The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be either a single game, a series of games, or a tournament, and may use a single-elimination system or one of several other different playoff formats. Playoff, in regard to international fixtures, is to qualify or progress to the next round of a competition or tournament.
The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created for the 1969 season when the National League (NL) expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a regular-season of 162 games, half of the teams were put into the new East Division and half into the new West Division. Within each division, the teams played 18 games each against their five division mates, and also 12 games against the teams in the opposite division, totaling 162 games. Prior to 1969, the National League had informal, internal divisions strictly for scheduling purposes.
There are a number of formats used in various levels of competition in sports and games to determine an overall champion. Some of the most common are the single elimination, the best-of- series, the total points series more commonly known as on aggregate, and the round-robin tournament.
United League Baseball was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas. The league operated from 2006 to 2009. The league then temporarily merged with the Northern League and the Golden Baseball League to form the North American League from 2011–2012. However, after the North American League folded at the end of the 2012 season, ULB was reformed. It dissolved for a second time in January 2015.
A one-game playoff, sometimes known as a pennant playoff, tiebreaker game or knockout game, is a tiebreaker in certain sports—usually but not always professional—to determine which of two teams, tied in the final standings, will qualify for a post-season tournament. Such a playoff is either a single game or a short series of games.
The 2011 North American League season was the inaugural season of the North American League, after three previous independent baseball leagues in the Golden Baseball League, United Baseball League and the Northern League merged to form the NAL. The NAL was set for 12 teams in 2011, however only played with 10. The Henderson Roadrunners never played as Norse Field wasn’t ready in time for the 2011 season.
The San Rafael Pacifics are an American professional baseball team based in San Rafael, California, United States. They compete in the Pacific Division of the Pecos League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major or Minor League Baseball. They were previous members of the North American League and charter members of the Pacific Association. The Pacifics have played their homes games at Albert Park since 2012. The Pacifics were the winningest franchise of the Pacific Association, capturing four championships in seven seasons.
The Hawaii Stars were an independent professional baseball team based out of Hilo, Hawaii. They were charter members of the Pacific Association. They played their home games at Wong Stadium in Hilo. In 2012, they were also members of the North American League. The Stars were managed by Garry Templeton Jr. son of former Major League All-Star Garry Templeton.
The North American League was an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season. The league consisted of a merger of three independent leagues, the Northern League of Illinois, United League Baseball of Texas, and the Golden Baseball League based in the Western United States and Western Canada and was a last-ditch effort to save the teams in said league. The league's chairman of the board was Dave Kaval, former CEO of Diamond Sports and Entertainment, league president was Brian MacInnes and main board member was James C. Peters.
The 2021–22 AHL season was the 86th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 15, 2021, and ended on April 30, 2022. The regular season was followed by the Calder Cup playoffs, which had not been held since 2019 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The playoffs began on May 2, 2022, and ended on June 25, 2022, with the Chicago Wolves winning their third Calder Cup.
The 2022 Frontier League season was the 29th season of operation of the Frontier League (FL). The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the Empire State Greys. The league had an May-to-September regular season scheduling and a full 96-game regular season. The season began on May 12.
The 2022 Pecos League season was the 12th season of professional baseball in the Pecos League, an independent baseball league which operates in cities in desert mountain regions throughout California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas and Texas, since its creation in August 2010. There are 16 Pecos League teams, split evenly between Mountain and Pacific divisions.
The 2019 Pacific Association season was the seventh season of the Pacific Association. There was a five team 64 game schedule. The Salina Stockade were added as a travel team to be the sixth team, but the Pittsburg Diamonds announced they would be going on a hiatus in April just weeks after the Stockade were announced. The Martinez Clippers also folded after the 2018 season.
The 2018 Pacific Association season was the sixth season of the Pacific Association. There was a six team 80 game schedule. Most series included a two-game series with each team having 40 home games. The Napa Silverados and Martinez Clippers were both added as new franchises.
The 2017 Pacific Association season was the fifth season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 78 game schedule. Most series included a three-game series with each team having 39 home games.
The 2016 Pacific Association season was the fourth season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 78 game schedule. Most series included a three-game series with each team having 39 home games.
The 2015 Pacific Association season was the third season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 77 game schedule. Most series included a three-game series with each team having 39 home games. The Pittsburg Mettle became the Pittsburg Diamonds for the 2015 season.
The 2014 Pacific Association season was the second season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 78 game schedule. The Pittsburg Mettle and Sonoma Stompers were both introduced to the league. Sonoma did not host a home game until July 1 due to field renovations.
The 2013 Pacific Association season was the first season of the Pacific Association. In 2013, The Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs was announced as a new Independent professional baseball league based out of California and Hawaii. The league was an outgrowth of the North American Baseball League, which ceased operations after the 2012 season.
The 2024 Pecos League season is the 14th season of professional baseball in the Pecos League, an independent baseball league which operates in cities in desert mountain regions throughout California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, since its creation in August 2010. There are 16 Pecos League teams, split between the Mountain and Pacific divisions.
