The Pacific League (パシフィック・リーグ Pashifikku Rīgu?) or Pa League (パリーグ Pa Rīgu?) is one of Japan's two major professional baseball leagues, the other being the Central League.
It was founded as the Taiheiyo Baseball Union in 1949 with seven teams, the name changing to its current form in 1980. Designated hitters are used when one team in the Pacific League hosts a game.
Current teams[]
| Logo | Team | Japanese Name | City | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chiba Lotte Marines | 千葉ロッテマリーンズ Chiba Rotte Marīnzu |
Chiba | Lotte |
|
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 福岡ソフトバンクホークス Fukuoka Sofutobanku Hōkusu |
Fukuoka | SoftBank |
|
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters | 北海道日本ハムファイターズ Hokkaidō Nippon-Hamu Faitāzu |
Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido | Nippon Ham |
|
Orix Buffaloes | オリックス・バファローズ Orikkusu Bafarōzu |
Osaka | Orix Group |
|
Saitama Seibu Lions | 埼玉西武ライオンズ Saitama Seibu Raionzu |
Tokorozawa, Saitama | Seibu Railway |
|
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス Tōhoku Rakuten Gōruden Īgurusu |
Sendai, Miyagi | Rakuten |
After the 2004 season, the Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes merged to form the Orix Buffaloes. A franchise was granted to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to fill the void caused by the merger.
Also since 2004, a three-team Playoff system was introduced in the Pacific League (Pacific League Championship Series). The teams with the 2nd- and 3rd-best records play in the 3-game first stage, with the winner advancing to the 5-game final against the top team. The winner becomes the representative of the Pacific League to the Japan Series. Since the Pacific League won every Japan Series after introducing this system, an identical system was introduced to the Central League in 2007, and the post-season intra-league games were renamed "Climax Series" in both leagues. Player statistics and drafting order based on team records are not affected by these postseason games.
PL Pennant winners[]
- 2008 Saitama Seibu Lions
- 2007 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
- 2006 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (after play-offs)
- 2005 Chiba Lotte Marines (after play-offs)
- 2004 Seibu Lions (after play-offs)
- 2003 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
- 2002 Seibu Lions
- 2001 Kintetsu Buffaloes
- 2000 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
- 1999 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
- 1998 Seibu Lions
- 1997 Seibu Lions
- 1996 Orix BlueWave
- 1995 Orix BlueWave
- 1994 Seibu Lions
- 1993 Seibu Lions
- 1992 Seibu Lions
- 1991 Seibu Lions
- 1990 Seibu Lions
- 1989 Kintetsu Buffaloes
- 1988 Seibu Lions
- 1987 Seibu Lions
- 1986 Seibu Lions
- 1985 Seibu Lions
- 1984 Hankyu Braves
- 1983 Seibu Lions
- 1982 Seibu Lions
- 1981 Nippon Ham Fighters
- 1980 Kintetsu Buffaloes
- 1979 Kintetsu Buffaloes
- 1978 Hankyu Braves
- 1977 Hankyu Braves
- 1976 Hankyu Braves
- 1975 Hankyu Braves
- 1974 Lotte Orions
- 1973 Nankai Hawks
- 1972 Hankyu Braves
- 1971 Hankyu Braves
- 1970 Lotte Orions
- 1969 Hankyu Braves
- 1968 Hankyu Braves
- 1967 Hankyu Braves
- 1966 Nankai Hawks
- 1965 Nankai Hawks
- 1964 Nankai Hawks
- 1963 Nishitetsu Lions
- 1962 Toei Flyers
- 1961 Nankai Hawks
- 1960 Daimai Orions
- 1959 Nankai Hawks
- 1958 Nishitetsu Lions
- 1957 Nishitetsu Lions
- 1956 Nishitetsu Lions
- 1955 Nankai Hawks
- 1954 Nishitetsu Lions
- 1953 Nankai Hawks
- 1952 Nankai Hawks
- 1951 Nankai Hawks
- 1950 Mainichi Orions
Climax Series Winners[]
- 2008 Saitama Seibu Lions
- 2007 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters