Pacific League facts for kids
 |
|
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 26, 1949 as Taiheiyo Baseball Union in Tokyo |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Japan |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Orix Buffaloes (15th title) |
| Most titles | Saitama Seibu Lions (23) |
| Official website | NPB.jp/pl |
The Pacific League (also called the Pa League) is one of Japan's two main professional baseball leagues. It's part of Nippon Professional Baseball, which is Japan's top baseball organization. The team that wins the Pacific League championship plays against the winner of the Central League. They battle it out in the yearly Japan Series to decide the best team in Japan. Right now, six teams from all over Japan play in the Pacific League.
Contents
History of the Pacific League
The league started in 1949. Back then, it was called the Taiheiyo Baseball Union. The name changed to Pacific League in 1980. Masaichi Nagata, who owned the Daiei Stars team, was the first president of the league.
When it first began, the league had seven teams. Four teams came from an older league called the Japanese Baseball League. These were the Hankyu Braves, the Nankai Hawks, the Daiei Stars, and the Tokyu Flyers. Three brand new teams also joined: the Kintetsu Pearls, the Mainichi Orions, and the Nishitetsu Clippers.
In 1954, an eighth team, the Takahashi Unions, joined the Pacific League. This made the league even bigger. However, the Unions struggled a lot and always finished at the bottom. In 1957, they joined with the Daiei Stars to form the Daiei Unions. This brought the number of teams back to seven. The new team also finished last in its first year.
Then, in 1958, the Daiei Unions merged with the Mainichi Orions. They became the Daimai Orions. This merger helped the Pacific League become a six-team league, which was a better number.
Fujio Nakazawa, a former player, became the league's first full-time president in 1959. He served until 1965.
From 1973 to 1982, the Pacific League tried a "split season" format. This meant the season was divided into two halves. The winner of the first half played against the winner of the second half. This mini-playoff decided the league champion.
In 1975, the Pacific League started using the designated hitter (DH) rule. This rule allows a player to bat for the pitcher without playing a defensive position. It's like the rule used in the American League in Major League Baseball. When Pacific League teams play against Central League teams at home, they use the DH rule.
After the 2004 baseball season, two teams, the Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, merged. They formed a new team called the Orix Buffaloes. To fill the empty spot, a new team was created. This team was the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, based in Sendai.
Also in 2004, the Pacific League started a new playoff system. This system involved three teams. The teams with the second and third best records played each other first. The winner then played against the top team in the league. The winner of this final series became the Pacific League's representative in the Japan Series.
Because the Pacific League won every Japan Series after this system started, the Central League also adopted a similar system in 2007. These postseason games are now called the "Climax Series" in both leagues.
Current Teams
The Pacific League has six exciting teams. Here's a look at them:
| Insignia | Team | Japanese Name | Founded | Location | Stadium | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Chiba Lotte Marines | 千葉ロッテマリーンズ Chiba Rotte Marīnzu |
November 26, 1949 | Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba | ZOZO Marine Stadium | Lotte |
 |
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 福岡ソフトバンクホークス Fukuoka Sofutobanku Hōkusu |
February 22, 1938 | Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka | Fukuoka PayPay Dome | SoftBank |
 |
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 北海道日本ハムファイターズ Hokkaidō Nippon-Hamu Faitāzu |
November 6, 1945 | Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō | Es Con Field Hokkaido | Nippon Ham |
 |
Orix Buffaloes | オリックス・バファローズ Orikkusu Bafarōzu |
January 23, 1936 | Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka | Kyocera Dome Osaka | ORIX |
 |
Saitama Seibu Lions | 埼玉西武ライオンズ Saitama Seibu Raionzu |
November 26, 1949 | Tokorozawa, Saitama | Belluna Dome | Seibu Group |
 |
Tōhoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス Tōhoku Rakuten Gōruden Īgurusu |
November 2, 2004 | Miyagino-ku, Sendai, Miyagi | Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi | Rakuten |
Pacific League Champions Through the Years
Here's a list of the teams that have won the Pacific League championship each year. The "Postseason Result" shows how they did in the Japan Series or Climax Series.
