After the 1962 season, minor league baseball changed to classifications closer to what is in existence today, spurred in part by the demise of the Southern Association after the 1961 season (along with the general drop in minor leagues over the preceding decade). The three leagues in Triple A remained unchanged (and the Mexican League advanced to AAA level in 1967). The Eastern League moved up to AA in 1963, and a new Southern League formed for the 1964 season. These two leagues, along with the Texas League, still comprise the AA level today. The remaining leagues were all classified as A level, with the exception of a few leagues, which became known as Rookie Leagues. Short-season A classification (also know as low A, or A-) started in 1966, while Advanced A (also known as High A or A+) was established as a classification in 1990. Foreign Rookie Leagues were started in the Dominican Republic in 1985 and Venezuela in 1997. These are the classifications in use today.
Cardinals Farm Clubs from 1963 - present
Higher level minor league clubs for the Cardinals through 1962
| Team | League | Level | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | International League | AAA | 1962 - 1963 |
| Portland | Pacific Coast League | AAA | 1961 |
| Charleston/San Juan | International League | AAA | 1961 |
| Rochester | International League | AAA AA | 1946 - 1960 1928 - 1945 |
| Syracuse | International League | AA | 1921 - 1927 |
| Omaha | American Association | AAA | 1955 - 1959 |
| Columbus | American Association | AAA AA | 1946 - 1954 1931 - 1945 |
| Sacramento | Pacific Coast League | AA | 1936 - 1944 |
| Tulsa | Texas League | AA | 1959 - 1965 |
| Houston | Texas League | AA A1 A | 1946 - 1958 1936 - 1945 1919 - 1935 |
| Memphis | Southern Association | AA | 1960 |
| New Orleans | Southern Association | A1 | 1940 - 1942 |