The American Association was founded in 1902 as an independent league, then was established as a Class A minor league with the formation of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (MiLB).
The league became Class AAA in 1946; went inactive from 1962 – 1969; and then was one of three Triple-A leagues until its teams were folded into the Pacific Coast League and International League in 1998.
The “American Association” name was dusted off for an independent league by noted minor league executive Miles Wolff in 2006. You can see those baseballs here.
George Trautman 1936 – 1945
Frank C. Lane 1947-1948
Bruce Dudley 1949-1953
Edward S. Doherty 1953-1960
James Burris 1961-1962
The league was inactive from 1963 through 1968.