| Year | Team | W | L | T | Postseason Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Mainichi Orions | 81 | 34 | 5 | Won 1950 Japan Series 4–2 over the Shochiku Robins |
| 1951 | Nankai Hawks | 72 | 24 | 8 | Lost 1951 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1952 | Nankai Hawks | 76 | 44 | 1 | Lost 1952 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1953 | Nankai Hawks | 71 | 48 | 1 | Lost 1953 Japan Series 2–4–1 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1954 | Nishitetsu Lions | 90 | 47 | 3 | Lost 1954 Japan Series 3–4 to the Chunichi Dragons |
| 1955 | Nankai Hawks | 99 | 41 | 3 | Lost 1955 Japan Series 3–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1956 | Nishitetsu Lions | 96 | 51 | 7 | Won 1956 Japan Series 4–2 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1957 | Nishitetsu Lions | 83 | 44 | 5 | Won 1957 Japan Series 4–0–1 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1958 | Nishitetsu Lions | 78 | 47 | 5 | Won 1958 Japan Series 4–3 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1959 | Nankai Hawks | 88 | 42 | 4 | Won 1959 Japan Series 4–0 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1960 | Daimai Orions | 82 | 48 | 3 | Lost 1960 Japan Series 0–4 to the Taiyō Whales |
| 1961 | Nankai Hawks | 85 | 49 | 6 | Lost 1961 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1962 | Toei Flyers | 78 | 52 | 3 | Won 1962 Japan Series 4–2–1 over the Hanshin Tigers |
| 1963 | Nishitetsu Lions | 86 | 60 | 4 | Lost 1963 Japan Series 3–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1964 | Nankai Hawks | 84 | 63 | 3 | Won 1964 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hanshin Tigers |
| 1965 | Nankai Hawks | 88 | 49 | 3 | Lost 1965 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1966 | Nankai Hawks | 79 | 51 | 3 | Lost 1966 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1967 | Hankyu Braves | 75 | 55 | 4 | Lost 1967 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1968 | Hankyu Braves | 80 | 50 | 4 | Lost 1968 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1969 | Hankyu Braves | 76 | 50 | 4 | Lost 1969 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1970 | Lotte Orions | 80 | 47 | 3 | Lost 1970 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1971 | Hankyu Braves | 80 | 39 | 11 | Lost 1971 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1972 | Hankyu Braves | 80 | 48 | 2 | Lost 1972 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1973 | Nankai Hawks | 68 | 58 | 4 | Lost 1973 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1974 | Lotte Orions | 69 | 50 | 11 | Won 1974 Japan Series 4–2 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 1975 | Hankyu Braves | 64 | 59 | 7 | Won 1975 Japan Series 4–0–2 over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 1976 | Hankyu Braves | 79 | 45 | 6 | Won 1976 Japan Series 4–3 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1977 | Hankyu Braves | 69 | 51 | 10 | Won 1977 Japan Series 4–1 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1978 | Hankyu Braves | 82 | 39 | 9 | Lost 1978 Japan Series 3–4 to the Yakult Swallows |
| 1979 | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 74 | 45 | 11 | Lost 1979 Japan Series 3–4 to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 1980 | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 68 | 54 | 8 | Lost 1980 Japan Series 3–4 to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 1981 | Nippon-Ham Fighters | 68 | 54 | 8 | Lost 1981 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1982 | Seibu Lions | 68 | 58 | 4 | Won 1982 Japan Series 4–2 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 1983 | Seibu Lions | 86 | 40 | 4 | Won 1983 Japan Series 4–3 the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1984 | Hankyu Braves | 75 | 45 | 10 | Lost 1984 Japan Series 3–4 to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 1985 | Seibu Lions | 79 | 45 | 6 | Lost 1985 Japan Series 2–4 to the Hanshin Tigers |
| 1986 | Seibu Lions | 68 | 49 | 13 | Won 1986 Japan Series 4–3–1 over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 1987 | Seibu Lions | 71 | 45 | 14 | Won 1987 Japan Series 4–2 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1988 | Seibu Lions | 73 | 51 | 6 | Won 1988 Japan Series 4–1 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 1989 | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 71 | 54 | 5 | Lost 1989 Japan Series 3–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1990 | Seibu Lions | 81 | 45 | 4 | Won 1990 Japan Series 4–0 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1991 | Seibu Lions | 81 | 43 | 6 | Won 1991 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 1992 | Seibu Lions | 80 | 47 | 3 | Won 1992 Japan Series 4–3 over the Yakult Swallows |
