Editing Eastern League (1938–present)

{{Short description|American sports league in minor league baseball}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{about|the league founded in 1923 that has been known as the Eastern League since 1938|other leagues with the same name|Eastern League (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title    = Eastern League
| logo     = Eastern League (baseball) logo.svg
| caption  = 
| sport    = [[Baseball]]
| formerly = [[New York–Pennsylvania League (1923–1937)|New York–Pennsylvania League]] (1923–1937)
| classification = [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] (1963–present)<br>[[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] (1938–1962)
| founded  = {{start date and years ago|1923|p=yes}}
| president=
| teams    = 12
| country  = United States
| champion = [[Erie SeaWolves]] (2024)
| most_champs = [[Binghamton Triplets]] (10)
| website  = {{URL|milb.com}}
| footnotes= <ref>{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1=Lloyd Johnson |editor2=Miles Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=[[Baseball America]] |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176 |page=27}}</ref>
}}
The '''Eastern League''' ('''EL''') is a [[Minor League Baseball]] (MiLB) league that has operated under that name since 1938, with the exception of the 2021 season, during which the league operated under the moniker '''Double-A Northeast'''. The league has played at the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] level since 1963, and consists primarily of teams located in the [[Northeastern United States]]. Prior to 1963, the league operated at the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] level.

==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>

==Current teams==
<div style="display:inline-grid; vertical-align:top;">
<onlyinclude><!--NOTE: this directive must span the table, and only the table, so it can be embedded elsewhere-->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="col"|Division
!scope="col"|Team
!scope="col"|MLB affiliation
!scope="col"|City
!scope="col"|Stadium
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|Capacity
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="6" | Northeast
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Binghamton Rumble Ponies]]
|[[New York Mets]]
|[[Binghamton, New York]]
|[[Mirabito Stadium]]
|align=center|6,012<ref>{{cite web |title=NYSEG Stadium|first=Graham|last=Knight|url=http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/minors/binghamton.html|work=Baseball Pilgrimages|date=September 17, 2010|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Hartford Yard Goats]]
|[[Colorado Rockies]]
|[[Hartford, Connecticut]]
|[[Dunkin' Park]]
|align=center|6,121<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mock|first1=Joe|title=Dunkin' Donuts Park|url=http://www.baseballparks.com/indepth/dunkin-donuts-park/|website=www.baseballparks.com|publisher=Grand Slam Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[New Hampshire Fisher Cats]]
|[[Toronto Blue Jays]]
|[[Manchester, New Hampshire]]
|[[Delta Dental Stadium]]
|align=center|6,500<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 New Hampshire Fisher Cats Media Guide|url=http://www.milb.com/documents/2012/04/09/28259240/1/2012_Media_Guide.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502194125/http://www.milb.com/documents/2012/04/09/28259240/1/2012_Media_Guide.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 2, 2012|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=April 9, 2012|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref> 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Portland Sea Dogs]]
|[[Boston Red Sox]]
|[[Portland, Maine]]
|[[Hadlock Field|Delta Dental Park At Hadlock Field]]
|align=center|7,368<ref>{{cite web |title=Hadlock Field – Portland Sea Dogs|first=Graham|last=Knight|url=http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/AA/portland.html|work=Baseball Pilgrimages|date=July 6, 2010|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Reading Fightin Phils]]
|[[Philadelphia Phillies]]
|[[Reading, Pennsylvania]]
|[[FirstEnergy Stadium (Reading, Pennsylvania)|FirstEnergy Stadium]]
|align=center|9,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/guide/minor-league-ballpark-guide/|title=Minor League Ballpark Guide|last=Leon|first=Matt|date=May 17, 2011|work=[[KYW-TV|KYW]]|location=Philadelphia|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Somerset Patriots]]
|[[New York Yankees]]
|[[Bridgewater Township, New Jersey]]
|[[TD Bank Ballpark]]
|align=center|6,100<ref>{{Cite web |title=TD Bank Ballpark |url=https://www.milb.com/somerset/ballpark |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=[[Minor League Baseball]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="6" | Southwest
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Akron RubberDucks]]
|[[Cleveland Guardians]]
|[[Akron, Ohio]]
|[[Canal Park (Akron, Ohio)|Canal Park]]
