Editing Pacific Coast League

{{short description|AAA baseball league in the Western US}}
{{For|the high school sports league|Pacific Coast Conference (California)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season =
| logo     = Pacific coast league.png
| pixels   = 113px
| caption  = 
| sport    = [[Baseball]]
| classification = [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] (1958–present)<br>Open (1952–1957)<br>Triple-A (1946–1951)<br>[[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] (1912–1945)<br>[[Class A (baseball)|Class-A]] (1904–1911)<br>Independent (1903)
| founded  = {{start date and age |1903|p=yes}}
| president= 
| motto    =
| teams    = 10
| country  = United States
| champion = [[Sugar Land Space Cowboys]] (2024)
| most_champs = [[San Francisco Seals (baseball)|San Francisco Seals]] (14)
| folded   = 
| replaced = 
| website  = [https://www.mlb.com/milb www.milb.com]
}}
The '''Pacific Coast League''' ('''PCL''') is a [[Minor League Baseball]] league that operates in the [[Western United States]]. Along with the [[International League]], it is one of two leagues playing at the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] level, which is one grade below [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). 

The PCL was one of the premier regional baseball leagues in the first half of the 20th century. Although it was never recognized as a true major league, to which it aspired, its quality of play was considered very high. A number of top stars of the era, including [[Joe DiMaggio]] and [[Ted Williams]], were products of the league. In 1958, with the arrival of major league teams on the west coast and the availability of televised major league games, the PCL's modern era began with each team signing Player Development Contracts to become [[farm team]]s of major league clubs. Following MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues in 2021, it operated as the '''Triple-A West''' for one season before switching back to its previous moniker in 2022.

A league champion is determined at the end of each season. The [[San Francisco Seals (PCL)|San Francisco Seals]] won 14 [[List of Pacific Coast League champions|Pacific Coast League titles]], the most in the league's history, followed by the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]] (12) and the [[Albuquerque Dukes]] and [[Portland Beavers]] (8).

==History==

===Formation and early history===
The Pacific Coast League was formed on December 29, 1902, when officials from the California State League (1899–1902) met in [[San Francisco]] for the purpose of expanding the league beyond [[California]]. Six franchises were granted. These were the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]], [[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]], [[Portland Beavers]], [[Sacramento Senators (baseball)|Sacramento Senators]], [[San Francisco Seals (baseball)|San Francisco Seals]], and [[Seattle Indians]]. A dispute over territories owned by the [[Pacific Northwest League]], in which the PCL had placed franchises, and the PCL's allowing blacklisted players to compete led to the [[Minor League Baseball|National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues]] (NAPBL) labeling the PCL as an outlaw league.<ref name=2017RB>{{cite book |section=Pacific Coast League Year-By-Year Standings |title=2017 Pacific Coast League Sketch & Record Book |publisher=Pacific Coast League |year=2017 |page=141}}</ref>

The mild climate of the West Coast, especially California, allowed the league to play longer seasons, sometimes starting in late February and ending as late as the beginning of December. During the 1905 season the San Francisco Seals set the all-time PCL record by playing 230 games.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Records | encyclopedia =Pacific Coast League Record Book | pages =30 | publisher =Pacific Coast League|editor-last= Weiss|editor-first=William J. | year =1969 }}</ref> Teams regularly played between 170 and 200 games in a season until the late 1950s. This allowed players, who were often career minor leaguers, to hone their skills, earn an extra month or two of pay, and reduce the need to find off-season work. These longer seasons gave owners the opportunity to generate more revenue. Another outcome was that a number of the all-time minor league records for season statistical totals are held by players from the PCL.

[[File:Opening Day 1903, Oakland Commuters leaving the Statehouse Hotel for their first PCL game against Sacramento. (17124238308).jpg|thumb|right|The visiting [[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]] prepare to travel to the ballpark on Opening Day 1903 to face the [[Sacramento Senators (baseball)|Sacramento Senators]].]]

The inaugural 1903 season, which consisted of over 200 scheduled games for each team, began on March 26.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-45989 |title=The Formation of the Pacific Coast League |last=Bauer |first=Carlos |publisher=Pacific Coast League |date=March 30, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617043451/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=l112&ymd=20060308&content_id=45989&vkey=league3 |access-date=February 4, 2024|url-status=live |archive-date=June 17, 2018 }}</ref> The Los Angeles Angels finished the season in first place with a 133–78 (.630) record, making them the first [[List of Pacific Coast League champions|league champions]].

