Central League

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This article is about the Japanese baseball league. For other uses, see Central League (disambiguation).
Central League
セントラル・リーグ
Central League Flag
LeagueNippon Professional Baseball
SportBaseball
FoundedDecember 15, 1949; 75 years ago (1949-12-15)
No. of teams6
CountryJapan
Most recent
champion		Hanshin Tigers (7)
Most titlesYomiuri Giants (39)

The Central League (セントラル・リーグ, Sentoraru Rīgu) or Ce League (セ・リーグ, Se Rīgu), also known as the JERA Central League (JERAセ・リーグ, JERA Se Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country. Unlike the Pacific League, designated hitters are not used during Central League home games. The Central League has voted to adopt the designated hitter beginning in 2027.[1]

History

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The Central League was founded in 1949 with eight teams: four holdovers from the previous Japanese Baseball League — the Chunichi Dragons, the Hanshin Tigers, the Yomiuri Giants, and the Shochiku Robins (formerly the Taiyō Robins) — and four new teams — the Hiroshima Carp, the Kokutetsu Swallows, the Nishi Nippon Pirates, and the Taiyō Whales.

The Nishi Nippon Pirates existed for one season — they placed sixth in 1950, and the following season merged with the also Fukuoka-based Nishitetsu Clippers (a member of the Pacific League) to form the Nishitetsu Lions, who joined the Pacific League. This brought the number of Central League teams down to an ungainly arrangement of seven.

Ryuji Suzuki became president of the Central League in 1952.[2]

In 1952, it was decided that any team ending the season with a winning percentage below .300 would be disbanded or merged with other teams. The Shochiku Robins fell into this category, and were merged with the Taiyō Whales to become the Taiyō Shochiku Robins in January 1953. This enabled the Central League to shrink to an even number of six teams.

Ryuji Suzuki retired as CL president in 1984 after 33 years at the post.[2]

In 2007, a new Climax Series was introduced. This playoff series was inspired by the stepladder playoff used in the Pacific League introduced in 2004 for the top three teams of the league to determine which one progressed to the Japan Series. Under the previous system, there was no post-season playoff and the winner of the pennant automatically qualified for the Japan Series.

Current teams

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Team Japanese name Founded[3] Location Stadium Owner
Chunichi Dragons 中日ドラゴンズ
Chūnichi Doragonzu 		January 15, 1936 Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Vantelin Dome Nagoya Chunichi Shimbun
Hanshin Tigers 阪神タイガース
Hanshin Taigāsu 		December 10, 1935 HQ in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo

Plays between Osaka and Hyogo[4]

Hanshin Koshien Stadium

and Kyocera Dome Osaka

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings
Hiroshima Toyo Carp 広島東洋カープ
Hiroshima Tōyō Kāpu 		December 5, 1949 Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Mazda Stadium Matsuda family [66.7%]
Mazda [33.3%]
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 東京ヤクルトスワローズ
Tōkyō Yakuruto Suwarōzu 		January 12, 1950 Shinjuku, Tokyo Meiji Jingu Stadium Yakult Honsha
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 横浜DeNAベイスターズ
Yokohama DeNA Beisutāzu 		December 15, 1949 Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Yokohama Stadium DeNA
Yomiuri Giants 読売ジャイアンツ
Yomiuri Jaiantsu 		December 26, 1934 Bunkyo, Tokyo Tokyo Dome Yomiuri Shimbun

