Logo of the Central League
The Central League (セントラル・リーグ Sentoraru Rīgu?) or Ce League (セリーグ Se Rīgu?) is one of Japan's two major professional baseball leagues, the winner of which plays the Japan Series against the winner of the other league, the Pacific League.
The Central League was founded in 1949 with eight teams. Designated hitters are not used during Central League home games.
In 2007 a new Climax Series was introduced. This is a play off series inspired by the stepladder playoff used in Pacific League for the top three teams of the league to determine who progresses to the Japan Series. Under the previous system, there was no post-season playoff and the winner of the pennant automatically qualified for the Japan Series.
Current teams[]
| Team | Japanese Name | Place | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chunichi Dragons | 中日ドラゴンズ Chūnichi Doragonzu |
Nagoya | Chunichi Shimbun |
| Hanshin Tigers | 阪神タイガース Hanshin Taigāsu |
Nishinomiya, Hyōgo | Hanshin Electric Railway |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 広島東洋カープ Hiroshima Tōyō Kāpu |
Hiroshima | Matsuda family (founding family of Mazda) |
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows | ヤクルトスワローズ Tōkyō Yakuruto Suwarōzu |
Tokyo | Yakult |
| Yokohama BayStars | 横浜ベイスターズ Yokohama Beisutāzu |
Yokohama | TBS |
| Yomiuri Giants | 読売ジャイアンツ Yomiuri Jaiantsu |
Tokyo | Yomiuri Shimbun |
Central League pennant winners[]
|
|
Central League Climax Series winners[]
- 2009 Yomiuri Giants
- 2008 Yomiuri Giants
- 2007 Chunichi Dragons
Central League statistics[]
| Team | Pennants | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Yomiuri Giants | 30 | 10 |
| Chunichi Dragons | 7 | 21 |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 6 | 6 |
| Yakult Swallows | 6 | 3 |
| Hanshin Tigers | 5 | 14 |
| Yokohama BayStars | 2 | 4 |
| Shochiku Robins | 1 | 0 |
Most Valuable Pitcher[]
- See: Best Nine Award#Other notes
Best Nine Awards[]
- Main article: Best Nine Award
See also[]
External links[]
- Template:Ja icon Official website
- Japanese Baseball Data Archive at The Baseball Guru
- List of players at Japanese Baseball
Template:Japanese Professional Baseball
| Professional Baseball | |
| Americas | |
| Major League Baseball | American League • National League |
| Minor League Baseball | *Triple A : International League • Mexican League • Pacific Coast League
|
| Mexican League Affilates | *Double A : Nothern Mexico League
|
| Winter | *Affilliated: Arizona Fall League • Dominican Winter Baseball League • Mexican Pacific League • Parallel Leaguee • Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
|
| Defunct | *Major :National Association • American Association • Union Association • Player's League •
Federal League • Negro League baseball • All-American Girls Professional Baseball League • Continental League • Cuban League • National Association of Base Ball Players
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| Asia | |
| Japan | Nippon Professional Baseball : Central League • Pacific League
|
| South Korea | Korea Professional Baseball
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| Taiwan | Chinese Professional Baseball League |
| China | China Baseball League |
| Defunct | Japanese Baseball League • Taiwan Major League • Israel Baseball League |
| Europe | |
| Italy | Italian Baseball League |
| Netherlands | Honkbal Hoofdklasse |
| Oceania | |
| Australia | Australian Baseball |
| Defunct | Australian Baseball (1989-1999) • International Baseball League of Australia • Hawaii Winter Baseball |