List of Buffalo Bisons seasons
The Buffalo Bisons are a Minor League Baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. Established in 1979, they initially competed in the Double-A Eastern League (EL), staying in this league until 1984. The Bisons moved up to Triple-A in 1985 as members of the American Association (AA) before joining the International League (IL) in 1998. They were placed in the Triple-A East (AAAE) in 2021, but this became the International League in 2022.
Since their establishment in 1979, the Bisons have played 6,548 regular season games compiling a win–loss record of 3,355–3,193 (.512). Their best season came in 2001, when they finished 91–51 (.641), while their lowest mark was 55–89 (.382) in the 1994 season.
The franchise has won three league titles, winning the final American Association championship in 1997, in addition to winning the International League championship in 1998 and 2004. The Bisons have also claimed ten division titles, including three consecutive division championships from 1996 to 1998, and one wild card berth in 2002.
Seasons
Table key
| League | The team's final position in the league standings |
|---|---|
| Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings |
| GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season[n 1] |
| Apps. | Postseason appearances: number of seasons the team qualified for the postseason |
| ‡ | Class champions (1988–present) |
| † | League champions (1979–present) |
| * | Division champions (1979–2022) |
| ^ | Postseason berth (1979–present) |
Season-by-season records
| Season | League | Regular season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | Ref. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | ||||
| 1979 | EL | 72–67 | .518 | 4th | 4th | 11 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [1] | ||
| 1980 ^ |
EL | 67–70 | .489 | 5th | 2nd | 10 | 0–2 | .000 | Won First Half North Division title Lost in Semi-Finals vs. Holyoke Millers, 2–0 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | [2] |
| 1981 | EL | 56–81 | .409 | 7th | 4th | 28 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [3] | ||
| 1982 | EL | 55–84 | .396 | 8th | 4th | 27 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [4] | ||
| 1983 ^ |
EL | 74–65 | .532 | 3rd | 3rd | 21+1⁄2 | 0–2 | .000 | Lost in Semi-Finals vs. Lynn Sailors, 2–0 | Cleveland Indians | [5] |
| 1984 | EL | 72–67 | .518 | 5th | 5th | 9+1⁄2 | — | Cleveland Indians | [6] | ||
| 1985 | AA | 66–76 | .465 | 7th | 3rd | 8 | — | Chicago White Sox | [7] | ||
| 1986 | AA | 71–71 | .500 | 5th | 2nd | 9 | — | Chicago White Sox | [8] | ||
| 1987 | AA | 66–74 | .471 | 5th | 5th | 13 | — | Cleveland Indians | [9] | ||
| 1988 | AA | 72–70 | .507 | 6th | 3rd | 17 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [10] | ||
| 1989 | AA | 80–62 | .563 | 2nd | 2nd | 5 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [11] | ||
| 1990 |
AA | 85–62 | .578 | 3rd | 2nd | 1 | — | — | —[n 2] |
Pittsburgh Pirates | [13] |
| 1991 * |
AA | 81–62 | .566 | 1st | 1st | — | 2–3 | .400 | Won East Division title Lost AA Championship vs. Denver Zephyrs, 3–2 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | [14] |
| 1992 * |
AA | 87–57 | .604 | 1st | 1st | — | 0–4 | .000 | Won East Division title Lost AA Championship vs. Oklahoma City 89ers, 4–0 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | [15] |
| 1993 | AA | 71–73 | .493 | 4th | 2nd | 10+1⁄2 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [16] | ||
| 1994 | AA | 55–89 | .382 | 8th | 8th | 31+1⁄2 | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [17] | ||
| 1995 ^ |
AA | 82–62 | .569 | 2nd | 2nd | 6 | 6–3 | .667 | Won semifinals vs. Omaha Royals, 3–1 Lost AA Championship vs. Louisville Redbirds, 3–2 |
Cleveland Indians | [18] |
| 1996 * |
AA | 84–60 | .583 | 1st | 1st | — | 2–3 | .400 | Won East Division title Lost semifinals vs. Indianapolis Indians, 3–2 |
Cleveland Indians | [19] |
