American Association (20th century) Manager of the Year Award


The American Association Manager of the Year Award was an annual award given to the best manager in Minor League Baseball's American Association based on their team's regular season performance. Though the league was established in 1902, the award was not created until 1953. It continued to be issued through the 1962 season, after which the league disbanded. In 1969, both the league and the award were revived, and the honor continued to be given until the league disbanded for a second time after the 1997 season.
Nine managers won the award on multiple occasions. Joe Sparks won the award five times, more than any other manager. Marc Bombard and Vern Rapp each won three times. Kerby Farrell, Jim Fregosi, Jim Marshall, Gene Mauch, Jack McKeon, and Rick Renick each won the award twice.
Fourteen managers from the Indianapolis Indians won the Manager of the Year Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Evansville Triplets and Omaha Royals ; the Denver Bears/Zephyrs and Minneapolis Millers ; the Iowa Oaks/Cubs, Louisville Redbirds, Nashville Sounds, and Wichita Braves/Aeros ; and the Buffalo Bisons, Louisville Colonels, Oklahoma City 89ers, Omaha Dodgers, and Toledo Sox.
Seven managers from the Montreal Expos Major League Baseball organization won the Manager of the Year Award, more than any other, followed by the Cincinnati Reds organization, the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas City Royals organizations, the Milwaukee Braves organization, the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, New York Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals organizations, and the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers organizations.

Key

Winners

YearWinnerTeamOrganizationDivisionFinishRecord
1953Toledo SoxMilwaukee Braves—1st90–64
1954 Indianapolis IndiansCleveland Indians—1st95–57
1955Minneapolis Millers*New York Giants—1st92–62
1956 Indianapolis Indians*Cleveland Indians—1st92–62
1957Wichita BravesMilwaukee Braves—1st93–61
1958 Minneapolis Millers*New York Giants—3rd82–71
1959 Minneapolis Millers*Boston Red SoxEast2nd95–67
1960Louisville Colonels*Milwaukee Braves—2nd85–68
1961Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati Reds—1st86–64
1962^Indianapolis IndiansChicago White Sox—1st89–58
1962^Omaha DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers—2nd79–68
1969 Omaha Royals*Kansas City Royals—1st85–55
1970 Omaha Royals*Kansas City RoyalsEast1st73–65
1971 Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsEast1st84–55
1972 Wichita AerosChicago CubsWest1st87–53
1973 Iowa OaksChicago White SoxEast1st83–53
1974 Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsEast1st78–57
1975Evansville Triplets*Detroit TigersEast1st77–59
1976 Denver Bears*Montreal ExposWest1st86–50
1977 Denver Bears*Montreal ExposWest1st71–65
1978Evansville TripletsDetroit TigersEast2nd78–58
1979Evansville Triplets*Detroit TigersEast1st78–58
1980Evansville TripletsDetroit TigersEast2nd61–74
1981 Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsWest1st79–57
1982Iowa CubsChicago CubsEast3rd73–62
1983 Louisville RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsEast1st78–57
1984Indianapolis IndiansMontreal Expos—1st91–63
1985^ Louisville Redbirds*St. Louis CardinalsEast1st74–68
1985^Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersWest1st79–63
1986 Indianapolis Indians*Montreal ExposEast1st80–62
1987 Indianapolis Indians*Montreal Expos—1st74–64
1988 Indianapolis Indians*Montreal ExposEast1st89–53
1989Indianapolis Indians*Montreal ExposEast1st87–59
1990Omaha Royals*Kansas City RoyalsWest1st86–60
1991Denver Zephyrs*Milwaukee BrewersWest1st79–65
1992 Buffalo BisonsPittsburgh PiratesEast1st87–57
1993 Nashville SoundsChicago White SoxEast1st81–62
1994 Indianapolis Indians*Cincinnati Reds—1st86–57
1995 Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati Reds—1st88–56
1996 Nashville SoundsChicago White SoxEast3rd77–67
1997Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsEast1st89–59

Wins by team

TeamAwardYear
Indianapolis Indians141954, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1971, 1974, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997
Evansville Triplets41975, 1978, 1979, 1980
Omaha Royals41969, 1970, 1981, 1990
Denver Bears/Zephyrs31976, 1977, 1991
Minneapolis Millers31955, 1958, 1959
Iowa Oaks/Cubs21973, 1982
Louisville Redbirds21983, 1985
Nashville Sounds21993, 1996
Wichita Braves/Aeros21957, 1972
Buffalo Bisons11992
Louisville Colonels11960
Oklahoma City 89ers11985
Omaha Dodgers11962
Toledo Sox11953

Wins by organization

OrganizationAwardYear
Montreal Expos71976, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
Cincinnati Reds61961, 1971, 1974, 1994, 1995, 1997
Chicago White Sox41962, 1973, 1993, 1996
Detroit Tigers41975, 1978, 1979, 1980
Kansas City Royals41969, 1970, 1981, 1990
Milwaukee Braves31953, 1957, 1960
Chicago Cubs21972, 1982
Cleveland Indians21954, 1956
New York Giants21955, 1958
St. Louis Cardinals21983, 1985
Boston Red Sox11959
Los Angeles Dodgers11962
Milwaukee Brewers11991
Pittsburgh Pirates11992
Texas Rangers11985