The Arizona Complex League (ACL), formerly known as the Arizona League (AZL), is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, at the Rookie level, which is the lowest grade below Major League Baseball. A champion has been determined at the end of each season since the league was formed in 1988.
The ACL Athletics have won six Arizona Complex League championships, more than any other team, followed by the ACL Brewers and ACL Giants (5) and the ACL Mariners (4).
The Arizona League (AZL) was founded in 1988. [1] A league champion has been determined at the end of each season. Champions from 1988 to 1998 were simply the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best winning percentage at the conclusion of the regular championship season. The first league champions were the AZL Brewers, who won by six games over the AZL Athletics in 1988. [2]
The league began holding playoffs to determine league champions in 1999. Typically, the winners of each half of the league's split-season met in a single championship game. With the introduction of divisions in 2009, the postseason was expanded to include four teams. It was expanded further to include six teams in 2013. The championship round became a best-of-three series starting in 2016.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] In conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, [4] the Arizona League became known as the Arizona Complex League (ACL). [5] No playoffs were held in 2021. Instead, the team with the best winning percentage was declared champion.
Since 2022, four teams—three division winners and one wild card—have qualified for the postseason. The semi-finals consist of a single-game. The winners advance to the best-of-three championship series. [6]
Score | Score of the championship series |
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Active Arizona Complex League teams appear in bold. Championships by split-squad teams (e.g. ACL Giants Black) are listed by their main team (e.g. ACL Giants).
Team | Wins | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
ACL Athletics (AZL Athletics) | 6 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001 |
ACL Brewers (AZL Brewers) | 5 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 2010, 2023 |
ACL Giants (AZL Giants) | 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2022 | |
ACL Mariners (AZL Mariners) | 4 | 2000, 2007, 2009, 2016 |
ACL Cubs (AZL Cubs) | 3 | 1997, 2002, 2017 |
ACL Dodgers (AZL Dodgers) | 2011, 2018, 2024 | |
ACL Padres (AZL Padres) | 2 | 1996, 2006 |
ACL Rangers (AZL Rangers) | 2012, 2019 | |
ACL Rockies (AZL Rockies) | 1998, 2021 | |
ACL Angels | 1 | 2025 |
ACL Guardians (AZL Indians) | 2014 | |
ACL Royals (AZL Royals) | 2003 | |
ACL White Sox (AZL White Sox) | 2015 | |
AZL Cardinals | 1994 |