Western League (Japanese baseball)
| Classification |
|
|---|---|
| Sport | Baseball |
| Founded | 1952 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Japan |
| Most recent champion(s) | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| Most titles | Hanshin Tigers (18) |
| Broadcaster(s) | For the Fans |
| Official website | npb.jp/farm |
The Western League (ウエスタン・リーグ, Uesutanrīgu) is one of the two minor leagues (マイナーリーグベースボール, Mainārīgubēsubōru) of Japanese professional baseball. The league is owned and managed by the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
The league traces its roots to the Kansai Farm League, a formerly independent baseball league outside the realm of the NPB. It formerly included 7 teams, which quickly transformed into 6 due to the disbandment of once famous ballclub Sanyo Crowns. The first farm teams or second armies joined the league for the 1955 season.
A league champion is determined at the end of each season. The Hanshin Tigers have won 18 Western League titles, the most in the league's history, followed by the Chunichi Dragons (16) and the SoftBank Hawks (12).