
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1935
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Buffalo Bisons & Newark Bears || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1936
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–2 || Baltimore Orioles || Newark Bears & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1937
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–0 || Baltimore Orioles || Montreal Royals & Syracuse Chiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1938
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || Buffalo Bisons || Rochester Red Wings & Syracuse Chiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1939
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Buffalo Bisons & Jersey City Giants || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1940
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || Baltimore Orioles || Jersey City Giants & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1941
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Buffalo Bisons & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1942
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–0 || Jersey City Giants || Montreal Royals & Newark Bears || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1943
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–2 || || Montreal Royals & Newark Bears || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1944
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Buffalo Bisons & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1945
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Baltimore Orioles & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1946
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Baltimore Orioles & Newark Bears || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1947
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || Buffalo Bisons || Jersey City Giants & Montreal Royals || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1948
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Newark Bears & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1949
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || Buffalo Bisons || Jersey City Giants & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1950
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–2 || || Jersey City Giants & Montreal Royals || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1951
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Buffalo Bisons & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1952
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–2 || || Syracuse Chiefs & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1953
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–0 || || Baltimore Orioles & Buffalo Bisons || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1954
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Rochester Red Wings & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1955
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–0 || || Havana Sugar Kings & Montreal Royals || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1956
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Miami Marlins & Montreal Royals || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1957
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || Miami Marlins || Richmond Virginians & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1958
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Columbus Jets & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1959
!scope="row"| Havana Sugar Kings
| style="text-align:center"| 4–2 || Richmond Virginians || Buffalo Bisons & Columbus Jets || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1960
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Buffalo Bisons & Richmond Virginians || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1961
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Charleston Marlins & Columbus Jets || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1962
!scope="row"| Atlanta Crackers
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || Jacksonville Suns || Rochester Red Wings & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1963
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–2 || Atlanta Crackers || Syracuse Chiefs & Toronto Maple Leafs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1965
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Atlanta Crackers & Syracuse Chiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1966
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Columbus Jets & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1967
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Richmond Braves & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1968
!scope="row"| Jacksonville Suns
| style="text-align:center"| 4–0 || || Rochester Red Wings & Toledo Mud Hens || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1969
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || || Louisville Colonels & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1970
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Rochester Red Wings & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1971
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Charleston Charlies & Syracuse Chiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1972
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || Louisville Colonels || Charleston Charlies & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1973
!scope="row"| Pawtucket Red Sox
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || Charleston Charlies || Rochester Red Wings & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1976
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Memphis Blues & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1977
!scope="row"| Charleston Charlies
| style="text-align:center"| 4–0 || || Richmond Braves & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1978
