2nd Longest Affiliation in SAL

The Delmarva Shorebirds have the second longest active affiliation with a major league club in the SAL. The 2012 season will mark our 16th consecutive season as a Baltimore Orioles affiliate.  Only the Asheville Tourists boast a longer standing current relationship with a major league team.  They have been a Rockies affiliate since 1994. No other team is really even close to the Tourists and Shorebirds. 

I think there is something to said for consistency and the Shorebirds have had that with the Orioles.  Many minor league cities go through constant affiliation change.  Not here on Delmarva. 

Below is a complete list of the first years of the current affiliations…

Northern Division

Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles) – 1997

Hagerstown Suns (Nationals) – 2007

Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) – 2003

Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) – 2009

Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) – 2001

Lakewood BlueClaws (Phillies) – 2001

West Virginia Power (Pirates) – 2009

Southern Division

Greenville Drive (Red Sox) – 2005

Asheville Tourists (Rockies) – 1994

Augusta GreenJackets (Giants) – 2005

Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) – 2005

Lexington Legends (Astros) – 2001

Rome Braves (Braves) – 2003

Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets) – 2007