| 1993 | Seibu Lions | 74 | 53 | 3 | Lost 1993 Japan Series 3–4 to the Yakult Swallows |
| 1994 | Seibu Lions | 76 | 52 | 2 | Lost 1994 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1995 | Orix BlueWave | 82 | 47 | 1 | Lost 1995 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yakult Swallows |
| 1996 | Orix BlueWave | 74 | 50 | 6 | Won 1996 Japan Series 4–1 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 1997 | Seibu Lions | 76 | 56 | 3 | Lost 1997 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yakult Swallows |
| 1998 | Seibu Lions | 70 | 61 | 4 | Lost 1998 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yokohama BayStars |
| 1999 | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | 78 | 54 | 3 | Won 1999 Japan Series 4–1 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 2000 | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | 73 | 60 | 2 | Lost 2000 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2001 | Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | 78 | 60 | 2 | Lost 2001 Japan Series 1–4 to the Yakult Swallows |
| 2002 | Seibu Lions | 90 | 49 | 1 | Lost 2002 Japan Series 0–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2003 | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | 82 | 55 | 3 | Won 2003 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hanshin Tigers |
| 2004* | Seibu Lions | 74 | 58 | 1 | Won 2004 Japan Series 4–3 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 2005* | Chiba Lotte Marines | 84 | 49 | 3 | Won 2005 Japan Series 4–0 over the Hanshin Tigers |
| 2006* | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 82 | 54 | 0 | Won 2006 Japan Series 4–1 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 2007 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 79 | 60 | 5 | Lost 2007 Japan Series 1–4 to the Chunichi Dragons |
| 2008 | Saitama Seibu Lions | 76 | 64 | 4 | Won 2008 Japan Series 4–3 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2009 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 82 | 60 | 2 | Lost 2009 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2010 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 76 | 63 | 5 | Lost 2010 Pacific League Climax Series 3–4 to the Chiba Lotte Marines |
| 2011 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 88 | 46 | 10 | Won 2011 Japan Series 4–3 over the Chunichi Dragons |
| 2012 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 74 | 59 | 11 | Lost 2012 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2013 | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | 82 | 59 | 3 | Won 2013 Japan Series 4–3 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2014 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 78 | 60 | 6 | Won 2014 Japan Series 4–1 over the Hanshin Tigers |
| 2015 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 90 | 49 | 4 | Won 2015 Japan Series 4–1 over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows |
| 2016 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 87 | 53 | 3 | Won 2016 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| 2017 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 94 | 49 | 0 | Won 2017 Japan Series 4–2 over the Yokohama DeNA BayStars |
| 2018 | Saitama Seibu Lions | 88 | 53 | 2 | Lost 2018 Pacific League Climax Series 2–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| 2019 | Saitama Seibu Lions | 80 | 62 | 1 | Lost 2019 Pacific League Climax Series 1–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| 2020 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 73 | 42 | 5 | Won 2020 Japan Series 4–0 over the Yomiuri Giants |
| 2021 | Orix Buffaloes | 70 | 55 | 18 | Lost 2021 Japan Series 2–4 to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows |
| 2022 | Orix Buffaloes | 76 | 65 | 2 | Won 2022 Japan Series 4–2–1 over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows |
| 2023 | Orix Buffaloes | 86 | 53 | 4 | Lost 2023 Japan Series 3-4 to the Hanshin Tigers |
*From 2004 to 2006, the team that won the playoffs was called the Pacific League Champion. After that, the team with the best record in the regular season became the champion again.
Pacific League Team Statistics
This table shows how many times each team has finished in first, second, or third place in the Pacific League.
| Team | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saitama Seibu Lions | 23 | 12 | 15 |
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 19 | 17 | 7 |
| Orix Buffaloes | 15 | 15 | 8 |
| Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Chiba Lotte Marines | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | 4 | 9 | 8 |
| Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Daiei Unions | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Takahashi Unions | 0 | 0 | 0 |
See also
- Nippon Professional Baseball
- Best Nine Award
