Pacific League
The Pacific League 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.
[edit] Current teams
- Chiba Lotte Marines (Chiba)
- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Fukuoka)
- Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (Sapporo)
- Orix Buffaloes (Osaka and Kobe)
- Seibu Lions (Tokorozawa)
- Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Sendai)
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.
The second- and third-place finishers in the Pacific League square off in the Pacific League Playoffs for a place in the Pacific League Championship Series. (The winner of the Pacific League qualifies automatically for the Pacific League Championship Series. The Pacific League champion - the top-finishing team vs. the winner of the Pacific League Championship Series - face off with the Central League champion at the end of the season, in the Japan Series in October.
[edit] PL Pennant winners
- 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
