Akron has been one of the dominant teams in the Eastern League this decade with three league titles in the past 10 years. But the 2009 Aeros stood out even among the champions. Akron rolled to a 95-54 record and easily won the Eastern League title on their way to winning the Baseball America Minor League Team of the Year award.
• Charlie Montoyo has made managing look easy. His Durham Bulls club has finished first in its division each of the past three years and won the International League and Triple-A titles this year. But all of that success has paled in comparison to what Montoyo had dealt with off the field. His son Alex was born with a heart condition that has required constant treatment. Throughout it all, Montoyo has balanced his on and off-field responsibilities, which earned him the 2009 Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year award.