List of Eastern League champions

Last updated

The Eastern League of Minor League Baseball is A Double-A baseball league in the United States that began play in 1923. A league champion has determined at the end of each season. Champions have been determined by postseason playoffs, winning the regular season pennant, or being declared champion by the league office. For 2019, the league operated under a split season format in which the first place teams from each division in both the first and second halves of the season qualified for the playoffs. In the event that the same team won both halves, the team with the best win–loss record over the full season qualified. The first and second half winners then competed in a best-of-five series to determine division champions. The division winners then played each other in a best-of-five series to determine a league champion. [1] As of 2022, the winners of each division from both the first and second halves of the season meet in a best-of-three division series, with the winners of the two division series meeting in a best-of-three championship series. [2]

Contents

The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [3] and the league ceased operations before the 2021 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball. [4] In place of the Eastern League, MLB created the Double-A Northeast, a 12-team circuit divided into two divisions. [5] Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Double-A Northeast as the Eastern League, and it carried on the history of the league prior to reorganization. [6] In 2021, the Double-A Northeast held a best-of-five series between the top two teams in the league, regardless of division standings, to determine a league champion. [7]

League champions

Score and finalist information is only presented when postseason play occurred. The lack of this information indicates a declared league champion.
YearChampionScoreFinalist
1923 Williamsport Billies ——
1924 Williamsport Grays ——
1925 [a] York White Roses 3–1 Williamsport Grays
1926 Scranton Miners ——
1927 Harrisburg Senators ——
1928 Harrisburg Senators ——
1929 Binghamton Triplets ——
1930 Wilkes-Barre Barons ——
1931 Harrisburg Senators ——
1932 Wilkes-Barre Barons ——
1933 Binghamton Triplets ——
1934 Williamsport Grays 4–2 Binghamton Triplets
1935 Binghamton Triplets 4–3 Scranton Miners
1936 Scranton Miners 4–0 Elmira Pioneers
1937 Elmira Colonels 4–1 Wilkes-Barre Barons
1938 Elmira Pioneers 3–2 Binghamton Triplets
1939 Scranton Red Sox 4–1 Albany Senators
1940 Binghamton Triplets 4–1 Hartford Bees
1941 Elmira Pioneers 4–3 Williamsport Grays
1942 Scranton Red Sox 4–1 Binghamton Triplets
1943 Elmira Pioneers 4–2 Scranton Red Sox
1944 Binghamton Triplets 4–2 Utica Blue Sox
1945 Albany Senators 4–3 Wilkes-Barre Barons
1946 Scranton Red Sox 4–1 Hartford Chiefs
1947 Utica Blue Sox 4–3 Albany Senators
1948 Scranton Red Sox 4–0 Albany Senators
1949 Binghamton Triplets 4–3 Wilkes-Barre Indians
1950 Wilkes-Barre Indians 4–1 Binghamton Triplets
1951 Scranton Red Sox 4–0 Elmira Pioneers
1952 Binghamton Triplets 4–1 Reading Indians
1953 Binghamton Triplets 4–2 Reading Indians
1954 Albany Senators 4–1 Reading Indians
1955 Allentown Cardinals 3–2 Schenectady Blue Jays
1956 Schenectady Blue Jays 3–0 Reading Indians
1957 Reading Indians 3–1 Albany Senators
1958 Binghamton Triplets 3–2 Lancaster Red Roses
1959 Springfield Giants 3–1 Williamsport Grays
1960 [b] Springfield Giants
Williamsport Grays 		——
1961 Springfield Giants ——
1962 Elmira Pioneers 3–1 Williamsport Grays
1963 Charleston Indians ——
1964 Elmira Pioneers ——
1965 Pittsfield Red Sox ——
1966 Elmira Pioneers ——
1967 Binghamton Triplets 3–1 Elmira Pioneers
1968 Reading Phillies 3–1 Pittsfield Red Sox
1969 [c] York Pirates ——
1970 Waterbury Pirates ——
1971 Elmira Royals 3–1 Trois-Rivières Aigles
1972 West Haven Yankees 3–0 Trois-Rivières Aigles
1973 Reading Phillies 3–1 Pittsfield Rangers
1974 Thetford Mines Pirates 2–0 Pittsfield Rangers
1975 Bristol Red Sox 3–0 Reading Phillies
1976 West Haven Yankees 3–0 Trois-Rivières Aigles
1977 West Haven Yankees 3–0 Trois-Rivières Aigles
1978 Bristol Red Sox 2–0 Reading Phillies
1979 West Haven Yankees ——
1980 Holyoke Millers 2–1 Waterbury Reds
1981 Bristol Red Sox 3–2 Glens Falls White Sox
1982 West Haven A's 3–0 Lynn Sailors
1983 New Britain Red Sox 3–1 Lynn Sailors
1984 Vermont Reds 3–2 Waterbury Angels
1985 Vermont Reds 3–1 New Britain Red Sox
1986 Vermont Reds 3–2 Reading Phillies
1987 Harrisburg Senators 3–2 Vermont Reds
1988 Albany-Colonie Yankees 3–1 Vermont Mariners
1989 Albany-Colonie Yankees 3–1 Harrisburg Senators
1990 London Tigers 3–0 New Britain Red Sox
1991 Albany-Colonie Yankees 3–0 Harrisburg Senators
1992 Binghamton Mets 3–2 Canton-Akron Indians
1993 Harrisburg Senators 3–2 Canton-Akron Indians
1994 Binghamton Mets 3–1 Harrisburg Senators
1995 Reading Phillies 3–2 New Haven Ravens
1996 Harrisburg Senators 3–1 Portland Sea Dogs
1997 Harrisburg Senators 3–1 Portland Sea Dogs
1998 Harrisburg Senators 3–1 New Britain Rock Cats
1999 Harrisburg Senators 3–2 Norwich Navigators
2000 New Haven Ravens 3–1 Reading Phillies
2001 [d] New Britain Rock Cats
Reading Phillies 		——
2002 Norwich Navigators 3–2 Harrisburg Senators
2003 Akron Aeros 3–0 New Haven Ravens
2004 New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3–0 Altoona Curve
2005 Akron Aeros 3–1 Portland Sea Dogs
2006 Portland Sea Dogs 3–2 Akron Aeros
2007 Trenton Thunder 3–1 Akron Aeros
2008 Trenton Thunder 3–1 Akron Aeros
2009 Akron Aeros 3–1 Connecticut Defenders
2010 Altoona Curve 3–1 Trenton Thunder
2011 New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3–1 Richmond Flying Squirrels
2012 Akron Aeros 3–1 Trenton Thunder
2013 Trenton Thunder 3–0 Harrisburg Senators
2014 Binghamton Mets 3–0 Richmond Flying Squirrels
2015 Bowie Baysox 3–2 Reading Fightin Phils
2016 Akron RubberDucks 3–0 Trenton Thunder
2017 Altoona Curve 3–0 Trenton Thunder
2018 New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3–0 Akron RubberDucks
2019 Trenton Thunder 3–1 Bowie Baysox
2020None (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic) [3]
2021 Akron RubberDucks [8] 3–0 Bowie Baysox
2022 Somerset Patriots 2–1 Erie SeaWolves
2023 Erie SeaWolves 2–0 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Championship wins by team

