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) |
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (20th title) |
| Most titles | Saitama Seibu Lions (23) |
| Official website | NPB.jp/pl |
The Pacific League is one of the two main professional baseball leagues in Japan. It's sometimes called the Pa League. This league is 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 compete in a big event called the Japan Series. The Pacific League currently has six teams from different parts of Japan.
Contents
History of the Pacific League
The league started in 1949. It was first known as 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.
The Pacific League began with 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 new teams also joined: the Kintetsu Pearls, the Mainichi Orions, and the Nishitetsu Clippers.
In 1954, an eighth team joined the Pacific League. This team was the Takahashi Unions. Players from other Pacific League teams joined the Unions. However, the Unions struggled a lot. They always finished in the bottom part of the league.
In 1957, the Unions team merged with the Daiei Stars. They formed a new team called the Daiei Unions. This brought the number of teams back down to seven. In their first year, the Daiei Unions finished last. In 1958, the Unions merged again. This time, they joined with the Mainichi Orions to create 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 used a special system. The season was split 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 is also used in the American League in Major League Baseball. It means a player can bat for the pitcher without playing a defensive position. When Pacific League teams play against Central League teams at home, they use the DH rule.
After the 2004 baseball season, two teams merged. The Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes became one team, the Orix Buffaloes. To fill the empty spot, a new team was created. This team was the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. It was based in Sendai and owned by the internet company Rakuten.
Also in 2004, the Pacific League started a new playoff system. It was called the Pacific League Championship Series. The second and third-place teams played each other first. The winner then played against the first-place team. The first-place team had an advantage, starting with a 1-0 lead in the final series. The winner of this playoff became the Pacific League's representative in the Japan Series.
Since the Pacific League won every Japan Series after starting this system, the Central League adopted a similar system in 2007. These intra-league playoff games are now called the "Climax Series" in both leagues. These playoff games do not change player statistics or the order teams pick players in the draft.
Current Teams in the Pacific League
Here are the teams that play in the Pacific League today:
| 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 | Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka | SoftBank Group |
| 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 | HQ in Osaka | Kyocera Dome Osaka and Hotto Motto Field |
ORIX Group |
| 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 Over the Years
This table shows the teams that won the Pacific League championship each year and how they did in the Japan Series.
| Year | Team | Wins | Losses | Ties | 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 |
| 2024 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 91 | 49 | 3 | Lost 2024 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars |
*From 2004 to 2006, the team that won the playoffs was called the Pacific League Champion. After 2006, the team with the best record in the regular season became the champion again.
Pacific League Team Achievements
This table shows how many times each team has finished in first, second, or third place in the Pacific League.
| Team | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saitama Seibu Lions | 23 | 12 | 15 |
| Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 20 | 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 |
Awards for Players
Most Valuable Pitcher
- See: Best Nine Award#Other notes
Best Nine Awards
See also
- Nippon Professional Baseball
