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Central League
Nippon Professional Baseball league
Nippon Professional Baseball league
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| title | Central League |
| セントラル・リーグ | |
| logo | NPB Central League Flag.png |
| caption | Central League Flag |
| pixels | 150px |
| sport | Baseball |
| league | Nippon Professional Baseball |
| founded | |
| teams | 6 |
| champion | Hanshin Tigers (7) |
| most successful club | Yomiuri Giants (39) |
| color | green |
| country | Japan |
セントラル・リーグ The Central League or Ce League, also known as the JERA Central League 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.
History
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.
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.
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
| Team | Japanese name | Founded | 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 | Hanshin Koshien Stadium | 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
| Year | Team | W | L | T | Postseason Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shochiku Robins | 98 | 35 | 4 | Lost [1950 Japan Series](1950-japan-series) 2–4 to the Mainichi Orions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 79 | 29 | 6 | Won [1951 Japan Series](1951-japan-series) 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 83 | 37 | 0 | Won [1952 Japan Series](1952-japan-series) 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 87 | 37 | 1 | Won [1953 Japan Series](1953-japan-series) 4–2–1 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 86 | 40 | 4 | Won [1954 Japan Series](1954-japan-series) 4–3 over the Nishitetsu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 92 | 37 | 1 | Won [1955 Japan Series](1955-japan-series) 4–3 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 82 | 44 | 4 | Lost [1956 Japan Series](1956-japan-series) 2–4 to the Nishitetsu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 74 | 53 | 3 | Lost [1957 Japan Series](1957-japan-series) 0–4–1 to the Nishitetsu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 77 | 52 | 1 | Lost [1958 Japan Series](1958-japan-series) 3–4 to the Nishitetsu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 77 | 48 | 5 | Lost [1959 Japan Series](1959-japan-series) 0–4 to the Nankai Hawks | |
| Taiyō Whales | 70 | 56 | 4 | Won [1960 Japan Series](1960-japan-series) 4–0 over the Daimai Orions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 71 | 53 | 6 | Won [1961 Japan Series](1961-japan-series) 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 75 | 55 | 3 | Lost [1962 Japan Series](1962-japan-series) 2–4–1 to the Toei Flyers | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 83 | 55 | 2 | Won [1963 Japan Series](1963-japan-series) 4–3 over the Nishitetsu Lions | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 80 | 56 | 4 | Lost [1964 Japan Series](1964-japan-series) 3–4 to the Nankai Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 91 | 47 | 2 | Won [1965 Japan Series](1965-japan-series) 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 89 | 41 | 4 | Won [1966 Japan Series](1966-japan-series) 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 84 | 46 | 4 | Won [1967 Japan Series](1967-japan-series) 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 77 | 53 | 4 | Won [1968 Japan Series](1968-japan-series) 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 73 | 51 | 6 | Won [1969 Japan Series](1969-japan-series) 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 79 | 47 | 4 | Won [1970 Japan Series](1970-japan-series) 4–1 over the Lotte Orions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 70 | 52 | 8 | Won [1971 Japan Series](1971-japan-series) 4–1 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 74 | 52 | 4 | Won [1972 Japan Series](1972-japan-series) 4–1 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 66 | 60 | 4 | Won [1973 Japan Series](1973-japan-series) 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 70 | 49 | 11 | Lost [1974 Japan Series](1974-japan-series) 2–4 to the Lotte Orions | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 72 | 47 | 11 | Lost [1975 Japan Series](1975-japan-series) 0–4–2 to the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 76 | 45 | 9 | Lost [1976 Japan Series](1976-japan-series) 3–4 to the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 80 | 46 | 4 | Lost [1977 Japan Series](1977-japan-series) 1–4 to the Hankyu Braves | |
| Yakult Swallows | 68 | 46 | 16 | Won [1978 Japan Series](1978-japan-series) 4–3 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 67 | 50 | 13 | Won [1979 Japan Series](1979-japan-series) 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 73 | 44 | 13 | Won [1980 Japan Series](1980-japan-series) 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 73 | 48 | 9 | Won [1981 Japan Series](1981-japan-series) 4–2 over the Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 64 | 47 | 19 | Lost [1982 Japan Series](1982-japan-series) 2–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 72 | 50 | 8 | Lost [1983 Japan Series](1983-japan-series) 3–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 75 | 45 | 10 | Won [1984 Japan Series](1984-japan-series) 4–3 over the Hankyu Braves | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 74 | 49 | 7 | Won [1985 Japan Series](1985-japan-series) 4–2 over the Seibu Lions | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 73 | 46 | 11 | Lost [1986 Japan Series](1986-japan-series) 3–4–1 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 76 | 43 | 11 | Lost [1987 Japan Series](1987-japan-series) 2–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 79 | 46 | 5 | Lost [1988 Japan Series](1988-japan-series) 1–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 84 | 44 | 2 | Won [1989 Japan Series](1989-japan-series) 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 88 | 42 | 0 | Lost [1990 Japan Series](1990-japan-series) 0–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 74 | 56 | 2 | Lost [1991 Japan Series](1991-japan-series) 3–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Yakult Swallows | 69 | 61 | 1 | Lost [1992 Japan Series](1992-japan-series) 3–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Yakult Swallows | 80 | 50 | 2 | Won [1993 Japan Series](1993-japan-series) 4–3 over the Seibu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 70 | 60 | 0 | Won [1994 Japan Series](1994-japan-series) 4–2 over the Seibu Lions | |
