Editing Eastern League (1938–present) (section)

==History==
The league was founded in 1923 as the [[New York–Pennsylvania League (1923–1937)|New York–Pennsylvania League]]. The first team outside the two original states was created in 1936 when the [[York White Roses]] of [[York, Pennsylvania]], moved to [[Trenton, New Jersey]], and were renamed the [[Trenton Senators]]. The league was renamed as the Eastern League in 1938 when the [[Scranton Miners (baseball)|Scranton Miners]] of [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], moved to [[Hartford, Connecticut]], and became the [[Hartford Bees]]. 

The league has had teams in a total of 52 different cities, located in 12 different states and two Canadian provinces. The league consisted of six to eight teams from 1923 until 1993. The league expanded to 10 teams in 1994 with the addition of the [[Portland Sea Dogs]] and the [[New Hampshire Fisher Cats|New Haven Ravens]] and split into two divisions, the Northern Division and the Southern Division. The league expanded to 12 teams in 1999 with the addition of the [[Altoona Curve]] and the [[Erie SeaWolves]]. The two divisions were restructured and renamed for the 2010 season as the Eastern Division and the Western Division because the [[Connecticut Defenders]] moved to [[Richmond, Virginia]], after the 2009 season, becoming the [[Richmond Flying Squirrels]].

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before ultimately being cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>

As part of [[Major League Baseball]]'s 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the league was temporarily renamed the "Double-A Northeast"; the [[Somerset Patriots]], formerly an independent team, joined the league, while the [[Trenton Thunder]] were relegated to the newly-formed [[MLB Draft League]].<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the Double-A Northeast was renamed the Eastern League effective with the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>