1966 International League season

The 1966 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 22 and September 16. Eight teams played a 148-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the post-season.

1966 International League season
League	International League
Sport	Baseball
Duration	April 22 – September 16
Number of games	148
Number of teams	8
Regular season
Season MVP	Mike Epstein, Rochester Red Wings
Governors' Cup Playoffs
League champions	Toronto Maple Leafs
Runners-up	Richmond Braves

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Richmond Braves in the final round of the playoffs.

Team changes

• In Major League Baseball, the Milwaukee Braves relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and were renamed the Atlanta Braves. The Braves moved their International League team, the Atlanta Crackers, to Richmond, Virginia, and were renamed the Richmond Braves.
• The Buffalo Bisons ended their affiliations with the New York Mets and began an affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds.
• The Jacksonville Suns ended their affiliate with the St. Louis Cardinals and began an affiliation with the New York Mets.

Teams

1966 International League
Team	City	MLB Affiliate	Stadium
Buffalo Bisons	Buffalo, New York	Cincinnati Reds	Offermann Stadium
Columbus Jets	Columbus, Ohio	Pittsburgh Pirates	Jets Stadium
Jacksonville Suns	Jacksonville, Florida	St. Louis Cardinals	Wolfson Park
Richmond Braves	Richmond, Virginia	Atlanta Braves	Parker Field
Rochester Red Wings	Rochester, New York	Baltimore Orioles	Red Wing Stadium
Syracuse Chiefs	Syracuse, New York	Detroit Tigers	MacArthur Stadium
Toledo Mud Hens	Toledo, Ohio	New York Yankees	Lucas County Stadium
Toronto Maple Leafs	Toronto, Ontario	Boston Red Sox	Maple Leaf Stadium

Map of teams

Buffalo

Columbus

Jackson-
ville

Richmond

Rochester

Syracuse

Toledo

Toronto

International League teams

Regular season

Summary

• The Rochester Red Wings finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 1953.

Standings

International League
Team	Win	Loss	%	GB
Rochester Red Wings	83	64	.565	–
Columbus Jets	82	65	.558	1
Toronto Maple Leafs	82	65	.558	1
Richmond Braves	75	72	.510	8
Buffalo Bisons	72	74	.493	10.5
Toledo Mud Hens	71	75	.486	11.5
Jacksonville Suns	68	79	.463	15
Syracuse Chiefs	54	93	.367	29

League Leaders

Batting leaders

Stat	Player	Total
AVG	Reggie Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs	.320
H	Steve Demeter, Rochester Red Wings	166
R	Mike Andrews, Toronto Maple Leafs	97
2B	Steve Demeter, Rochester Red Wings	32
3B	Mike Hegan, Toledo Mud Hens	11
HR	Mike Epstein, Rochester Red Wings	29
RBI	Mike Epstein, Rochester Red Wings	102
SB	George Spriggs, Columbus Jets	34

Pitching leaders

Stat	Player	Total
W	Gary Waslewski, Toronto Maple Leafs	18
L	Bill Graham, Syracuse Chiefs	16
ERA	Dick Kelley, Richmond Braves	2.08
CG	Wilbur Wood, Columbus Jets	15
SHO	Wilbur Wood, Columbus Jets	8
SO	Tom Phoebus, Rochester Red Wings	208
IP	Wilbur Wood, Columbus Jets	224.0

Playoffs

• The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second consecutive Governors' Cup, and fourth overall, defeating the Richmond Braves in five games.
• The semi-finals were shortened from a best-of-seven series to a best-of-five.

Playoff bracket

	Semi-finals					Governors' Cup
	1	Rochester	1
	4	Richmond	3
						4	Richmond	1
						3	Toronto	4
	2	Columbus	2
	3	Toronto	3

Awards

Player awards
Award name	Recipient
Most Valuable Player	Mike Epstein, Rochester Red Wings
Pitcher of the Year	Gary Waslewski, Toronto Maple Leafs
Rookie of the Year	Mike Epstein, Rochester Red Wings

See also

• 1966 Major League Baseball season

External links

• Minor League Baseball official website