|align=center|7,630<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-40427710|title=Akron RubberDucks Canal Park|publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Altoona Curve]]
|[[Pittsburgh Pirates]]
|[[Altoona, Pennsylvania]]
|[[Peoples Natural Gas Field]]
|align=center|7,210<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Altoona Curve Media Guide|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/88572400/2012-Curve-Media-Guide|publisher=Minor League Baseball|year=2012|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Chesapeake Baysox]]
|[[Baltimore Orioles]]
|[[Bowie, Maryland]]
|[[Prince George's Stadium]]
|align=center|10,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-40995586|title=Bowie Baysox Baysox/Stadium Info|publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=March 11, 2009|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Erie SeaWolves]]
|[[Detroit Tigers]]
|[[Erie, Pennsylvania]]
|[[UPMC Park]]
|align=center|6,000<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerry Uht Park|url=http://www.erieevents.com/about/jerry_uht.htm|publisher=Erie County Convention Center Authority|access-date=August 3, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730224311/http://www.erieevents.com/about/jerry_uht.htm|archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Harrisburg Senators]]
|[[Washington Nationals]]
|[[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]]
|[[FNB Field]]
|align=center|6,187<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballparkdigest.com/201006282866/minor-league-baseball/visits/ballpark-visit-metro-bank-park-harrisburg-senators-1|title=Metro Bank Park / Harrisburg Senators|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|work=Ballpark Digest|date=June 28, 2010|access-date=May 4, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Richmond Flying Squirrels]]
|[[San Francisco Giants]]
|[[Richmond, Virginia]]
|[[The Diamond (Richmond, Virginia)|The Diamond]]
|align=center|9,560<ref>{{cite news |title=Bleacher Banners Give Diamond New Look, Fewer Seats|first=John|last=O'Connor|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/bleacher-banners-give-diamond-new-look-fewer-seats/article_e7663541-5ee6-5861-83a8-17460d77a751.html?mode=jqm|newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]|date=March 27, 2010|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref>
|}
</onlyinclude></div>
<div style="display:inline-grid; vertical-align:top;">
{{OSM Location map
| float=left
| nolabels = 1  
| coord = {{coord|40.614|-75.900}}
| zoom = 6
| width = 600
| height = 550
| caption = '''Current team locations:'''{{Legend|#AA1205|Northeast Division}}{{Legend|#105396|Southwest Division}}
| auto-caption=1
| shape1=n-circle
| mark1 = Red pog.svg| shape-color1 = hard red| mark-title1 = Binghamton Rumble Ponies| label1 = Rumble Ponies| mark-coord1 = {{coord|42.102769|-75.904988}}| label-pos1 = top| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = Red pog.svg| shape-color2 = hard red| mark-title2 = Hartford Yard Goats| label2 = Yard Goats| mark-coord2 = {{coord|41.771389|-72.673889}}| label-pos2 = bottom| label-color2 = black
| mark3 = Red pog.svg| shape-color3 = hard red| mark-title3 = New Hampshire Fisher Cats| label3 = Fisher Cats| mark-coord3 = {{coord|42.980833|-71.466667}}| label-pos3 = left| label-color3 = black
| mark4 = Red pog.svg| shape-color4 = hard red| mark-title4 = Portland Sea Dogs| label4 = Sea Dogs| mark-coord4 = {{coord|43.656944|-70.278333}}| label-pos4 = left| label-color4 = black
| mark5 = Red pog.svg| shape-color5 = hard red| mark-title5 = Reading Fightin Phils| label5 = Fightin Phils| mark-coord5 = {{coord|40.365833|-75.933611}}| label-pos5 = top| label-color5 = black
| mark6 = Red pog.svg| shape-color6 = hard red| mark-title6 = Somerset Patriots| label6 = Patriots| mark-coord6 = {{coord|40.5940|-74.6049}}| label-pos6 = top| label-color6 = black
| mark7 = Blue pog.svg| shape-color7 = dark blue| mark-title7 = Akron RubberDucks| label7 = RubberDucks| mark-coord7 = {{coord|41.077924|-81.522202}}| label-pos7 = right| label-color7 = black
| mark8 = Blue pog.svg| shape-color8 = dark blue| mark-title8 = Altoona Curve| label8 = Curve| mark-coord8 = {{coord|40.473611|-78.394722}}| label-pos8 = left| label-color8 = black
| mark9 = Blue pog.svg| shape-color9 = dark blue| mark-title9 = Chesapeake Baysox| label9 = Baysox| mark-coord9 = {{coord|38.945556|-76.709167}}| label-pos9 = right| label-color9 = black
| mark10 = Blue pog.svg| shape-color10 = dark blue| mark-title10 = Erie SeaWolves| label10 = SeaWolves| mark-coord10 = {{coord|42.126944|-80.08}}| label-pos10 = right| label-color10 = black
| mark11 = Blue pog.svg| shape-color11 = dark blue| mark-title11 = Harrisburg Senators| label11 = Senators| mark-coord11 = {{coord|40.256428|-76.889977}}| label-pos11 = bottom| label-color11 = black
| mark12 = Blue pog.svg| shape-color12 = dark blue| mark-title12 = Richmond Flying Squirrels| label12 = Flying Squirrels| mark-coord12 = {{coord|37.571806|-77.463733}}| label-pos12 = right| label-color12 = black
}}
</div>