| 1997 ^ * † |
AA | 87–57 | .604 | 1st | 1st | — | 6–2 | .750 | Won East Division title Won semifinals vs. Indianapolis Indians, 3–2 Won AA Championship vs. Iowa Cubs, 3–0 |
Cleveland Indians | [20] |
| 1998 ^ * † |
IL | 81–62 | .566 | 1st | 1st | — | 7–5 | .583 | Won North Division title Won semifinals vs. Syracuse SkyChiefs, 3–0 Won Governors' Cup vs. Durham Bulls, 3–2 Lost Triple-A World Series vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, 3–1 |
Cleveland Indians | [21] |
| 1999 | IL | 72–72 | .500 | 9th | 4th | 6 | — | Cleveland Indians | [22] | ||
| 2000 * |
IL | 86–59 | .593 | 1st | 1st | — | 2–3 | .400 | Won North Division title Won one-game playoff vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, 7–1 Lost semifinals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, 3–1 |
Cleveland Indians | [23] |
| 2001 * |
IL | 91–51 | .641 | 1st | 1st | — | 2–3 | .400 | Won North Division title Lost semifinals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, 3–2 |
Cleveland Indians | [24] |
| 2002 ^ |
IL | 87–57 | .604 | 2nd | 2nd | 4 | 3–3 | .500 | Won semifinals vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, 3–0 Lost Governors' Cup vs. Durham Bulls, 3–0 |
Cleveland Indians | [25] |
| 2003 | IL | 73–70 | .510 | 7th (tie) | T-3rd | 9+1⁄2 | — | Cleveland Indians | [26] | ||
| 2004 ^ * † |
IL | 83–61 | .576 | 1st | 1st | — | 6–3 | .667 | Won North Division title Won semifinals vs. Durham Bulls, 3–2 Won Governors' Cup vs. Richmond Braves, 3–1 |
Cleveland Indians | [27] |
| 2005 * |
IL | 82–62 | .569 | 2nd | 1st | — | 2–3 | .400 | Won North Division title Lost semifinals vs. Indianapolis Indians, 3–2 |
Cleveland Indians | [28] |
| 2006 | IL | 73–68 | .518 | 7th | 3rd | 10+1⁄2 | — | Cleveland Indians | [29] | ||
| 2007 | IL | 75–67 | .528 | 6th | 3rd | 8+1⁄2 | — | Cleveland Indians | [30] | ||
| 2008 | IL | 66–77 | .462 | 10th | 5th | 21+1⁄2 | — | Cleveland Indians | [31] | ||
| 2009 | IL | 56–87 | .392 | 14th | 7th | 26 | — | New York Mets | [32] | ||
| 2010 | IL | 76–68 | .528 | 6th | 3rd | 11+1⁄2 | — | New York Mets | [33] | ||
| 2011 | IL | 61–82 | .427 | 12th | 5th | 20+1⁄2 | — | New York Mets | [34] | ||
| 2012 | IL | 67–76 | .469 | 9th | 6th | 16+1⁄2 | — | New York Mets | [35] | ||
| 2013 | IL | 74–70 | .514 | 6th | 3rd | 6+1⁄2 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [36] | ||
| 2014 | IL | 77–66 | .538 | 5th | 3rd | 4 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [37] | ||
| 2015 | IL | 68–76 | .472 | T-6th | 3rd | 13 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [38] | ||
| 2016 | IL | 66–78 | .458 | 9th | 5th | 25+1⁄2 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [39] | ||
| 2017 | IL | 65–76 | .461 | 11th | 5th | 21 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [40] | ||
| 2018 | IL | 61–77 | .442 | 14th | 6th | 22 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [41] | ||
| 2019 | IL | 71–69 | .507 | 7th | 3rd | 4+1⁄2 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [42] | ||
| 2020 | IL | Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Toronto Blue Jays | [43] | |||||||
| 2021 * |
AAAE | 71–46 | .607 | 2nd | 1st | — | 8–1 | .889 | Won series vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 4–1 Won series vs. Syracuse Mets, 4–0[n 3] Placed 2nd in the Triple-A Final Stretch[n 4] |
Toronto Blue Jays | [46] |
| 2022 | IL | 76–72 | .514 | 7th (tie) | 4th (tie) | 9 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [47] | ||
| 2023 | IL | 76–72 | .514 | 8th | 5th | 13+1⁄2 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [48] | ||
| 2024 | IL | 68–80 | .459 | 18th | 10th | 20+1⁄2 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [49] | ||
| 2025 | IL | 61–85 | .418 | 19th | 9th | 26 | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [50] | ||
| Totals | — | 3,355–3,193 | .512 | — | — | — | 45–41 | .523 | — | — | — |
Note: The statistics are current as of the 2025 International League season.