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Charleston Charlies & Toledo Mud Hens || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1979
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–3 || || Richmond Braves & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1980
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4–1 || Toledo Mud Hens || Richmond Braves & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1981
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 2–1 || || Rochester Red Wings & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1982
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || Columbus Clippers & Richmond Braves || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1983
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Charleston Charlies & Columbus Clippers || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1984
!scope="row"| Pawtucket Red Sox
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || Maine Guides || Columbus Clippers & Toledo Mud Hens || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1985
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || Columbus Clippers || Maine Guides & Syracuse Chiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1986
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Pawtucket Red Sox & Tidewater Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1987
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || Pawtucket Red Sox & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1988
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || style="text-align:center"| — || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1989
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || style="text-align:center"| — || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1990
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || style="text-align:center"| — || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1991
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || style="text-align:center"| — || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1992
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Pawtucket Red Sox & Richmond Braves || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1994
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || Charlotte Knights & Pawtucket Red Sox || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1995
!scope="row"| Ottawa Lynx
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || Norfolk Tides || Richmond Braves & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1996
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || Norfolk Tides & Pawtucket Red Sox || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1997
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Charlotte Knights & Pawtucket Red Sox || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 1998
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Louisville Redbirds & Syracuse SkyChiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2000
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Buffalo Bisons & Durham Bulls || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2001
!scope="row"| Louisville RiverBats
| style="text-align:center"| 1–0 || || Buffalo Bisons & Norfolk Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2002
!scope="row"| Durham Bulls
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || Buffalo Bisons || Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons & Toledo Mud Hens || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2003
!scope="row"| Durham Bulls
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || Louisville Bats & Ottawa Lynx || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2004
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Columbus Clippers & Durham Bulls || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2005
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || Indianapolis Indians || Buffalo Bisons & Norfolk Tides || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2006
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Charlotte Knights & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2007
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees & Toledo Mud Hens || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2008
!scope="row"| Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Louisville Bats & Pawtucket Red Sox || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2009
!scope="row"| Durham Bulls
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees || Gwinnett Braves & Louisville Bats || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2010
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Louisville Bats & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2011
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || Lehigh Valley IronPigs || Durham Bulls & Pawtucket Red Sox || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2012
!scope="row"| Pawtucket Red Sox
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || Charlotte Knights || Indianapolis Indians & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2013
!scope="row"| Durham Bulls
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Indianapolis Indians & Rochester Red Wings || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2014
!scope="row"| Pawtucket Red Sox
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Columbus Clippers & Syracuse Chiefs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2015
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || Indianapolis Indians || Norfolk Tides & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2016
!scope="row"| Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || Gwinnett Braves || Columbus Clippers & Lehigh Valley IronPigs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2017
!scope="row"| Durham Bulls
| style="text-align:center"| 3–1 || || Indianapolis Indians & Lehigh Valley IronPigs || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2018
!scope="row"| Durham Bulls
