Few players reach the majors without first playing in the minor leagues, sometimes referred to as the “farm system” or, more recently, the “player development program.” Basically, this system enables players to prepare for the big leagues by playing in progressively tougher minor leagues based around the country.

Experts say minor league baseball has become more popular over the years because it’s affordable, fans can see and hear all the action and the players – young guys with big club ambitions – really hustle.

In many ways, the minor leagues, which also begin play in April, mirror the majors. But there are also ways in which life in the minors is quite different. In this edition of HowStuffWorks, we’ll examine the world of minor league baseball by taking a behind-the-scenes look at one of the nation’s most successful minor league clubs, the Triple-A Durham Bulls. We’ll explore the relationship between the North Carolina-based team and its major league “parent” – the Tampa Bay Devil Rays – and learn more about what it takes to run a minor league baseball team as an entertainment business – something baseball insiders say Durham does extremely well!

What’s a Minor League Team?

A minor league baseball team is affiliated with a major league team, and today any minor league team has two major goals:

1. The development and preparation of young players for the big leagues.
2. The forging of a successful local business. (More later about how these two fit together.)

Most major league teams have minor leagues structured like this:

• Rookie team – This level is usually young players just out of high school or college, with an average age of 19.
• Class A – This level of play is just above the rookie team. Some major league teams, such as the Devil Rays, have both A and “advanced A” clubs playing in two different leagues.
• Class AA (Double-A) – Players are more experienced at this level (average age is 23) and more likely to jump from here to the majors. AA teams may include former major leaguers who are there temporarily to recover from an injury or work out a performance problem before returning to the big club.
• Class AAA (Triple-A) – This is the step just below the major leagues and the quality of the baseball at this level is very close to what we might see at a major league game. Although there are some baseball stars that are drafted or signed to contracts and go straight to the majors, they are the exception to the rule. The majority of players play at least one minor league season. Occasionally, exceptional players like former Durham Bull Andruw Jones whirl through all the farm teams in one season and wind up in the majors the following season. Each minor league team plays in a league of teams with players at similar levels of proficiency, usually with all the teams in the league within busing distance of one another (long, dull bus rides are among some players’ least favorite memories of their time in the minors). As a player advances to AA and AAA, many of those bus trips are replaced by plane rides because league teams are geographically farther apart. (Salaries go up, too)

All (with the exception of short-season teams which play 76 games) professional baseball players play at least 140 games, working seven-day weeks from early April until (depending on post-season play) the summer’s end. (Rain-outs, which once provided an occasional day off, seldom happen anymore, due to the much improved drainage systems in today’s ballparks. The only remaining day off? All-Star Game day in July and that’s only a day off for players who aren’t chosen to play in the game.)

Some minor league teams have long affiliations with major league clubs – the Durham Bulls were part of the Atlanta Braves’ farm system for 17 years. Pictured here is former Bulls third baseman Chipper Jones, for many years a top star for the Braves. However, one minor league team might be affiliated with several major league systems over its lifetime. That’s why, experts say, smart minor league team owners promote and market team loyalty, rather than loyalty to individual players who may be gone next week. In 1998, the Bulls began play as part of the minor league system of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, an American League expansion team.

Some minor league teams use some version of their big club’s name. However, because of the popularity and tradition of the Durham Bulls, the team has retained its name, and its familiar logo of a smoke-snorting bull.

“I’ve been very pleased with the progression,” Sandberg in a telephone interview. “Getting closer to the major leagues is very gratifying. I’m looking at this as another stepping stone.”

Sandberg, 50, replaces Bobby Dickerson, who has accepted an assignment in the minor leagues with the Baltimore Orioles. “He’ll bring a level of excitement to the field and to the stadium," Iowa Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe said. “He’s going to bring a buzz to the park every day.”

This will be Sandberg’s fourth season as a minor league manager, spending 2007 and 2008 at Class A Peoria, then last season at Class AA Tennessee.

“I’m looking forward to working more closely with the major league team, which is part of managing at this level," Sandberg said. “There will be a number of players who either have been in the big leagues or are the next to go up, and then there’s scouting the opposition. You’re not only filling out reports about your guys each night after games, you’re helping out the scouting department with guys you’re playing against.”

It’s all part of his plan. “I never set a timetable, but I’m happy where I’m at going into my fourth year as a manager,” he said.

Sandberg played 16 seasons in the major leagues, the last 15 with the Chicago Cubs, where he had a career batting average of .285. He’s a 10-time all-star and nine-time Gold Glove winner.

The Bender Award is presented to someone with distinguished service who has been instrumental in player development. For the past 18 seasons, Lieppman has been responsible for assigning, developing and evaluating Oakland’s Minor league players as their director of player development. He is also in charge of coordinating the field instruction throughout their farm system.