Current EL teams appear in bold.

WinsTeamChampionship years
10 Binghamton Triplets 1929, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1958, 1967
8 Elmira Colonels/Pioneers/Royals 1937, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1971
7 Scranton Miners/Red Sox 1926, 1936, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1951
6 Harrisburg Senators 1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
6 Akron Aeros/RubberDucks 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2021
5 West Haven Yankees/A's 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982
4 Trenton Thunder 2007, 2008, 2013, 2019
4 Reading Fightin Phils (Reading Phillies)1968, 1973, 1995, 2001
4 Williamsport Billies/Grays 1923, 1924, 1934, 1960
3 New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2004, 2011, 2018
3 Albany-Colonie Yankees 1988, 1989, 1991
3 Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Binghamton Mets)1992, 1994, 2014
3 Bristol Red Sox 1975, 1978, 1981
3 Harrisburg Senators (NYPL)1927, 1928, 1931
3 Springfield Giants 1959, 1960, 1961
3 Vermont Reds 1984, 1985, 1986
3 Wilkes-Barre Barons/Indians 1930, 1932, 1950
2 Albany Senators 1945, 1954
2 Altoona Curve 2010, 2017
2 New Britain Red Sox/Rock Cats 1983, 2001
2 York White Roses/Pirates 1925, 1969
1 Allentown Cardinals 1955
1 Bowie Baysox 2015
1 Charleston Indians 1963
1 Erie SeaWolves 2023
1 Holyoke Millers 1980
1 London Tigers 1990
1 New Haven Ravens 2000
1 Norwich Navigators 2002
1 Pittsfield Red Sox 1965
1 Portland Sea Dogs 2006
1 Reading Indians 1957
1 Schenectady Blue Jays 1956
1 Somerset Patriots 2022
1 Thetford Mines Pirates 1974
1 Utica Blue Sox 1947
1 Waterbury Pirates 1970

Notes

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References

  1. ↑ Rosario, Bill (February 21, 2019). "Eastern League Moving To Split Season Format". Eastern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  2. ↑ "MiLB Playoff Procedures". MiLB.com. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  7. ↑ Heneghan, Kelsie (July 1, 2021). "Playoffs Return to the Minor Leagues". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ Sheehan, Stephanie (September 24, 2021). "Naylor's Walk-off Secures Finals Sweep for Akron". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
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