The Central League (セントラル・リーグ, Sentoraru Rīgu) or Ce League (セ・リーグ, Se Rīgu), also known as the JERA Central League (JERAセ・リーグ, JERA Se Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is one of the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country. Unlike the Pacific League, designated hitters are not used during Central League home games. The Central League has voted to adopt the designated hitter beginning in 2027.[1]

History

The Central League was founded in 1949 with eight teams: four holdovers from the previous Japanese Baseball League — the Chunichi Dragons, the Hanshin Tigers, the Yomiuri Giants, and the Shochiku Robins (formerly the Taiyō Robins) — and four new teams — the Hiroshima Carp, the Kokutetsu Swallows, the Nishi Nippon Pirates, and the Taiyō Whales.

The Nishi Nippon Pirates existed for one season — they placed sixth in 1950, and the following season merged with the also Fukuoka-based Nishitetsu Clippers (a member of the Pacific League) to form the Nishitetsu Lions, who joined the Pacific League. This brought the number of Central League teams down to an ungainly arrangement of seven.

Ryuji Suzuki became president of the Central League in 1952.[2]

In 1952, it was decided that any team ending the season with a winning percentage below .300 would be disbanded or merged with other teams. The Shochiku Robins fell into this category, and were merged with the Taiyō Whales to become the Taiyō Shochiku Robins in January 1953. This enabled the Central League to shrink to an even number of six teams.

Ryuji Suzuki retired as CL president in 1984 after 33 years at the post.[2]

In 2007, a new Climax Series was introduced. This playoff series was inspired by the stepladder playoff used in the Pacific League introduced in 2004 for the top three teams of the league to determine which one progressed to the Japan Series. Under the previous system, there was no post-season playoff and the winner of the pennant automatically qualified for the Japan Series.

Current teams

Team Japanese name Founded[3] Location Stadium Owner
Chunichi Dragons 中日ドラゴンズ
Chūnichi Doragonzu		 January 15, 1936 Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Vantelin Dome Nagoya Chunichi Shimbun
Hanshin Tigers 阪神タイガース
Hanshin Taigāsu		 December 10, 1935 HQ in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo

Plays between Osaka and Hyogo[4]

 Hanshin Koshien Stadium

and Kyocera Dome Osaka

 Hankyu Hanshin Holdings
Hiroshima Toyo Carp 広島東洋カープ
Hiroshima Tōyō Kāpu		 December 5, 1949 Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Mazda Stadium Matsuda family [66.7%]
Mazda [33.3%]
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 東京ヤクルトスワローズ
Tōkyō Yakuruto Suwarōzu		 January 12, 1950 Shinjuku, Tokyo Meiji Jingu Stadium Yakult Honsha
Yokohama DeNA BayStars 横浜DeNAベイスターズ
Yokohama DeNA Beisutāzu		 December 15, 1949 Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Yokohama Stadium DeNA
Yomiuri Giants 読売ジャイアンツ
Yomiuri Jaiantsu		 December 26, 1934 Bunkyo, Tokyo Tokyo Dome Yomiuri Shimbun

