USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award was created in 1988.
Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award was created in 1981.
Tim Salmon OF California Angels Edmonton Trappers
Rick Ankiel P Arkansas Travelers, Memphis Redbirds
Minor Hockey League was created in 2009.
Minor league baseball was created in 1901.
Jon Rauch P Winston-Salem Warthogs, Birmingham Barons
Josh Beckett P Brevard County Manatees, Portland Sea Dogs
Columbus Buckeyes - minor league - was created in 1877.
Sandy Alomar Jr. C San Diego Padres Las Vegas Stars
Baseball America - Alex Gordon 3B Kansas City Royals Wichita Wranglers
One that always interested me was that, as a minor-league player in 1951, he didn't think he was "ready" to play major league baseball -- even though he was hitting .477 for his minor league team! Obviously, he WAS ready to do so -- winning the Rookie of the Year Award that year.
Louisville Colonels - minor league baseball - was created in 1901.