| Yakult Swallows | 82 | 48 | 0 | Won [1995 Japan Series](1995-japan-series) 4–1 over the Orix BlueWave | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 77 | 53 | 0 | Lost [1996 Japan Series](1996-japan-series) 1–4 to the Orix BlueWave | |
| Yakult Swallows | 83 | 52 | 2 | Won [1997 Japan Series](1997-japan-series) 4–1 over the Seibu Lions | |
| Yokohama BayStars | 79 | 56 | 1 | Won [1998 Japan Series](1998-japan-series) 4–2 over the Seibu Lions | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 81 | 54 | 0 | Lost [1999 Japan Series](1999-japan-series) 1–4 to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 78 | 57 | 0 | Won [2000 Japan Series](2000-japan-series) 4–2 over the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Yakult Swallows | 76 | 58 | 6 | Won [2001 Japan Series](2001-japan-series) 4–1 over the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 86 | 52 | 2 | Won [2002 Japan Series](2002-japan-series) 4–0 over the Seibu Lions | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 87 | 51 | 2 | Lost [2003 Japan Series](2003-japan-series) 3–4 to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 79 | 56 | 3 | Lost [2004 Japan Series](2004-japan-series) 3–4 to the Seibu Lions | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 87 | 54 | 5 | Lost [2005 Japan Series](2005-japan-series) 0–4 to the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 87 | 54 | 5 | Lost [2006 Japan Series](2006-japan-series) 1–4 to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 80 | 63 | 1 | Lost [2007 Central League Climax Series](2007-central-league-climax-series) 0–3 to the Chunichi Dragons | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 84 | 57 | 3 | Lost [2008 Japan Series](2008-japan-series) 3–4 to the Saitama Seibu Lions | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 89 | 46 | 9 | Won [2009 Japan Series](2009-japan-series) 4–2 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 79 | 62 | 3 | Lost [2010 Japan Series](2010-japan-series) 2–4-1 to the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| Chunichi Dragons | 75 | 59 | 10 | Lost [2011 Japan Series](2011-japan-series) 3–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 86 | 43 | 15 | Won [2012 Japan Series](2012-japan-series) 4–2 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 84 | 53 | 7 | Lost [2013 Japan Series](2013-japan-series) 3–4 to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 82 | 61 | 1 | Lost [2014 Central League Climax Series](2014-central-league-climax-series) 1–4 to the Hanshin Tigers | |
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 76 | 65 | 2 | Lost [2015 Japan Series](2015-japan-series) 1–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 89 | 52 | 2 | Lost [2016 Japan Series](2016-japan-series) 2–4 to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 88 | 51 | 4 | Lost [2017 Central League Climax Series](2017-central-league-climax-series) 2–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |
| Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 82 | 59 | 2 | Lost [2018 Japan Series](2018-japan-series) 1–4-1 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 77 | 64 | 2 | Lost [2019 Japan Series](2019-japan-series) 0–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 67 | 45 | 8 | Lost [2020 Japan Series](2020-japan-series) 0–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | |
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 73 | 52 | 18 | Won [2021 Japan Series](2021-japan-series) 4–2 over the Orix Buffaloes | |
| Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 80 | 59 | 4 | Lost [2022 Japan Series](2022-japan-series) 2–4–1 to the Orix Buffaloes | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 85 | 53 | 5 | Won [2023 Japan Series](2023-japan-series) 4–3 over the Orix Buffaloes | |
| Yomiuri Giants | 77 | 59 | 7 | Lost [2024 Central League Climax Series](2024-central-league-climax-series) 3–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |
| Hanshin Tigers | 85 | 54 | 4 | Lost [2025 Japan Series](2025-japan-series) 4-1 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
Climax Series winners
- 2025 Hanshin Tigers
- 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
| 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 | 7 |
| Hanshin Tigers | 7 | 19 | 16 |
| Yokohama DeNA BayStars | 2 | 7 | 12 |
| Shochiku Robins | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nishi Nippon Pirates | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Valuable Pitcher
:See: Best Nine Award#Other notes
Best Nine Awards
Main article: Best Nine Award
References
References
- Coskrey, Jason. (5 August 2025). "Central League votes to adopt designated hitter rule from 2027".
- [http://english.baseball-museum.or.jp/baseball_hallo/detail/detail_072.html "SUZUKI, Ryuji,"] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-07-27 The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (Japan). Accessed March 27, 2015.)
- 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.
- "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".
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