Split-season records
The Eastern League, in which the Bisons competed from 1979 to 1984, used a split-season format until 1982 wherein the division winners from each half qualified for the postseason championship playoffs. The International League, in which the Bisons have been competing in since 1998, have used a split-season format since 2023 in which the teams with the best league-wide records at the end of each half qualified for the playoffs.[51][52][53]
| Season | League | Half | Regular-season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | Ref. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | |||||
| 1979 | EL | 1st | 36–33 | .522 | 4th | — | 5+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [54] |
| 2nd | 36–34 | .514 | 4th | — | 5+1⁄2 | |||||||
| 1980 ^ |
EL | 1st | 39–29 | .574 | 4th | 1st | — | 0–2 | .000 | Won First Half North Division title Lost in Semi-Finals vs. Holyoke Millers, 2–0 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | [54] |
| 2nd | 28–41 | .406 | 6th | 3rd | 14+1⁄2 | |||||||
| 1981 | EL | 1st | 23–46 | .333 | 8th | 4th | 18+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [54] |
| 2nd | 33–35 | .485 | 4th | 2nd | 9+1⁄2 | |||||||
| 1982 | EL | 1st | 25–43 | .368 | 8th | 4th | 12+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Pittsburgh Pirates | [54] |
| 2nd | 30–41 | .423 | 6th | 4th | 18 | |||||||
| 2023 | IL | 1st | 34–41 | .453 | 14th | 8th | 14+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [55] |
| 2nd | 42–31 | .575 | 4th | 3rd | 5 | [56] | ||||||
| 2024 | IL | 1st | 37–37 | .500 | 9th | 4th | 12+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [57] |
| 2nd | 31–43 | .419 | 19th | 10th | 17 | [58] | ||||||
| 2025 | IL | 1st | 30–43 | .411 | 17th (tie) | 8th (tie) | 16 | — | — | — | Toronto Blue Jays | [59] |
| 2nd | 31–42 | .425 | 16th | 9th | 17 | [60] | ||||||
Franchise totals
| Classification | Regular season | Postseason | Composite | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | Apps. | Record | Win % | Record | Win % | |
| Double-A (1979–1984) | 396–434 | .477 | 2 | 0–4 | .000 | 396–438 | .475 |
| Triple-A (1985–2025) | 2,959–2,759 | .517 | 12 | 45–37 | .549 | 3,004–2,796 | .518 |
| All-time | 3,355–3,193 | .512 | 14 | 45–41 | .523 | 3,195–2,997 | .516 |
| League | Regular season | Postseason | Composite | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | Apps. | Record | Win % | Record | Win % | |
| Eastern League (1979–1984) | 396–434 | .477 | 2 | 0–4 | .000 | 396–438 | .475 |
| American Association (1985–1997) | 987–875 | .530 | 5 | 16–17 | .470 | 1,001–892 | .529 |
| Triple-A East / International League (1998–present) | 1,963–1,886 | .510 | 7 | 29–20 | .525 | 1,992–1,906 | .511 |
| All-time | 3,355–3,193 | .512 | 14 | 45–41 | .523 | 3,390–3,233 | .512 |
| Affiliation | Regular season | Postseason | Composite | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | Apps. | Record | Win % | Record | Win % | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates (1979–1982) | 250–302 | .453 | 1 | 0–2 | .000 | 250–304 | .451 |
| Cleveland Indians (1983–1984) | 146–132 | .525 | 1 | 0–2 | .000 | 146–134 | .521 |
| Chicago White Sox (1985–1986) | 137–147 | .482 | — | — | — | 137–147 | .482 |
| Cleveland Indians (1987) | 66–74 | .471 | — | — | — | 66–74 | .471 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates (1988–1994) | 531–475 | .527 | 2 | 2–7 | .222 | 533–482 | .525 |
| Cleveland Indians (1995–2008) | 1,123–882 | .560 | 9 | 35–29 | .547 | 1,158–911 | .560 |
| New York Mets (2009–2012) | 260–313 | .454 | – | — | — | 260–313 | .454 |
| Toronto Blue Jays (2013–present) | 834–867 | .490 | 1 | 8–1 | .889 | 842–868 | .492 |
| All-time | 3,355–3,193 | .512 | 14 | 45–41 | .523 | 3,400–3,234 | .513 |
Notes
- ↑ For split-season records in the International League, this number indicates the number of games behind the team that finished in first place in the league that season.
- ↑ Buffalo finished the 1990 season tied for first place with the Nashville Sounds, each with 85–61 records. On September 4, Nashville defeated Buffalo in a one-game tiebreaker, 4–3 in 18 innings, to win the Eastern Division title.[12]
- ↑ Game five of the series was cancelled due to inclement weather.[44]
- ↑ The Triple-A Final Stretch was a 10-game postseason tournament in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage over that stretch.[45]
References