Central League pennant winners

Year Team W L T Postseason Result
1950Shochiku Robins98354Lost 1950 Japan Series 2–4 to the Mainichi Orions
1951Yomiuri Giants79296Won 1951 Japan Series 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1952Yomiuri Giants83370Won 1952 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks
1953Yomiuri Giants87371Won 1953 Japan Series 4–2–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1954Chunichi Dragons86404Won 1954 Japan Series 4–3 over the Nishitetsu Lions
1955Yomiuri Giants92371Won 1955 Japan Series 4–3 over the Nankai Hawks
1956Yomiuri Giants82444Lost 1956 Japan Series 2–4 to the Nishitetsu Lions
1957Yomiuri Giants74533Lost 1957 Japan Series 0–4–1 to the Nishitetsu Lions
1958Yomiuri Giants77521Lost 1958 Japan Series 3–4 to the Nishitetsu Lions
1959Yomiuri Giants77485Lost 1959 Japan Series 0–4 to the Nankai Hawks
1960Taiyō Whales70564Won 1960 Japan Series 4–0 over the Daimai Orions
1961Yomiuri Giants71536Won 1961 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks
1962Hanshin Tigers75553Lost 1962 Japan Series 2–4–1 to the Toei Flyers
1963Yomiuri Giants83552Won 1963 Japan Series 4–3 over the Nishitetsu Lions
1964Hanshin Tigers80564Lost 1964 Japan Series 3–4 to the Nankai Hawks
1965Yomiuri Giants91472Won 1965 Japan Series 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1966Yomiuri Giants89414Won 1966 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nankai Hawks
1967Yomiuri Giants84464Won 1967 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves
1968Yomiuri Giants77534Won 1968 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves
1969Yomiuri Giants73516Won 1969 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hankyu Braves
1970Yomiuri Giants79474Won 1970 Japan Series 4–1 over the Lotte Orions
1971Yomiuri Giants70528Won 1971 Japan Series 4–1 over the Hankyu Braves
1972Yomiuri Giants74524Won 1972 Japan Series 4–1 over the Hankyu Braves
1973Yomiuri Giants66604Won 1973 Japan Series 4–1 over the Nankai Hawks
1974Chunichi Dragons704911Lost 1974 Japan Series 2–4 to the Lotte Orions
1975Hiroshima Toyo Carp724711Lost 1975 Japan Series 0–4–2 to the Hankyu Braves
1976Yomiuri Giants76459Lost 1976 Japan Series 3–4 to the Hankyu Braves
1977Yomiuri Giants80464Lost 1977 Japan Series 1–4 to the Hankyu Braves
1978Yakult Swallows684616Won 1978 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hankyu Braves
1979Hiroshima Toyo Carp675013Won 1979 Japan Series 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes
1980Hiroshima Toyo Carp734413Won 1980 Japan Series 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes
1981Yomiuri Giants73489Won 1981 Japan Series 4–2 over the Nippon-Ham Fighters
1982Chunichi Dragons644719Lost 1982 Japan Series 2–4 to the Seibu Lions
1983Yomiuri Giants72508Lost 1983 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
1984Hiroshima Toyo Carp754510Won 1984 Japan Series 4–3 over the Hankyu Braves
1985Hanshin Tigers74497Won 1985 Japan Series 4–2 over the Seibu Lions
1986Hiroshima Toyo Carp734611Lost 1986 Japan Series 3–4–1 to the Seibu Lions
1987Yomiuri Giants764311Lost 1987 Japan Series 2–4 to the Seibu Lions
1988Chunichi Dragons79465Lost 1988 Japan Series 1–4 to the Seibu Lions
1989Yomiuri Giants84442Won 1989 Japan Series 4–3 over the Kintetsu Buffaloes
1990Yomiuri Giants88420Lost 1990 Japan Series 0–4 to the Seibu Lions
1991Hiroshima Toyo Carp74562Lost 1991 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
1992Yakult Swallows69611Lost 1992 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
1993Yakult Swallows80502Won 1993 Japan Series 4–3 over the Seibu Lions
1994Yomiuri Giants70600Won 1994 Japan Series 4–2 over the Seibu Lions
1995Yakult Swallows82480Won 1995 Japan Series 4–1 over the Orix BlueWave
1996Yomiuri Giants77530Lost 1996 Japan Series 1–4 to the Orix BlueWave
1997Yakult Swallows83522Won 1997 Japan Series 4–1 over the Seibu Lions
1998Yokohama BayStars79561Won 1998 Japan Series 4–2 over the Seibu Lions
1999Chunichi Dragons81540Lost 1999 Japan Series 1–4 to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
2000Yomiuri Giants78570Won 2000 Japan Series 4–2 over the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
2001Yakult Swallows76586Won 2001 Japan Series 4–1 over the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
2002Yomiuri Giants86522Won 2002 Japan Series 4–0 over the Seibu Lions
2003Hanshin Tigers87512Lost 2003 Japan Series 3–4 to the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
2004Chunichi Dragons79563Lost 2004 Japan Series 3–4 to the Seibu Lions
2005Hanshin Tigers87545Lost 2005 Japan Series 0–4 to the Chiba Lotte Marines
2006Chunichi Dragons87545Lost 2006 Japan Series 1–4 to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2007Yomiuri Giants80631Lost 2007 Central League Climax Series 0–3 to the Chunichi Dragons
2008Yomiuri Giants84573Lost 2008 Japan Series 3–4 to the Saitama Seibu Lions
2009Yomiuri Giants89469Won 2009 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2010Chunichi Dragons79623Lost 2010 Japan Series 2–4-1 to the Chiba Lotte Marines
2011Chunichi Dragons755910Lost 2011 Japan Series 3–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2012Yomiuri Giants864315Won 2012 Japan Series 4–2 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2013Yomiuri Giants84537Lost 2013 Japan Series 3–4 to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
2014Yomiuri Giants82611Lost 2014 Central League Climax Series 1–4 to the Hanshin Tigers
2015Tokyo Yakult Swallows76652Lost 2015 Japan Series 1–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2016Hiroshima Toyo Carp89522Lost 2016 Japan Series 2–4 to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
2017Hiroshima Toyo Carp88514Lost 2017 Central League Climax Series 2–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2018Hiroshima Toyo Carp82592Lost 2018 Japan Series 1–4-1 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2019Yomiuri Giants77642Lost 2019 Japan Series 0–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2020Yomiuri Giants67458Lost 2020 Japan Series 0–4 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
2021Tokyo Yakult Swallows735218Won 2021 Japan Series 4–2 over the Orix Buffaloes
2022Tokyo Yakult Swallows80594Lost 2022 Japan Series 2–4–1 to the Orix Buffaloes
2023Hanshin Tigers85535Won 2023 Japan Series 4–3 over the Orix Buffaloes
2024Yomiuri Giants77597Lost 2024 Central League Climax Series 3–4 to the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
2025Hanshin Tigers85544Lost 2025 Japan Series 4–1 to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

