List of Eastern League champions explained

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]

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
1923Williamsport Billies
1924Williamsport Grays
1925York White Roses3–1Williamsport Grays
1926Scranton Miners
1927Harrisburg Senators
1928Harrisburg Senators
1929Binghamton Triplets
1930Wilkes-Barre Barons
1931Harrisburg Senators
1932Wilkes-Barre Barons
1933Binghamton Triplets
1934Williamsport Grays4–2Binghamton Triplets
1935Binghamton Triplets4–3Scranton Miners
1936Scranton Miners4–0Elmira Pioneers
1937Elmira Colonels4–1Wilkes-Barre Barons
1938Elmira Pioneers3–2Binghamton Triplets
1939Scranton Red Sox4–1Albany Senators
1940Binghamton Triplets4–1Hartford Bees
1941Elmira Pioneers4–3Williamsport Grays
1942Scranton Red Sox4–1Binghamton Triplets
1943Elmira Pioneers4–2Scranton Red Sox
1944Binghamton Triplets4–2Utica Blue Sox
1945Albany Senators4–3Wilkes-Barre Barons
1946Scranton Red Sox4–1Hartford Chiefs
1947Utica Blue Sox4–3Albany Senators
1948Scranton Red Sox4–0Albany Senators
1949Binghamton Triplets4–3Wilkes-Barre Indians
1950Wilkes-Barre Indians4–1Binghamton Triplets
1951Scranton Red Sox4–0Elmira Pioneers
1952Binghamton Triplets4–1Reading Indians
1953Binghamton Triplets4–2Reading Indians
1954Albany Senators4–1Reading Indians
1955Allentown Cardinals3–2Schenectady Blue Jays
1956Schenectady Blue Jays3–0Reading Indians
1957Reading Indians3–1Albany Senators
1958Binghamton Triplets3–2Lancaster Red Roses
1959Springfield Giants3–1Williamsport Grays
1960Springfield Giants
Williamsport Grays
1961Springfield Giants
1962Elmira Pioneers3–1Williamsport Grays
1963Charleston Indians
1964Elmira Pioneers
1965Pittsfield Red Sox
1966Elmira Pioneers
1967Binghamton Triplets3–1Elmira Pioneers
1968Reading Phillies3–1Pittsfield Red Sox
1969York Pirates
1970Waterbury Pirates
1971Elmira Royals3–1Trois-Rivières Aigles
1972West Haven Yankees3–0Trois-Rivières Aigles
1973Reading Phillies3–1Pittsfield Rangers
1974Thetford Mines Pirates2–0Pittsfield Rangers
1975Bristol Red Sox3–0Reading Phillies
1976West Haven Yankees3–0Trois-Rivières Aigles
1977West Haven Yankees3–0Trois-Rivières Aigles
1978Bristol Red Sox2–0Reading Phillies
1979West Haven Yankees
1980Holyoke Millers2–1Waterbury Reds
1981Bristol Red Sox3–2Glens Falls White Sox
1982West Haven A's3–0Lynn Sailors
1983New Britain Red Sox3–1Lynn Sailors
1984Vermont Reds3–2Waterbury Angels
1985Vermont Reds3–1New Britain Red Sox
1986Vermont Reds3–2Reading Phillies
1987Harrisburg Senators3–2Vermont Reds
1988Albany-Colonie Yankees3–1Vermont Mariners
1989Albany-Colonie Yankees3–1Harrisburg Senators
1990London Tigers3–0New Britain Red Sox
1991Albany-Colonie Yankees3–0Harrisburg Senators
1992Binghamton Mets3–2Canton-Akron Indians
1993Harrisburg Senators3–2Canton-Akron Indians
1994Binghamton Mets3–1Harrisburg Senators
1995Reading Phillies3–2New Haven Ravens
1996Harrisburg Senators3–1Portland Sea Dogs
1997Harrisburg Senators3–1Portland Sea Dogs
1998Harrisburg Senators3–1New Britain Rock Cats
1999Harrisburg Senators3–2Norwich Navigators
2000New Haven Ravens3–1Reading Phillies
2001New Britain Rock Cats
Reading Phillies
2002Norwich Navigators3–2Harrisburg Senators
2003Akron Aeros3–0New Haven Ravens
2004New Hampshire Fisher Cats3–0Altoona Curve
2005Akron Aeros3–1Portland Sea Dogs
2006Portland Sea Dogs3–2Akron Aeros
2007Trenton Thunder3–1Akron Aeros
2008Trenton Thunder3–1Akron Aeros
2009Akron Aeros3–1Connecticut Defenders
2010Altoona Curve3–1Trenton Thunder
2011New Hampshire Fisher Cats3–1Richmond Flying Squirrels
2012Akron Aeros3–1Trenton Thunder
2013Trenton Thunder3–0Harrisburg Senators
2014Binghamton Mets3–0Richmond Flying Squirrels
2015Bowie Baysox3–2Reading Fightin Phils
2016Akron RubberDucks3–0Trenton Thunder
2017Altoona Curve3–0Trenton Thunder
2018New Hampshire Fisher Cats3–0Akron RubberDucks
2019Trenton Thunder3–1Bowie Baysox
2020align=center colspan="3"
2021Akron RubberDucks[8] 3–0Bowie Baysox
2022Somerset Patriots2–1Erie SeaWolves
2023Erie SeaWolves2–0Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Championship wins by team

Current EL teams appear in bold.

WinsTeamChampionship years
10Binghamton Triplets1929, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1958, 1967
8Elmira Colonels/Pioneers/Royals1937, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1971
7Scranton Miners/Red Sox1926, 1936, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1951
6Harrisburg Senators1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
6Akron Aeros/RubberDucks2003, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2021
5West Haven Yankees/A's1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982
4Trenton Thunder2007, 2008, 2013, 2019
4Reading Fightin Phils (Reading Phillies)1968, 1973, 1995, 2001
4Williamsport Billies/Grays1923, 1924, 1934, 1960
3New Hampshire Fisher Cats2004, 2011, 2018
3Albany-Colonie Yankees1988, 1989, 1991
3Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Binghamton Mets)1992, 1994, 2014
3Bristol Red Sox1975, 1978, 1981
3Harrisburg Senators (NYPL) 1927, 1928, 1931
3Springfield Giants1959, 1960, 1961
3Vermont Reds1984, 1985, 1986
3Wilkes-Barre Barons/Indians1930, 1932, 1950
2Albany Senators1945, 1954
2Altoona Curve2010, 2017
2New Britain Red Sox/Rock Cats1983, 2001
2York White Roses/Pirates1925, 1969
1Allentown Cardinals1955
1Bowie Baysox2015
1Charleston Indians1963
1Erie SeaWolves2023
1Holyoke Millers1980
1London Tigers1990
1New Haven Ravens2000
1Norwich Navigators2002
1Pittsfield Red Sox1965
1Portland Sea Dogs2006
1Reading Indians1957
1Schenectady Blue Jays1956
1Somerset Patriots2022
1Thetford Mines Pirates1974
1Utica Blue Sox1947
1Waterbury Pirates1970

Notes

References

Notes and References

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