| style="text-align:center"| 3–2 || || Lehigh Valley IronPigs & Toledo Mud Hens || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2019
!scope="row"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3–0 || || Gwinnett Stripers & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders || style="text-align:center"|
|-
|2023
!scope="row"|Norfolk Tides
|2–1
|style="text-align:left"|Durham Bulls
|
|-
|2024
!scope="row"|Omaha Storm Chasers
|2–1
|style="text-align:left"|Columbus Clippers
|
|-
|2025
!scope="row"|Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
|2–1
|style="text-align: left;" |Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
|
|}
Wins by team
Active International League teams appear in bold.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left"
!scope="col"| Team
!scope="col"| Wins
!scope="col"| Year(s)
|-
!scope="row"|Rochester Red Wings (Rochester Bronchos/Hustlers)
|style="text-align:center"|19
|1899, 1901, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997
|-
!scope="row"|Columbus Clippers
|style="text-align:center"|11
|1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2019
|-
!scope="row"|Baltimore Orioles
|style="text-align:center" rowspan="3"|10
|1908, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1944, 1950
|-
!scope="row"|Buffalo Bisons (1886–1970)
|1891, 1904, 1906, 1915, 1916, 1927, 1933, 1936, 1957, 1961
|-
!scope="row"|Toronto Maple Leafs
|1902, 1907, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1926, 1934, 1960, 1965, 1966
|-
!scope="row"|Durham Bulls
|style="text-align:center" rowspan="3"|8
|2002, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
|-
!scope="row"|Montreal Royals
|1898, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1958
|-
!scope="row"|Syracuse Mets (Syracuse Chiefs)
|1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976
|-
!scope="row"|Norfolk Tides (Tidewater Tides)
|style="text-align:center"|6
|1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2023
|-
!scope="row"|Newark Bears
|style="text-align:center" rowspan="3"|5
|1932, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1945
|-
!scope="row"|Providence Grays (Providence Clamdiggers)
|1894, 1896, 1900, 1905, 1914
|-
!scope="row"|Richmond Braves
|1978, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007
|-
!scope="row"|Pawtucket Red Sox
|style="text-align:center"|4
|1973, 1984, 2012, 2014
|-
!scope="row"|Syracuse Stars
|style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"|3
|1885, 1888, 1897
|-
!scope="row"|Toledo Mud Hens
|1967, 2005, 2006
|-
!scope="row"|Buffalo Bisons (1979–present)
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center" |2
|1998, 2004
|-
!scope="row"|Charlotte Knights
|1993, 1999
|-
!scope="row"|Detroit Wolverines
|1889, 1890
|-
!scope="row"|Indianapolis Indians
|1963, 2000
|-
! scope="row" |Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Jacksonville Suns)
|1968, 2025
|-
!scope="row"|Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees)
|2008, 2016
|-
! scope="row" |Atlanta Crackers
| rowspan="14" style="text-align:center" |1
|1962
|-
!scope="row"|Binghamton Bingoes
|1892
|-
!scope="row"|Charleston Charlies
|1977
|-
!scope="row"|Erie Blackbirds
|1893
|-
!scope="row"|Havana Sugar Kings
|1959
|-
!scope="row"|Jersey City Skeeters
|1903
|-
!scope="row"|Louisville Bats (Louisville RiverBats)
|2001
|-
!scope="row"|Newark Indians
|1913
|-
!scope="row"|Omaha Storm Chasers
|2024
|-
!scope="row"|Ottawa Lynx
|1995
|-
!scope="row"|Springfield Maroons
|1895
|-
!scope="row"|Toronto Canucks
|1887
|-
!scope="row"|Trenton Trentonians
|1884
|-
!scope="row"|Utica Pent-Ups
|1886
|}
Governors' Cup wins by team
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"| Team
!scope="col"| Governors'<br/>Cup wins
!scope="col"| Year(s)
|-
!scope="row"|Columbus Clippers
|11
|style="text-align:left"|1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2019
|-
!scope="row"|Rochester Red Wings
|10
|style="text-align:left"|1939, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997
|-
!scope="row"|Syracuse Mets (Syracuse Chiefs)
|8
|style="text-align:left"|1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976
|-
!scope="row"|Montreal Royals
|7
|style="text-align:left"|1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1958
|-
!scope="row"|Durham Bulls
|6
|style="text-align:left"|2002, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018
|-
!scope="row"|Norfolk Tides (Tidewater Tides)
|rowspan="2"|5
|style="text-align:left"|1972, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985
|-
!scope="row"|Richmond Braves
|style="text-align:left"|1978, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007
|-
!scope="row"|Buffalo Bisons (1886–1970)
|rowspan="4"|4
|style="text-align:left"|1933, 1936, 1957, 1961
|-
!scope="row"|Newark Bears
|style="text-align:left"|1937, 1938, 1940, 1945
|-
!scope="row"|Pawtucket Red Sox
|style="text-align:left"|1973, 1984, 2012, 2014
|-
!scope="row"|Toronto Maple Leafs
|style="text-align:left"|1934, 1960, 1965, 1966
|-
!scope="row"|Toledo Mud Hens
|3
|style="text-align:left"|1967, 2005, 2006
|-
!scope="row"|Baltimore Orioles
|rowspan="5"|2
|style="text-align:left"|1944, 1950
|-
!scope="row" style="text-align:left"|Buffalo Bisons (1979–present)
|style="text-align:left"|1998, 2004
|-
!scope="row"|Charlotte Knights
|style="text-align:left"|1993, 1999
|-
!scope="row"|Indianapolis Indians
|style="text-align:left"|1963, 2000
|-
!scope="row"|Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees)
|style="text-align:left"|2008, 2016
|-
!scope="row"|Atlanta Crackers
|rowspan="6"|1
|style="text-align:left"|1962
|-
!scope="row"|Charleston Charlies
|style="text-align:left"|1977
|-
!scope="row"|Havana Sugar Kings
|style="text-align:left"|1959
|-
!scope="row"|Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Jacksonville Suns)
|style="text-align:left"|1968
|-
!scope="row"|Louisville Bats (Louisville RiverBats)
|style="text-align:left"|2001
|-
!scope="row"|Ottawa Lynx
|style="text-align:left"|1995
|}
See also
- List of American Association champions
- List of Pacific Coast League champions
Notes
References
General