Central League pennant winners

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Year Team W L T Postseason Result
1950 Shochiku Robins 98 35 4 Lost 1950 Japan Series 2–4 to the Mainichi Orions
1951 Yomiuri Giants 79 29 6 Won 1951 Japan Series 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1952 Yomiuri Giants 83 37 0 Won 1952 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks
1953 Yomiuri Giants 87 37 1 Won 1953 Japan Series 4–2–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1954 Chunichi Dragons 86 40 4 Won 1954 Japan Series 4–3 over the Nishitetsu Lions
1955 Yomiuri Giants 92 37 1 Won 1955 Japan Series 4–3 over the Nankai Hawks
1956 Yomiuri Giants 82 44 4 Lost 1956 Japan Series 2–4 to the Nishitetsu Lions
1957 Yomiuri Giants 74 53 3 Lost 1957 Japan Series 0–4–1 to the Nishitetsu Lions
1958 Yomiuri Giants 77 52 1 Lost 1958 Japan Series 3–4 to the Nishitetsu Lions
1959 Yomiuri Giants 77 48 5 Lost 1959 Japan Series 0–4 to the Nankai Hawks
1960 Taiyō Whales 70 56 4 Won 1960 Japan Series 4–0 over the Daimai Orions
1961 Yomiuri Giants 71 53 6 Won 1961 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks
1962 Hanshin Tigers 75 55 3 Lost 1962 Japan Series 2–4–1 to the Toei Flyers
1963 Yomiuri Giants 83 55 2 Won 1963 Japan Series 4–3 over the Nishitetsu Lions
1964 Hanshin Tigers 80 56 4 Lost 1964 Japan Series 3–4 to the Nankai Hawks
1965 Yomiuri Giants 91 47 2 Won 1965 Japan Series 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1966 Yomiuri Giants 89 41 4 Won 1966 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks
1967 Yomiuri Giants 84 46 4 Won 1967 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves
1968 Yomiuri Giants 77 53 4 Won 1968 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves
1969 Yomiuri Giants 73 51 6 Won 1969 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves
1970 Yomiuri Giants 79 47 4 Won 1970 Japan Series 4–1 over the Lotte Orions
1971 Yomiuri Giants 70 52 8 Won 1971 Japan Series 4–1 over the Hankyu Braves
1972 Yomiuri Giants 74 52 4 Won 1972 Japan Series 4–1 over the Hankyu Braves
1973 Yomiuri Giants 66 60 4 Won 1973 Japan Series 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1974 Chunichi Dragons 70 49 11 Lost 1974 Japan Series 2–4 to the Lotte Orions
1975 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 72 47 11 Lost 1975 Japan Series 0–4–2 to the Hankyu Braves
1976 Yomiuri Giants 76 45 9 Lost 1976 Japan Series 3–4 to the Hankyu Braves
1977 Yomiuri Giants 80 46 4 Lost 1977 Japan Series 1–4 to the Hankyu Braves
1978 Yakult Swallows 68 46 16 Won 1978 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hankyu Braves
1979 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 67 50 13 Won 1979 Japan Series 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes
1980 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 73 44 13 Won 1980 Japan Series 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes
1981 Yomiuri Giants 73 48 9 Won 1981 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nippon-Ham Fighters
1982 Chunichi Dragons 64 47 19 Lost 1982 Japan Series 2–4 to the Seibu Lions
1983 Yomiuri Giants 72 50 8 Lost 1983 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
1984 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 75 45 10 Won 1984 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hankyu Braves
1985 Hanshin Tigers 74 49 7 Won 1985 Japan Series 4–2 over the Seibu Lions
1986 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 73 46 11 Lost 1986 Japan Series 3–4–1 to the Seibu Lions
1987 Yomiuri Giants 76 43 11 Lost 1987 Japan Series 2–4 to the Seibu Lions
1988 Chunichi Dragons 79 46 5 Lost 1988 Japan Series 1–4 to the Seibu Lions
1989 Yomiuri Giants 84 44 2 Won 1989 Japan Series 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes
1990 Yomiuri Giants 88 42 0 Lost 1990 Japan Series 0–4 to the Seibu Lions
1991 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 74 56 2 Lost 1991 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
1992 Yakult Swallows 69 61 1 Lost 1992 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
1993 Yakult Swallows 80 50 2 Won 1993 Japan Series 4–3 over the Seibu Lions
1994 Yomiuri Giants 70 60 0 Won 1994 Japan Series 4–2 over the Seibu Lions
1995 Yakult Swallows 82 48 0 Won 1995 Japan Series 4–1 over the Orix BlueWave
1996 Yomiuri Giants 77 53 0 Lost 1996 Japan Series 1–4 to the Orix BlueWave
1997 Yakult Swallows 83 52 2 Won 1997 Japan Series 4–1 over the Seibu Lions
1998 Yokohama BayStars 79 56 1 Won 1998 Japan Series 4–2 over the Seibu Lions
1999 Chunichi Dragons 81 54 0 Lost 1999 Japan Series 1–4 to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
2000 Yomiuri Giants 78 57 0 Won 2000 Japan Series 4–2 over the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
2001 Yakult Swallows 76 58 6 Won 2001 Japan Series 4–1 over the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
2002 Yomiuri Giants 86 52 2 Won 2002 Japan Series 4–0 over the Seibu Lions
2003 Hanshin Tigers 87 51 2 Lost 2003 Japan Series 3–4 to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
2004 Chunichi Dragons 79 56 3 Lost 2004 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
2005 Hanshin Tigers 87 54 5 Lost 2005 Japan Series 0–4 to the Chiba Lotte Marines
2006 Chunichi Dragons 87 54 5 Lost 2006 Japan Series 1–4 to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2007 Yomiuri Giants 80 63 1 Lost 2007 Central League Climax Series 0–3 to the Chunichi Dragons
2008 Yomiuri Giants 84 57 3 Lost 2008 Japan Series 3–4 to the Saitama Seibu Lions
2009 Yomiuri Giants 89 46 9 Won 2009 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2010 Chunichi Dragons 79 62 3 Lost 2010 Japan Series 2–4-1 to the Chiba Lotte Marines
2011 Chunichi Dragons 75 59 10 Lost 2011 Japan Series 3–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2012 Yomiuri Giants 86 43 15 Won 2012 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2013 Yomiuri Giants 84 53 7 Lost 2013 Japan Series 3–4 to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
2014 Yomiuri Giants 82 61 1 Lost 2014 Central League Climax Series 1–4 to the Hanshin Tigers
2015 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 76 65 2 Lost 2015 Japan Series 1–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2016 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 89 52 2 Lost 2016 Japan Series 2–4 to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2017 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 88 51 4 Lost 2017 Central League Climax Series 2–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2018 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 82 59 2 Lost 2018 Japan Series 1–4-1 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2019 Yomiuri Giants 77 64 2 Lost 2019 Japan Series 0–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2020 Yomiuri Giants 67 45 8 Lost 2020 Japan Series 0–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2021 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 73 52 18 Won 2021 Japan Series 4–2 over the Orix Buffaloes
2022 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 80 59 4 Lost 2022 Japan Series 2–4–1 to the Orix Buffaloes
2023 Hanshin Tigers 85 53 5 Won 2023 Japan Series 4–3 over the Orix Buffaloes
2024 Yomiuri Giants 77 59 7 Lost 2024 Central League Climax Series 3–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2025 Hanshin Tigers TBD