==Complete list of Eastern League teams (1923–present)==
{{main|List of Eastern League teams}}

'''Notes''': This list includes teams in predecessor [[New York–Pennsylvania League (1923–37)|New York–Pennsylvania League of 1923 to 1937]].

Bold font indicates an active Eastern League team.

A "^" indicates that team's article redirects to an article of an active team formerly of the Eastern League.

A "†" indicates that team's article redirects to an article of a defunct Eastern League team.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Akron Aeros]]^
*'''[[Akron RubberDucks]]'''
*[[Albany Senators (minor league baseball)|Albany Senators]]
*[[Albany-Colonie A's]]
*[[Albany-Colonie Yankees]]
*[[Allentown Brooks]]
*[[Allentown Cardinals]]
*[[Allentown Red Sox]]
*'''[[Altoona Curve]]'''
*[[Berkshire Brewers]]
*'''[[Binghamton Rumble Ponies]]'''
*[[Binghamton Triplets]]
*[[Bowie Baysox]]
*[[Bristol Red Sox]]
*[[Buffalo Bisons]]
*[[Canton–Akron Indians]]
*[[Charleston Indians]]
*'''[[Chesapeake Baysox]]'''
*[[Connecticut Defenders]]
*[[Elmira Pioneers|Elmira Colonels]]
*[[Elmira Pioneers]]
*[[Elmira Red Jackets]]
*[[Elmira Red Wings]]
*[[Elmira Royals]]
*'''[[Erie SeaWolves]]'''
*[[Glens Falls Tigers]]
*[[Glens Falls Tigers|Glens Falls White Sox]]
*[[Hagerstown Suns]]
*'''[[Harrisburg Senators]]'''
*[[Hartford Bees]]†
*[[Hartford Chiefs]]
*[[Hartford Laurels]]
*'''[[Hartford Yard Goats]]'''
*[[Hazleton Red Sox]]
*[[Holyoke Millers]]
*[[Jersey City A's]]
*[[Jersey City Indians]]
*[[Johnstown Johnnies (1892–1956)|Johnstown Johnnies]]
*[[Johnstown Red Sox]]
*[[Lancaster Red Roses]]
*[[London Tigers]]
*[[Lynn Pirates]]
*[[Lynn Sailors]]
*[[Manchester Yankees]]
*[[Nashua Angels]]
*[[Nashua Pirates]]
*[[New Britain Red Sox]]†
*[[New Britain Rock Cats]]
*'''[[New Hampshire Fisher Cats]]'''
*[[New Haven Ravens]]^
*[[Norwich Navigators]]
*[[Pawtucket Indians]]
*[[Pawtucket Red Sox]]
*[[Pittsfield Cubs]]
*[[Pittsfield Rangers]]
*[[Pittsfield Red Sox]]
*[[Pittsfield Senators]]
*'''[[Portland Sea Dogs]]'''
*[[Québec Carnavals]] (also as Québec Metros)
*'''[[Reading Fightin Phils]]'''
*[[Reading Indians]]^
*[[Reading Phillies]]^
*[[Reading Red Sox]]
*'''[[Richmond Flying Squirrels]]'''
*[[Schenectady Blue Jays]]
*[[Scranton Miners (baseball)|Scranton Miners]]
*[[Scranton Red Sox]]
*[[Shamokin Indians]]
*[[Sherbrooke Pirates]]
*'''[[Somerset Patriots]]'''
*[[Springfield Giants]]
*[[Springfield Nationals]]
*[[Springfield Rifles (baseball)|Springfield Rifles]]
*[[Syracuse Chiefs]]
*[[Syracuse/Allentown Chiefs]]
*[[Syracuse Stars (minor league baseball)|Syracuse Stars]]
<!--*[[Syracuse Stars/Hazelton Mountaineers]] (1929)-->
*[[Thetford Mines Miners]]
*[[Thetford Mines Pirates]]
