This is a list of KBO League seasons, providing the final ranking of teams in the KBO League at the end of each season, based on the final regular-season standings plus postseason play including the Korea Series. Sections below are divided based on the number of teams in the league and the season format:
From 1982 to 1988, the regular season was divided into two — a spring season and a fall season — with a first-half pennant winner and a latter-half pennant winner. In 1999–2000, the KBO had two divisions of four teams each — the Dream League and the Magic League. From 1989 to 1998, and from 2001 onward, the KBO featured a single division.
The league began play in 1982 with six teams. There were no changes to the league through 1985, except for the Sammi Superstars being renamed as the Chungbo Pintos that season.
Year | Half-season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | 1st | OB Bears | Samsung Lions | MBC Chungyong | Haitai Tigers | Lotte Giants | Sammi Superstars |
2nd | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Lotte Giants | Haitai Tigers | Sammi Superstars | |
Overall | OB Bears | Samsung Lions | MBC Chungyong | Haitai Tigers | Lotte Giants | Sammi Superstars | |
1983 | 1st | Haitai Tigers | Sammi Superstars | MBC Chungyong | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | OB Bears |
2nd | MBC Chungyong | Sammi Superstars | Samsung Lions | Haitai Tigers | OB Bears | Lotte Giants | |
Overall | Haitai Tigers | MBC Chungyong | Sammi Superstars | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | Lotte Giants | |
1984 | 1st | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Lotte Giants | Haitai Tigers | Sammi Superstars |
2nd | Lotte Giants | Haitai Tigers | MBC Chungyong | OB Bears | Samsung Lions | Sammi Superstars | |
Overall | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Haitai Tigers | Sammi Superstars | |
1985 | 1st | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | Haitai Tigers | Lotte Giants | MBC Chungyong | Chungbo Pintos |
2nd | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | Haitai Tigers | MBC Chungyong | OB Bears | Chungbo Pintos | |
Overall | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | Haitai Tigers | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Chungbo Pintos |
The league expanded to seven teams in 1986 with the addition of the Binggrae Eagles. In 1988, the Chungbo Pintos were renamed the Pacific Dolphins.
Year | Half-season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | 1st | Samsung Lions | Haitai Tigers | Lotte Giants | MBC Chungyong | OB Bears | Chungbo Pintos | Binggrae Eagles |
2nd | OB Bears | Haitai Tigers | MBC Chungyong | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | Binggrae Eagles | Chungbo Pintos | |
Overall | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | MBC Chungyong | OB Bears | Lotte Giants | Chungbo Pintos | Binggrae Eagles | |
1987 | 1st | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | Haitai Tigers | Lotte Giants | MBC Chungyong | Binggrae Eagles | Chungbo Pintos |
2nd | Samsung Lions | Haitai Tigers | Lotte Giants | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Binggrae Eagles | Chungbo Pintos | |
Overall | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Binggrae Eagles | Chungbo Pintos | |
1988 | 1st | Haitai Tigers | Binggrae Eagles | OB Bears | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | Pacific Dolphins | MBC Chungyong |
2nd | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | Binggrae Eagles | Lotte Giants | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Pacific Dolphins | |
Overall | Haitai Tigers | Binggrae Eagles | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Pacific Dolphins |
The league discontinued half-season schedules for the 1989 season, while maintaining the same teams. In 1990, MBC Chungyong was renamed LG Twins.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Haitai Tigers | Binggrae Eagles | Pacific Dolphins | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | MBC Chungyong | Lotte Giants |
1990 | LG Twins | Samsung Lions | Haitai Tigers | Binggrae Eagles | Pacific Dolphins | Lotte Giants | OB Bears |
The league expanded to eight teams with the addition of the Ssangbangwool Raiders in 1991. In 1994, the Binggrae Eagles were renamed the Hanwha Eagles, and in 1996, the Pacific Dolphins were renamed the Hyundai Unicorns.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Haitai Tigers | Binggrae Eagles | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | Pacific Dolphins | LG Twins | Ssangbangwool Raiders | OB Bears |
1992 | Lotte Giants | Binggrae Eagles | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | Pacific Dolphins | LG Twins | Ssangbangwool Raiders |
1993 | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | LG Twins | Binggrae Eagles | Lotte Giants | Ssangbangwool Raiders | Pacific Dolphins |
1994 | LG Twins | Pacific Dolphins | Hanwha Eagles | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | OB Bears | Ssangbangwool Raiders |
1995 | OB Bears | Lotte Giants | LG Twins | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | Hanwha Eagles | Pacific Dolphins | Ssangbangwool Raiders |
1996 | Haitai Tigers | Hyundai Unicorns | Ssangbangwool Raiders | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | LG Twins | OB Bears |
1997 | Haitai Tigers | LG Twins | Ssangbangwool Raiders | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | Hyundai Unicorns | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants |
1998 | Hyundai Unicorns | LG Twins | Samsung Lions | OB Bears | Haitai Tigers | Ssangbangwool Raiders | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants |
In 1999, the OB Bears were renamed the Doosan Bears. The Ssangbangwool Raiders dissolved after the 1999 season, and were replaced in 2000 by SK Wyverns. During these two seasons, the league operated with two divisions of four teams each.