- ↑ "1979 Eastern League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1980 Eastern League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1981 Eastern League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1982 Eastern League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1983 Eastern League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1984 Eastern League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1985 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1986 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1987 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1988 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1989 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ Taft, Larry (September 5, 1990). "Sounds Win It in 18th". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-A. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "1990 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1991 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1992 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1993 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1994 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1995 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1996 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1997 American Association". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1998 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "1999 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2000 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2001 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2002 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2003 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2004 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2005 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2006 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2007 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2008 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2009 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2010 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2011 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2012 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2013 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2014 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2015 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2016 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2017 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2018 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2019 International League". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ Adler, David (June 30, 2021). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Syracuse Mets' 2021 season finale cancelled because of rain". Minor League Baseball. October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ↑ "MiLB Announces 'Triple-A Final Stretch' for 2021". Minor League Baseball. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ↑ "2021 Triple-A East". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ↑ "2022 International League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ↑ "2023 International League". Baseball Reference. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "2024 International League". Baseball-Reference.com. Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 International League". Baseball-Reference.com. Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Playoffs return to International League, MLB announces postseason format change". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ↑ "MiLB Playoff procedures". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Triple-A playoffs to feature first- and second-half winners, 'true' champion between PCL, International League". CBSSports.com. March 28, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "2020 Eastern League Media Guide" (PDF). Eastern League. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
- ↑ "2023 First-Half Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ↑ "2023 Second-Half Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ↑ "2024 First-Half Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ↑ "2024 Second-Half Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ↑ "2025 First-Half Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ↑ "2025 Second-Half Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- General
- "American Association (AAA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
- "Eastern League (AA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
- "International League (AAA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
- "Triple-A East (AAA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 26, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
- Malacaro, Pat (March 2019). 2019 Buffalo Bisons Media Guide (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026 – via Minor League Baseball.
- Rosario, Bill (March 2020). 2020 Eastern League Media Guide (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.