Climax Series winners

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  • 2024 Yokohama DeNA BayStars
  • 2023 Hanshin Tigers
  • 2022 Tokyo Yakult Swallows
  • 2021 Tokyo Yakult Swallows
  • 2020 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2019 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2018 Hiroshima Toyo Carp
  • 2017 Yokohama DeNA BayStars
  • 2016 Hiroshima Toyo Carp
  • 2015 Tokyo Yakult Swallows
  • 2014 Hanshin Tigers
  • 2013 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2012 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2011 Chunichi Dragons
  • 2010 Chunichi Dragons
  • 2009 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2008 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2007 Chunichi Dragons

Central League statistics

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Team First Second Third
Yomiuri Giants 39 12 13
Chunichi Dragons 9 23 14
Hiroshima Toyo Carp 9 7 10
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 9 5 6
Hanshin Tigers 6 19 16
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2 6 12
Shochiku Robins 1 0 0
Nishi Nippon Pirates 0 0 0

Most Valuable Pitcher

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See: Best Nine Award#Other notes

Best Nine Awards

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Main article: Best Nine Award

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Coskrey, Jason (5 August 2025). "Central League votes to adopt designated hitter rule from 2027". Japan Times. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "SUZUKI, Ryuji," Archived 2020-07-27 at the Wayback Machine The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (Japan). Accessed March 27, 2015.
  3. ^ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "球団別インデックス | NPB.jp 日本野球機構". Npb.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  4. ^ "公式戦 京セラドーム大阪｜チケット｜阪神タイガース公式サイト" [Regular Season in Osaka Dome｜Tickets｜Hanshin Tigers Official Site]. hanshintigers.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-10.
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