DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Triple-A Iowa agreed Tuesday to a two-year player development contract extension that will guarantee the partnership between the two teams will continue through the 2018 season. In announcing the deal, the teams noted it would ensure the affiliation between the teams would stretch to at least 38 years.

The affiliation began in 1981, and the next year Iowa changed its nickname to the Cubs. It’s the eighth-longest current affiliate relationship between a major league team and the 160 minor league clubs.

The Iowa Cubs play in Principal Park in downtown Des Moines.