Get to know the members of the Triple-A East

As the 2021 season approaches, MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of the Minor Leagues across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team introduction to the Triple-A East, including previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market regardless of league or level.)

In this 20-team league, the largest in the Minors, 14 clubs come directly from the Triple-A International League. One of those, Worcester, will debut in a new ballpark and a new town as the Pawtucket franchise moves 35 miles northwest from Rhode Island into central Massachusetts. Meanwhile, four of the clubs (Iowa, Memphis, Nashville and Omaha) arrive from the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, one (Jacksonville) joins from the Double-A Southern League and the other (St. Paul) enters from independent ball. With a geographic range from New England to the Plains, from the Deep South to the Canadian border, the Triple-A East is comprised of three divisions spanning 14 states -- a spread that could eventually prep players for the Majors in more ways than just on-field development.

Fans and friends, bleacher creatures and box seaters, meet your Triple-A East teams:

Northeast Division

BUFFALO BISONS

Affiliate: Toronto Blue Jays since 2013
Location: Buffalo, New York (99 miles from Rogers Centre)
Ballpark: Sahlen Field (opened April 14, 1988)
Established: 1979 (previous Buffalo clubs date from 1877; the Bisons also played in Buffalo from 1927-1970)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2004

Did you know? When the Toronto Blue Jays played their first home game of the 2020 season at Sahlen Field, it marked the return of Major League Baseball to Buffalo for the first time since 1915.

LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS

Affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies since 2008
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania (69 miles from Citizens Bank Park)
Ballpark: Coca-Cola Park (opened March 30, 2008)
Established: 2008 (previous Allentown clubs date from 1884)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: None

Did you know? The IronPigs moniker is a reference to the region’s history as a producer of steel using pig iron.

ROCHESTER RED WINGS

Affiliate: Washington Nationals since 2021
Location: Rochester, New York (351 miles from Nationals Park)
Ballpark: Frontier Field (opened July 11, 1996)
Established: 1927 (previous Rochester clubs date from 1877)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 1997

Did you know? The Red Wings have retired several numbers over their long and storied history, including 26 for Joe Altobelli and 36 for Luke Easter. They also retired the number 8,222 -- the number of Red Wings shares sold by team president Morrie Silver in 1956 to ensure the team stayed in Rochester.

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RAILRIDERS

Affiliate: New York Yankees since 2007
Location: Moosic, Pennsylvania (132 miles from Yankee Stadium)
Ballpark: PNC Field (opened April 26, 1989)
Established: 1989 (as the Red Barons)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2016

Did you know? Due to extensive renovations at PNC Field, the team spent the entire 2012 season on the road.

SYRACUSE METS

Affiliate: New York Mets since 2019
Location: Syracuse, New York (240 miles from Citi Field)
Ballpark: NBT Bank Stadium (opened April 3, 1997)
Established: 1961 (as the Chiefs; previous Syracuse clubs date from 1877; the Chiefs also played in Syracuse from 1934-'57)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 1976

Did you know? Over the years Syracuse has been affiliated with the Red Sox, Reds, Pirates, Phillies, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, Blue Jays and Nationals before teaming up with the Mets. The team changed its name to the Mets prior to the 2019 season, marking the first time the franchise carried the name of its parent club.

WORCESTER RED SOX

Affiliate: Boston Red Sox since 2021
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts (45 miles from Fenway Park)
Ballpark: Polar Park (scheduled to open April 4, 2021)
Established: 2021 (previous Worcester clubs date from 1879)

Did you know? Looking to avoid the rainouts that beleaguered the franchise while in Pawtucket, management wanted the Polar Park field to be built closer to the standards of Fenway Park with Kentucky bluegrass. The field was constructed on top of Mill Brook Conduit for easier drainage.

Southeast Division

CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

Affiliate: Chicago White Sox since 1999
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina (761 miles from Guaranteed Rate Field)
Ballpark: Truist Field (opened March 22, 2014)
Established: 1976 (as the O's; previous Charlotte clubs date from 1892)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 1999

Did you know? Before moving into Truist Field, the franchise played its home games across state lines in nearby Fort Mill, South Carolina.

DURHAM BULLS

Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays since 1998
Location: Durham, North Carolina (697 miles from Tropicana Field)
Ballpark: Durham Bulls Athletic Park (opened April 6, 1995)
Established: 1980 (previous Durham clubs date from 1900; the Bulls also played in Durham from 1945-'67)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2018

Did you know? Durham’s famous “Hit Bull Win Steak” sign was created for the 1998 film Bull Durham and hung in the team's previous home, Durham Athletic Park. The so-called "Snorting Bull" that currently towers above the left-field fence at DBAP was modeled after the one used in the movie.

GWINNETT STRIPERS

Affiliate: Atlanta Braves since 2009
Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia (35 miles from Truist Park)
Ballpark: Coolray Field (opened April 17, 2009)
Established: 2009 (as the Braves)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: None

Did you know? The club changed its name to the Stripers prior to the 2018 season, becoming the only team owned by the Atlanta Braves not to use the Braves moniker. The move was motivated in large part by Gwinnett County's proximity to Atlanta; the team -- "little brother playing in big brother's backyard" -- felt the need to differentiate itself via an identity entirely its own.

JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP

Affiliate: Miami Marlins since 2012
Location: Jacksonville, Florida (345 miles from Marlins Park)
Ballpark: Bragan Field at 121 Financial Ballpark (opened April 4, 2003)
Established: 1970 (as the Suns; previous Jacksonville clubs date from 1886)
Previous league: Double-A Southern League
Last championship: 2014

Did you know? The Jumbo Shrimp were one of the Southern League's top two draws since their 2017 rebrand. The name change, which corresponded with a change in ownership, also ushered in an era of irreverent and attention-grabbing promotions, including 2019's Shrimp Ramen Pillow giveaway as part of the team's Ramen Noodle Appreciation Night.

In 2017 we brought you the Shrimp Neck Pillow. This Saturday we bring you Shrimp Ramen Pillows.#PillowGameStrong pic.twitter.com/ANJObMQbzk

— Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (@JaxShrimp) June 19, 2019

MEMPHIS REDBIRDS

Affiliate: St. Louis Cardinals since 1998
Location: Memphis, Tennessee (284 miles from Busch Stadium)
Ballpark: AutoZone Park (opened April 1, 2000)
Established: 1998 (previous Memphis clubs, including the Chicks, date from 1877)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2018

Did you know? The Redbirds' renowned BBQ Nachos, a collaboration with nearby establishment Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous, are topped with pulled pork and dry rub seasoning. Though the Redbirds did not offer this iconic creation in 2015 and 2016, the nachos returned in 2017 with fans making ample use of the hashtag #RendezvousReturns.

NASHVILLE SOUNDS

Affiliate: Milwaukee Brewers since 2021
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (535 miles from American Family Field)
Ballpark: First Horizon Park (opened April 17, 2015)
Established: 1978 (previous Nashville clubs date from 1885)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2005

Did you know? Though they’ve moved stadiums over the years, the Sounds have featured a large guitar-shaped scoreboard in their outfield since 1993. And while the team identity has also evolved, their name has remained the same.

NORFOLK TIDES

Affiliate: Baltimore Orioles since 2007
Location: Norfolk, Virginia (259 miles from Camden Yards)
Ballpark: Harbor Park (opened April 14, 1993)
Established: 1961 (previous Norfolk clubs date from 1885)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: None

Did you know? Screenwriter Ken Levine was a radio broadcaster for the Tides, among other teams, and went on to write about a fictitious Minor League team for "The Simpsons" called the Springfield Isotopes. On the show there is an owner named Dave Rosenfield, which is also the name of a legendary Tides exec.

Midwest Division

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS

Affiliate: Cleveland Indians since 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio (134 miles from Progressive Field)
Ballpark: Huntington Park (opened April 18, 2009)
Established: 1977 (previous Columbus clubs date from 1877)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2019

Did you know? The Clippers broke a tie with Rochester for the most championships in the International League when they won their 11th title in 2019.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates since 2005
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana (360 miles from PNC Park)
Ballpark: Victory Field (opened July 11, 1996)
Established: 1932 (previous Indianapolis clubs date from 1877)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2000

Did you know? Some of the seats from the Indians’ former home of Bush Field (1932-'96) were repurposed at bus stops around Indianapolis.

IOWA CUBS

Affiliate: Chicago Cubs since 1981
Location: Des Moines, Iowa (339 miles from Wrigley Field)
Ballpark: Principal Park (opened April 16, 1992)
Established: 1969 (as the Oaks; previous Des Moines clubs date from 1887)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 1993 (as a member of the American Association)

Did you know? Every year since 2009, the I-Cubs have hosted a naturalization ceremony for new American citizens at Principal Park.

LOUISVILLE BATS

Affiliate: Cincinnati Reds since 2000
Location: Louisville, Kentucky (106 miles from Great American Ballpark)
Ballpark: Louisville Slugger Field (opened April 12, 2000)
Established: 1982 (as the Redbirds; previous Louisville clubs date from 1876)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2001

Did you know? In 2019, the Bats adopted an alternate identity as the Derby City Mint Juleps for two games in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

OMAHA STORM CHASERS

Affiliate: Kansas City Royals since 1969
Location: Papillion, Nebraska (192 miles from Kauffman Stadium)
Ballpark: Werner Park (opened April 11, 2011)
Established: 1969 (as the Royals; previous Omaha clubs date from 1879)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2014

Did you know? Omaha and Kansas City have been affiliated with each other throughout both teams' existences.

ST. PAUL SAINTS

Affiliate: Minnesota Twins since 2021
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota (10 miles from Target Field)
Ballpark: CHS Field (opened May 21, 2015)
Established: 1993 (previous St. Paul clubs date from 1877)
Previous league: independent American Association
Last championship: 2019

Did you know? Actor Bill Murray is a part-owner of the Saints, who pride themselves on an anything-goes operating philosophy.

TOLEDO MUD HENS

Affiliate: Detroit Tigers since 1987
Location: Toledo, Ohio (61 miles from Comerica Park)
Ballpark: Fifth Third Field (opened April 9, 2002)
Established: 1965 (previous Toledo clubs date from 1883; the Mud Hens also played in Toledo from 1932-'55)
Previous league: Triple-A International League
Last championship: 2006

Did you know? The most famous Mud Hens’ fan might be Maxwell Klinger -- the dress-wearing corporal-turned-company-clerk on the long-running TV show "M*A*S*H." On occasion, Klinger donned a Mud Hens jersey or cap and often mentioned the Mud Hens as his favorite baseball team, probably because portrayer Jamie Farr was born and raised in Toledo. The Mud Hens hosted a ceremony in 2017 to honor Jamie Farr by inducting Corporal Klinger into their Celebrity Hall of Fame and commemorating the occasion with, what else, a bobblehead.