The Governor's Cup

From SoSH

1 Championship of the AAA International League
2 Red Sox Governor's Cup Wins
3 Red Sox Governor's Cup Runners-Up
4 External Sources

Championship of the AAA International League

In 1933, Frank "Shag" Shaughnessy, General Manager of the League's Montreal Royals, introduced a new playoff system to International League President Charles H. Knappe and the Governors' Cup was born. Shaughnessy, who would ultimately serve as IL President from 1936 until 1960, was interested in developing a way for more than two clubs to share in the excitement of post-season play. His playoff format, devised to maintain the interest of fans and players alike during the Depression era, provided an opportunity for four teams to participate rather than only two. Several other leagues noticed the success of the "Shaughnessy Plan" and followed suit.

In response to the new playoff format, the Governors of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York and the Lieutenant Governors of the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario sponsored a trophy to be awarded annually to the winner of the International League playoffs. The trophy, created by the Supervisor of International League Umpires W.B. Carruth, was created out of solid silver and has been appraised at over $3,000.

In 1988, International League President Harold Cooper donated the trophy to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, where it is on permanent display. A new trophy of the same name was minted in its' place and is presented annually to the winner of the Governors' Cup Series. In 2006, the trophy will reside at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, home of the 2005 International League Champion Toledo Mud Hens.

The Pawtucket Red Sox have won the Governor's Cup twice, in 1973 and 1984. Of the other currently active IL teams, the Rochester Red Wings have won the championship ten times, the Buffalo Bisons have won six times (including the inagural championship in 1933), the Syracuse SkyChiefs eight times, the Columbus Clippers seven times, the Norfolk Tides (formerly known as Tidewater) five times, the Richmond Braves four times, the Durham Bulls twice, the Toledo Mud Hens twice, the Charlotte Knights twice, the Indianapolis Indians twice, the Louisville Bats once, and the Ottawa Lynx once. Havana has one Governor's Cup to its credit, coming in 1959.