2009 International League season

October 2025 2009 International League season International League Baseball April 9 – September 7, 2009 144 14 Regular season Louisville Bats Shelley Duncan International League Most Valuable Player Award Governors' Cup Governors' Cup Durham Bulls (3rd) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees List of International League champions IL 2008 International League season 2008 2010 International League season 2010 The 2009 International League season began on Thursday, April 9, with all fourteen teams competing on opening day. The regular season ended on Monday, September 7. In the semifinal playoff rounds, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees defeated the Gwinnett Braves, 3-1, and the Durham Bulls defeated the Louisville Bats, 3-2. The Bulls swept the Yankees, 3-0, in the championship series to win the Governors' Cup. Teams DivisionTeamMLB AffiliationCityStadiumCapacity NorthBuffalo BisonsNew York MetsBuffalo, New YorkCoca-Cola Field19,500Lehigh Valley IronPigsPhiladelphia PhilliesAllentown, PennsylvaniaCoca-Cola Park10,000Pawtucket Red SoxBoston Red SoxPawtucket, Rhode IslandMcCoy Stadium10,031Rochester Red WingsMinnesota TwinsRochester, New YorkFrontier Field10,868Scranton/Wilkes-Barre YankeesNew York YankeesMoosic, PennsylvaniaPNC Field10,310Syracuse ChiefsWashington NationalsSyracuse, New YorkAlliance Bank Stadium11,117 SouthCharlotte KnightsChicago White SoxFort Mill, South CarolinaKnights Stadium10,002Durham BullsTampa Bay RaysDurham, North CarolinaDurham Bulls Athletic Park10,000Gwinnett BravesAtlanta BravesLawrenceville, GeorgiaGwinnett County Ballpark10,099Norfolk TidesBaltimore OriolesNorfolk, VirginiaHarbor Park12,067 WestColumbus ClippersCleveland IndiansColumbus, OhioHuntington Park10,000Indianapolis IndiansPittsburgh PiratesIndianapolis, IndianaVictory Field15,500Louisville BatsCincinnati RedsLouisville, KentuckyLouisville Slugger Field13,131Toledo Mud HensDetroit TigersToledo, OhioFifth Third Field10,300 Before the Season Affiliation changes Before the 2009 season, three IL teams signed player development contracts (PDC) with different parent clubs. The Columbus Clippers signed a four-year PDC with the Cleveland Indians through 2012 on September 18, 2008. The Clippers had previously been affiliated with the Washington Nationals for two years after ending their 28-year partnership with the New York Yankees. The Indians became the Clippers' third affiliate in four years. The Syracuse Chiefs signed a two-year PDC with the Washington Nationals through 2010 on September 20, 2008. The Chiefs had previously been affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays since 1978, and had been the only Triple-A affiliate in Toronto's history. The Buffalo Bisons signed a two-year PDC with the New York Mets through 2010 on September 21, 2008. The Bisons had previously been affiliated with the Cleveland Indians for 14 seasons, winning three league championships (2 in the IL, 1 in the AA). The Bisons adopted a new logo and the Mets' team colors as their own to reflect the new partnership. Team changes After 43 seasons and 5 Governor's Cup championships, the Richmond Braves moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia becoming the Gwinnett Braves. One factor in the franchise's decision to relocate was reportedly a failure to reach an agreement on building a new ballpark in Richmond. New stadiums The Columbus Clippers moved from Cooper Stadium to Huntington Park in Columbus' Arena District. The stadium, which cost $56 million and seats 10,000, opened on April 18 as the Clippers hosted their rival Toledo Mud Hens. Columbus-based bank holding company Huntington Bancshares Inc. bought the stadium's naming rights for $12 million over 23 years. The newly relocated Gwinnett Braves (formerly Richmond Braves) moved into Gwinnett Stadium in Lawrenceville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. The 10,000 seat stadium is a focal point of a mixed-use entertainment district and opened on April 17 as the Braves host the Norfolk Tides. Regular season Opening Day April 9 was the Opening Day of the 2009 International League season. The following games were scheduled: Gwinnett Braves @ Charlotte Knights Rochester Red Wings @ Syracuse Chiefs Pawtucket Red Sox @ Buffalo Bisons Toledo Mud Hens @ Indianapolis Indians Columbus Clippers @ Louisville Bats Norfolk Tides @ Durham Bulls Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs All-star game The 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game was the 22nd meeting between all-stars of the International and Pacific Coast leagues, with the game taking place on July 17 at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon. For the twelfth time, the International League would field a team of its best players to compete against the host Pacific Coast League's best players. The International League would even up the All-Star Game series, with a 6-5 win over the Pacific Coast League all-stars. The PCL held a six games to five lead over the IL before the game. Standings International League - North Division W L Pct. GBScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 81 60 .574 —Syracuse Chiefs 76 68 .528 6½Lehigh Valley IronPigs 71 73 .493 11½Rochester Red Wings 70 74 .486 12½Pawtucket Red Sox 61 82 .427 21Buffalo Bisons 56 87 .392 26 International League - South Division W L Pct. GBDurham Bulls 83 61 .576 —Gwinnett Braves 81 63 .563 2Norfolk Tides 71 71 .500 11Charlotte Knights 67 76 .469 15½ International League - West Division W L Pct. GB Louisville Bats 84 58 .592 — Toledo Mud Hens 73 70 .510 11½ Indianapolis Indians 70 73 .490 14½ Columbus Clippers 57 85 .401 27 y-division champion x-wild card winner League leaders Batting Champions Stat Player Total AVG Jordan Brown .336 Home run Shelley Duncan 30 Run batted in Shelley Duncan 99 Run Shelley Duncan 85 Hit Jesus Feliciano 154 Stolen base Drew Stubbs 46 Pitching Champions Stat Player Total Win Justin Lehr 13 Loss Charlie Zink 15 Earned run average Carlos Torres 2.39 Strikeout Carlos Carrasco 148 Innings pitched Wade Davis 158.2 Save Luis Valdez 27 Playoffs The 2009 International League playoffs will take place at the conclusion of the regular season in September. Semifinals Governors' Cup 25 150 25 N Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 3 WC Gwinnett 1 W Louisville 2 S Durham 3 N Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 0 W Durham 3 References Category:International League seasons