Climax Series winners

  • 2025 Hanshin Tigers
  • 2024 Yokohama DeNA BayStars
  • 2023 Hanshin Tigers
  • 2022 Tokyo Yakult Swallows
  • 2021 Tokyo Yakult Swallows
  • 2020 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2019 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2018 Hiroshima Toyo Carp
  • 2017 Yokohama DeNA BayStars
  • 2016 Hiroshima Toyo Carp
  • 2015 Tokyo Yakult Swallows
  • 2014 Hanshin Tigers
  • 2013 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2012 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2011 Chunichi Dragons
  • 2010 Chunichi Dragons
  • 2009 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2008 Yomiuri Giants
  • 2007 Chunichi Dragons

Central League statistics

Team First Second Third
Yomiuri Giants391215
Chunichi Dragons92315
Hiroshima Toyo Carp9710
Tokyo Yakult Swallows966
Hanshin Tigers72117
Yokohama DeNA BayStars2713
Shochiku Robins100
Nishi Nippon Pirates000

Most Valuable Pitcher

See: Best Nine Award#Other notes

Best Nine Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Coskrey, Jason (5 August 2025). "Central League votes to adopt designated hitter rule from 2027". Japan Times. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 "SUZUKI, Ryuji," Archived 2020-07-27 at the Wayback Machine The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (Japan). Accessed March 27, 2015.
  3. ↑ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "球団別インデックス | NPB.jp 日本野球機構". Npb.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  4. ↑ "公式戦 京セラドーム大阪｜チケット｜阪神タイガース公式サイト" [Regular Season in Osaka Dome｜Tickets｜Hanshin Tigers Official Site]. hanshintigers.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-10.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_League