In 1904, NAPBL president [[Patrick T. Powers]] brokered terms with the PCL, clearing it of its outlaw status and designating it as a Class A league. In 1909, the league classification was raised to Double-A. In 1919, with the earlier addition of the [[Salt Lake City Bees]] and [[Vernon Tigers]], league membership reached eight teams for the first time. While the league had experienced little commercial success up to this point, the 1920s were a turning point which saw increased attendance and teams fielding star players.<ref name=2017RB/>

The [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s resulted in a lower quality of play due to the league's salary reduction. Still, a number of top stars, including [[Joe DiMaggio]], [[Ted Williams]], [[Bobby Doerr]], and [[Ox Eckhardt]], competed on PCL teams that decade. Also helping attendance was the introduction of night games. At Sacramento's [[Edmonds Field|Moreing Field]], the Sacramento Solons and the Oakland Oaks played the first night baseball game, five years before any major league night game, on June 10, 1930. The [[Hollywood Stars]] and [[San Diego Padres (PCL)|San Diego Padres]] were added to the league in the 1930s as well.<ref name=2017RB/>

===A near-major league===
During the first half of the 20th century, the Pacific Coast League developed into one of the premier regional baseball leagues. The cities enfranchised by the other two high-minor leagues, the [[International League]] and the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]], were generally coordinated geographically with the major leagues, but such was not the case with the PCL. With no major league baseball team existing west of [[St. Louis]], the PCL was unrivaled for American west coast baseball. Although it was never recognized as a true major league, its quality of play was considered very high. Drawing from a strong pool of talent in the area, the PCL produced many outstanding players, including such future major-league [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famers]] as [[Joe DiMaggio]], [[Ted Williams]], [[Tony Lazzeri]], [[Paul Waner]], [[Earl Averill]], [[Bobby Doerr]], [[Joe Gordon]], and [[Ernie Lombardi]]. Amid success experienced after [[World War II]], league President [[Pants Rowland]] began to envision the PCL as a third major league. During 1945 the league voted to become a major league.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gE4aAAAAIBAJ&dq=pacific%20coast%20league%20logo&pg=3796%2C2074056|title=Pacific Coast League Votes to Become a Major League|date=December 5, 1945|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|access-date=July 29, 2013|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|page=L6|agency=AP}}</ref> However, the [[American League]] and [[National League (baseball)|National League]] were uninterested in allowing it to join their ranks.<ref name=2017RB/>

While many PCL players went on to play in the major leagues, teams in the league were often successful enough that they could offer competitive salaries to avoid being outbid for their players' services. Some players made a career out of the minor leagues. One of the better known was [[Frank Shellenback]], whose major league pitching career was brief,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shellfr01.shtml |title=Frank Shellenback Statistics and History |work=Baseball-Reference.com |year=2012 |access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> but who compiled a record PCL total of 295 wins against 178 losses. (It should be mentioned, however, that Shellenback's long career in the PCL was largely due to his use of the spitball, banned in the major leagues in 1920, not the competitive salaries offered by PCL clubs.){{citation needed|date=June 2022}} Many former major league players came to the PCL to finish their careers after their time in the majors had ended.

In 1952, the PCL became the only minor league in history to be given the "Open" classification, a grade above the Triple-A level. This limited the rights of major league clubs to draft players from the PCL, and was considered an act toward the circuit becoming a third major league.<ref name=2017RB/>

===Sudden decline===
The shift to the Open classification came just as minor league teams from coast to coast suffered a sharp drop in attendance, primarily due to the availability of major league games on television. The hammer blow to the PCL's major league dreams came in 1958 with the arrival of the first MLB teams on the west coast (the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and [[San Francisco Giants]]). As a result, three of the PCL's flagship teams (the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]], [[Hollywood Stars]], and [[San Francisco Seals (baseball)|San Francisco Seals]]) were immediately forced to relocate to smaller markets. The [[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]] had moved to Canada two years before the Giants arrived. The [[San Diego Padres (PCL)|San Diego Padres]] and [[Seattle Rainiers]] suffered the same fate when they were displaced by major league teams, the new [[San Diego Padres|Padres]] and the [[Seattle Pilots|Pilots]], respectively, in 1969. Additionally, the PCL lost customers to the major league teams which then occupied the same territory. The league never recovered from these blows. The Pacific Coast League reverted to Triple-A classification in 1958, where it remained, and soon diminished in the public eye to nothing more than another minor league.

===Moving beyond the coast===
The PCL began to spread out across the nation, and internationally, in the 1950s. Previously, [[Salt Lake City]] had been the easternmost city in the league. In 1956, the [[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]] relocated to [[Canada]] where they became the [[Vancouver Mounties]], the circuit's first international team. Two years later, the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]] moved to become the [[Spokane Indians]] and the [[San Francisco Seals (baseball)|San Francisco Seals]] became the [[Phoenix Giants]].<ref name=2017RB/>

The league continued to expand throughout the country in the 1960s. Clubs representing new cities during the decade included the [[Dallas Rangers]], [[Denver Bears]], [[Eugene Emeralds]], [[Hawaii Islanders]], [[Indianapolis Indians]], [[Oklahoma City 89ers]], [[Tacoma Giants|Tacoma]]/[[Phoenix Giants]], and [[Tucson Toros]]. From 1964 to 1968 the PCL swelled to twelve teams. The [[Albuquerque Dukes]] and [[Vancouver Canadians]] were a few of several teams to begin play in the 1970s.<ref name=2017RB/> Several new teams arrived in the 1980s, such as the [[Calgary Cannons]], [[Colorado Springs Sky Sox]], [[Edmonton Trappers]], and [[Las Vegas Stars (baseball)|Las Vegas Stars]], but the league began to stabilize as franchise relocations became less frequent.<ref name=2017RB/>

