# Pacific League

The Pacific League (パシフィック・リーグ, Pashifikku Rīgu), or Pa League (パ・リーグ, Pa Rīgu), or the Persol Pacific League (パーソルパシフィック・リーグ, Pāsoruhōrudingusu Pa rīgu), due to sponsorship reasons, is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around Japan.

## History

The circuit was founded as the Taiheiyo Baseball Union (太平洋野球連盟, Taiheiyo Yakyu Renmei) in 1949 (the name changing to its current form in 1980). Daiei Stars owner Masaichi Nagata was the first president of the Pacific League.
The league began with seven teams: four holdovers from the previous iteration, the Japanese Baseball League—the Hankyu Braves, the Nankai Hawks, the Daiei Stars, and the Tokyu Flyers—and three new teams—the Kintetsu Pearls, the Mainichi Orions, and the Nishitetsu Clippers.
In 1954, an eighth Pacific League team was founded, the Takahashi Unions, to increase the number of teams to eight. Although the team was stocked with players from the other Pacific League teams, the Unions struggled from the outset and finished in the second division every season. In 1957, the Unions were merged with the Daiei Stars to form the Daiei Unions (and again bringing the number of Pacific League teams down to seven). In their first season, the Unions finished in last place, 43+1⁄2 games out of first. In 1958, the Unions merged with the Mainichi Orions to form the Daimai Orions. This enabled the Pacific League to shrink from the ungainly seven-team arrangement to six teams.
Fujio Nakazawa, a former player and television commentator, became the PL's first full-time president in 1959, serving through 1965.
From 1973 to 1982, the Pacific League employed a split season, with the first-half winner playing against the second-half winner in a mini-playoff to determine its champion.
Beginning in 1975, the Pacific League began using the designated hitter (DH), as in the American League in Major League Baseball. During interleague play (adopted in 2005), the DH is used in Pacific League teams' home games.
After the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball season and, the Orix BlueWave and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes merged to form the Orix Buffaloes. A franchise was granted to internet shopping company Rakuten and the city of Sendai, forming 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 second- and third-best records play in the three-game first stage, with the winner advancing to a best-of-six final against the top team (the Pacific League pennant winner is granted a 1 game advantage in the Final Stage). 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 the "Climax Series" in both leagues. Player statistics and drafting order based on team records are not affected by these postseason games.

## Current teams

| 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 Plays between Osaka and Hyogo | 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 pennant winners

| 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 |
| 2024 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 91 | 49 | 3 | Lost 2024 Japan Series 2–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars |
*From 2004 to 2006 the winner of the play-offs was considered Pacific League Champion, afterwards the regular season champion again.

## Pacific League statistics

| Team | First | Second | Third |
| 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 |

## Most Valuable Pitcher

    See: Best Nine Award#Other notes