“I am humbled and appreciate for being selected for this award,” said Lieppman. “I had the privilege of knowing and working with Chief Bender and respect all that he presented and brought to the game. It is an honor to be associated through this award with such a man of integrity and the numerous accomplishments he has achieved.”

“We are extremely proud that Minor League Baseball is recognizing Keith Lieppman as this year’s recipient of the Chief Bender Award,” said A’s vice president and general manager, Billy Beane. “His consummate professionalism and dedication to the development of young baseball players has been a cornerstone of this organization for nearly four decades. Receiving this much deserved award, named for a highly respected figure in our business, is a testament to Keith’s unparalleled record of service with the A’s.”

Lieppman has been with the A’s organization for 39 years, since beginning his baseball career as a player in Oakland’s Minor League system in 1971. After spending nine seasons as a player, Lieppman was a manager at every level in Oakland’s system over the next eight years.

The Coolbaugh Award is presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field. Montoyo has been a manager in Tampa Bay’s Minor League system for the past 13 seasons, the last three with their top affiliate, the Durham Bulls. This year he led the Bulls to their third straight South Division crown on their way to the international League title. Durham then defeated Pacific Coast League champion Memphis 5-4 in 11 innings in the Triple-A National Championship game.

“I am very humbled and honored to win this award because of what (Mike Coolbaugh) represents,” said Montoyo.

“Charlie has been a hard working, loyal staff member for the Rays since 1996,” said Tampa Bay director of Minor League operations, Mitch Lukevics. “He is a dedicated teacher of our game with a passion to help players both on and off the field. Charlie exemplifies everything that the Mike Coolbaugh Award stands for. We are proud and thrilled that he is receiving this award.”

Since beginning his managerial career with Princeton in the Appalachian league in 1997, Montoyo has led six clubs to playoff berths, including all three of his Durham squads. He piloted the 2006 Montgomery Biscuits to the Southern League title. The Bakersfield Blaze (20010 and Hudson Valley Renegades (1998) are the other clubs Montoyo has guided to post-season play.

Carl Crawford, Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, Jeff Niemann, David Price, James Shields, B.J. Upton, Delmon Young and Ben Zobrist are just some of the current Major Leaguers that Montoyo has managed in the Minors.

Montoyo played 10 seasons as a Minor League infielder from 1987-1996. He appeared in four games with the Montreal Expos in 1993, hitting .400 with three RBIs.

Oklahoma City manager Bobby Jones received the inaugural Coolbaugh Award last year.

John H. Johnson President’s Trophy: San Jose Giants

The President’s Trophy, Minor league Baseball’s top award, is presented to honor the complete baseball franchise – based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community and promotion of the baseball industry.

The San Jose Giants completed their 31st consecutive season in the California League in 2009. Despite playing in one of the older Minor League ballparks, and the presence of two Major League clubs in adjacent markets. San Jose attracted over 220,000 fans, including playoffs. It marked the fourth straight year the Giants have set a regular-season attendance record, and the first time the club has topped the 200,000 mark. San Jose, which claimed its third league title in the last five years this season, also experienced record revenues and net profits in 2009.

“This has been a magical season and our fans deserve so much of the credit,” said San Jose President and CEO Jim Weyemann. “To be honored by our peers with this prestigious award is the greatest single achievement in our franchise history. It places the San Jose Giants in elite company alongside previous winners and we thank Pat O’Conner for his recognition of the outstanding baseball community that resides in Santa Clara County.”

San Jose, which has been affiliated with the San Francisco Giants since 1988, continued its long history of supporting community endeavors, as the club raised over $400,000 for youth sports organizations, schools and other non-profit organizations in their area. The club also stepped in when the city of San Jose’s official July 4th celebration was cancelled, raising the necessary funds and coordinating the event in less than a week so it could be held as originally scheduled.

Weyermann and his staff also made Municipal Stadium available at no cost for other community initiatives, such as free movie nights and anti-gang programs, throughout the year.

Larry MacPhail Trophy: Chattanooga Lookouts

The Larry MacPhail Trophy symbolizes the top promotion effort in Minor League Baseball. The Chattanooga Lookouts have their usual staple of promotions, including their extremely popular “Used Car Night,” which they have held for nearly two decades. However, the other means by which the Lookouts have promoted their club at home games, and throughout the year, is anything but conventional.

The club sent two people, dressed as knights, around town with pocket schedules and a sign which read “Two Knights Game at AT&T Field is at 7:15.” The popularity of the idea resulted in an advertising campaign built around the knights throughout the season. Chattanooga also added “Blooie” to its stable of mascots in 2009. This diminutive blue mascot compliments the club’s iconic red “Looie” and one of his duties is to lead the crown in the “3.5 Inning Stretch,” where only half of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is played and sung.