Division | Dream League | Magic League | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1999 | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | Hyundai Unicorns | Haitai Tigers | Samsung Lions | Hanwha Eagles | LG Twins | Ssangbangwool Raiders |
2000 | Hyundai Unicorns | Doosan Bears | Samsung Lions | Haitai Tigers | LG Twins | Lotte Giants | Hanwha Eagles | SK Wyverns |
The league discontinued use of divisions in 2001. The Hyundai Unicorns dissolved after the 2007 season, and were replaced in 2008 by the Woori Heroes. Due to issues with sponsorship, the team was known simply as "Heroes" for part of that season and all of the 2009 season, then became the Nexen Heroes in 2010.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Doosan Bears | Samsung Lions | Hyundai Unicorns | Hanwha Eagles | KIA Tigers | LG Twins | SK Wyverns | Lotte Giants |
2002 | Samsung Lions | LG Twins | KIA Tigers | Hyundai Unicorns | Doosan Bears | SK Wyverns | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants |
2003 | Hyundai Unicorns | SK Wyverns | KIA Tigers | Samsung Lions | Hanwha Eagles | LG Twins | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants |
2004 | Hyundai Unicorns | Samsung Lions | Doosan Bears | KIA Tigers | SK Wyverns | LG Twins | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants |
2005 | Samsung Lions | Doosan Bears | SK Wyverns | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants | LG Twins | Hyundai Unicorns | KIA Tigers |
2006 | Samsung Lions | Hanwha Eagles | Hyundai Unicorns | KIA Tigers | Doosan Bears | SK Wyverns | Lotte Giants | LG Twins |
2007 | SK Wyverns | Doosan Bears | Hanwha Eagles | Samsung Lions | LG Twins | Hyundai Unicorns | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers |
2008 | SK Wyverns | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | Hanwha Eagles | KIA Tigers | Heroes | LG Twins |
2009 | KIA Tigers | SK Wyverns | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | Heroes | LG Twins | Hanwha Eagles |
2010 | SK Wyverns | Samsung Lions | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | LG Twins | Nexen Heroes | Hanwha Eagles |
2011 | Samsung Lions | SK Wyverns | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | Doosan Bears | Hanwha Eagles | LG Twins | Nexen Heroes |
2012 | Samsung Lions | SK Wyverns | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | Nexen Heroes | LG Twins | Hanwha Eagles |
The league expanded to nine teams in 2013 with the addition of NC Dinos.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Samsung Lions | Doosan Bears | LG Twins | Nexen Heroes | Lotte Giants | SK Wyverns | NC Dinos | KIA Tigers | Hanwha Eagles |
2014 | Samsung Lions | Nexen Heroes | NC Dinos | LG Twins | SK Wyverns | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | Hanwha Eagles |
The league expanded to 10 teams in 2015 with the addition of KT Wiz. In 2019, the Nexen Heroes we renamed as the Kiwoom Heroes, and in 2021, SK Wyverns were renamed as SSG Landers.