*[[Trenton Senators]]
*[[Trenton Thunder]]
*[[Trois-Rivières Aigles (1971–1977)|Trois-Rivières Aigles]]
<!-- *[[Troy Trojans (minor league baseball)|Troy Trojans]] - appear to have been part of a previous Eastern League -->
*[[Utica Blue Sox]]
*[[Utica Braves]]
*Utica Indians/[[Oneonta Indians]]
*[[Vermont Mariners]]
*[[Vermont Reds]]
*[[Waterbury A's]]
*[[Waterbury Angels]]
*[[Waterbury Dodgers]]
*[[Waterbury Giants]]
*[[Waterbury Indians (baseball)|Waterbury Indians]]
*[[Waterbury Pirates]]
*[[Waterbury Reds]]
*[[West Haven A's]]
*[[West Haven White Caps]]
*[[West Haven Yankees]]
*[[Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball)|Wilkes-Barre Barons]]
<!--*[[Wilkes-Barre Barons/Johnstown Johnnies]] (1955)-->
*[[Wilkes-Barre Indians]]
*[[Williamsport A's]]
*[[Williamsport Billies]]
*[[Williamsport Bills]]
*[[Williamsport Grays]]
*[[Williamsport Mets]]
*[[Williamsport Tomahawks]]
*[[Williamsport Tigers]]
*[[York Pirates]]
*[[York White Roses]]
{{div col end}}

==Champions==
{{main|List of Eastern League champions}}

League champions have been determined by different means since the Eastern League's formation in 1923. Before 1934, the champions were simply the league pennant winners. A formal playoff system to determine league champions was established in 1934.<ref name=champions>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41794354|title=Past Champions|website=Eastern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>

The [[Binghamton Triplets]] have won 10 championships, the most among all teams in the league, followed by the [[Elmira Pioneers|Elmira Colonels/Pioneers/Royals]] (8) and the [[Scranton Miners (baseball)|Scranton Miners/Red Sox]] (7). Among active franchises, the [[Akron RubberDucks|Akron Aeros/RubberDucks]] and [[Harrisburg Senators]] have each won 6 championships, the most in the league, followed by the [[Reading Fightin Phils]] (4).<ref name=champions/>

==Awards==
*[[Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award]]
*[[Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Award]]
*[[Eastern League Top MLB Prospect Award]] (formerly the Eastern League Rookie of the Year Award)
*[[Eastern League Manager of the Year Award]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
*[[List of Eastern League stadiums]]
*[[Sports attendances]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

{{US Eastern League}}
{{Eastern League seasons}}
{{Professional Baseball}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastern League (Baseball)}}
[[Category:Eastern League (1938–present)| ]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1923]]
[[Category:Minor baseball leagues in the United States]]