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Doosan Bears | Samsung Lions | NC Dinos | Nexen Heroes | SK Wyverns | Hanwha Eagles | KIA Tigers | Lotte Giants | LG Twins | KT Wiz |
2016 | Doosan Bears | NC Dinos | Nexen Heroes | LG Twins | KIA Tigers | SK Wyverns | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | KT Wiz |
2017 | KIA Tigers | Doosan Bears | Lotte Giants | NC Dinos | SK Wyverns | LG Twins | Nexen Heroes | Hanwha Eagles | Samsung Lions | KT Wiz |
2018 | SK Wyverns | Doosan Bears | Hanwha Eagles | Nexen Heroes | KIA Tigers | Samsung Lions | Lotte Giants | LG Twins | KT Wiz | NC Dinos |
2019 | Doosan Bears | Kiwoom Heroes | SK Wyverns | LG Twins | NC Dinos | KT Wiz | KIA Tigers | Samsung Lions | Hanwha Eagles | Lotte Giants |
2020 | NC Dinos | Doosan Bears | KT Wiz | LG Twins | Kiwoom Heroes | KIA Tigers | Lotte Giants | Samsung Lions | SK Wyverns | Hanwha Eagles |
2021 | KT Wiz | Doosan Bears | Samsung Lions | LG Twins | Kiwoom Heroes | SSG Landers | NC Dinos | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | Hanwha Eagles |
2022 | KT Wiz | Doosan Bears | Samsung Lions | LG Twins | Kiwoom Heroes | SSG Landers | NC Dinos | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | Hanwha Eagles |
2023 | KT WIz | Doosan Bears | Samsung Lions | LG Twins | Kiwoom Heroes | SSG Landers | NC Dinos | Lotte Giants | KIA Tigers | Hanwha Eagles |
2024 | In progress |
The KBO League is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most successful team, having won 11 of the 42 championships.
SSG Landers are a South Korean professional baseball team. The team was originally established as the SK Wyverns but was renamed as the SSG Landers in 2021 after Shinsegae acquired the team from SK Group. They are a member of the KBO League. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Incheon SSG Landers Field.
The Kia Tigers are a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982 and based in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Until 2001, they were known as the Haitai Tigers. The Tigers are members of the KBO League and are the most successful team in Korean baseball, having won the national Korean Series championship 11 times with a perfect 11–0 record. Their home stadium is Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju.
Park Jae-hong is a retired South Korean outfielder in the KBO League. Park was considered one of the best five-tool players in the KBO. He was the first player in KBO history to have 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases and the only player to have more than two seasons of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, doing so a record three times:. He was a 30-30 player in his debut season (1996), the only person to do so until Mike Trout, who did it in 2012.
Park Kyung-oan is a former South Korean baseball catcher and former Olympic bronze medalist. A four-time Golden Glove winner, Park is considered by many to be one of the best catchers in Korean baseball history. Playing for the Ssangbangwool Raiders, the Hyundai Unicorns, and the SK Wyverns during his career, his teams won five Korean Series championships.
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The Hyundai Unicorns were a South Korean professional baseball team based in Suwon. They were a member of the KBO League. The Unicorns won the KBO championship four times.
The Ssangbangwool Raiders were a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 1990 and dissolved upon bankruptcy of the team's owner after the 1999 season. They were based in the North Jeolla Province and were members of the Korea Baseball Organization. They made the playoffs twice in their nine-year KBO history, losing both times, never making it to the Korean Series.
The Kiwoom Heroes are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Seoul. They are a member of the KBO League. The Heroes play their home games at Gocheok Sky Dome in Gocheok-dong, a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of Seoul. The Heroes mascot is Teokdori.
Kim Si-jin is a retired pitcher and a former manager in the Korea Baseball Organization.
Kim Sung-keun is a retired South Korean left-handed baseball pitcher and KBO League manager. Over the course of his managerial career, Kim managed seven different KBO League teams, and is only the second manager in the history of the league to record 1,000 victories. He is a four-time KBO Manager of the Year, and as manager of the SK Wyverns led the team to victory in the Korean Series three times. His nickname is the "Baseball God."
Son Seung-lak is a retired South Korean closer who played for the Hyundai Unicorns, the Nexen Heroes, and the Lotte Giants in the Korea Professional Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.
Yoo Han-joon is a retired South Korean outfielder for the KT Wiz in the Korea Baseball Organization. He bats and throws right-handed.
KBO Futures League or Korea Baseball Futures League is South Korea's second level of baseball, below the KBO League. It serves as a farm league with the purpose to develop professional players on-demand to play in the KBO League. The league consists of two divisions — the Southern League and the Northern League. These leagues are governed by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The league plays an 80-game season.
Youm Kyoung-youb is a South Korean former baseball player and the current manager of the KBO League team LG Twins. He previously managed the Nexen Heroes and the SK Wyverns.
The 2014 Korea Professional Baseball season is 33rd season in the history of the Korea Professional Baseball.
The 2015 KBO League season was the 34th season in the history of the Korea Professional Baseball league.
The 2016 KBO League season was the 35th season in the history of the Korea Professional Baseball League.
The 2018 KBO League season was the 37th season in the history of the KBO League.
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