===Further expansion===
In 1998, the Pacific Coast League took on five teams from the disbanding [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]], which had operated in the Midwest, and a sixth franchise was added to the league as an expansion team, thus providing the scheduling convenience of an even number of teams. The addition of the [[Iowa Cubs]], [[Nashville Sounds]], [[Oklahoma RedHawks]], [[Omaha Royals]], [[New Orleans Zephyrs]], and the expansion [[Memphis Redbirds]] grew the league to an all-time-high 16 clubs.<ref name=2017RB/> Despite its name, the league now extended well beyond the Pacific coast, stretching from [[Western Washington]] to [[Middle Tennessee]]; half of its teams were located east of the [[Rocky Mountains]].

The league's presence in Canada diminished and ended in the early 2000s, as the Vancouver Canadians moved to Sacramento to become the [[Sacramento RiverCats|RiverCats]] in 2000 (however, a short-season A club replaced that one there), the Calgary Cannons moved to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], to become the [[Albuquerque Isotopes]] in 2003, and the [[Edmonton Trappers]], the circuit's final Canadian team moved to [[Round Rock Express|Round Rock]] in 2005. Of the cities represented in the PCL in its heyday, only [[Salt Lake City]] and [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] remain, and even these were represented by franchises different from those that originally called these cities home. In 2005, the Pacific Coast League became the first minor league ever to achieve a season attendance of over 7 million. In 2007, league attendance reached an all-time high of 7,420,095.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific Coast League: Attendance|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2007&t=l_att&lid=112&sid=l112|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091751/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2007&t=l_att&lid=112&sid=l112|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 17, 2015}}</ref>

In 2019, the team previously known as the [[Colorado Springs Sky Sox]] relocated to [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]] and continued play in the PCL as the [[San Antonio Missions]], assuming the identity of a team which had previously competed in the Double-A [[Texas League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/pacific-coast/news/san-antonio-to-join-pcl-beginning-in-2019/c-237847412/t-209979204|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806022314/https://www.milb.com/pacific-coast/news/san-antonio-to-join-pcl-beginning-in-2019/c-237847412/t-209979204|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2017|title=San Antonio to join PCL beginning in 2019|website=Pacific Coast League|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref> This move was accompanied by realignment in the American Conference. Nashville and Memphis moved to the Northern Division, and Oklahoma City and San Antonio moved to the Southern Division.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sounds Announce 2019 Home Schedule|url=https://www.milb.com/nashville/news/sounds-announce-2019-home-schedule-288363954|website=Nashville Sounds|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=August 1, 2018|access-date=August 1, 2018}}</ref> In a further move, the [[New Orleans Baby Cakes]] relocated to [[Wichita, Kansas]] where they became known as the Double-A [[Wichita Wind Surge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Wichita Rolls out a Logo Finalist for New Baseball Team, but No Name|url=http://www.kake.com/story/41130105/wichita-rolls-out-a-logo-finalist-for-new-baseball-team-but-no-name-1|website=KAKE|date=October 2, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

===Takeover by Major League Baseball===
The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.<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 name=2020can>{{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 Pacific Coast League was reduced to 10 teams and temporarily renamed the "Triple-A West" for the 2021 season.<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 Triple-A West was renamed the Pacific Coast 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>

==Structure and season==
The league is divided into two divisions, East and West, of five teams each. As of the 2022 season, all teams play a 150-game schedule, beginning in late March and concluding in late September.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Anthony |title=Triple-A Baseball Season Expanded to 150 Games |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/triple-a-baseball-season-expanded-to-150-games.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref>

=== Players ===
The Pacific Coast League uses a [[salary cap]]. As of the 2024 season, clubs are required to spend a maximum of [[United States dollar|US$]]1,610,000 on player compensation, with a minimum salary of $35,800 per player.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=J. J. |date=2024-05-08 |title=How Much Are Minor League Baseball Players Paid In 2024? |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-much-are-minor-league-baseball-players-paid-in-2024/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blank |first=Jeff |date=2023-12-18 |title=How Much Do Triple A Minor League Baseball Players Make |url=https://sportslawblogger.com/how-much-money-do-minor-league-baseball-players-make-at-triple-a.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=SportsLawBlogger.com |language=en-US}}</ref> For players aged 23 and younger on standard contracts, only 50% of their salary counts towards the cap (up to $250,000 total). There is also a separate salary cap for coaches and technical staff.

Rosters are limited to a size of 28 players on Opening Day weekend, although up to 9 players can be signed on the roster before the transactions date limit.

===Championship and interleague play===
[[File:2015 AAA All-Star Game dugout.jpg|thumb|right|PCL All-Stars at the 2015 [[Triple-A All-Star Game]]]]

Beginning with the 2023 season, the regular season is split into two halves. After the completion of the season, the winners of each half meet in a best-of-three series to determine a [[List of Pacific Coast League champions|league champion]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/triple-a-national-championship-game-2023 |title=2023 Triple-A National Championship Game Set for Sept. 30 in Las Vegas |website=Minor League Baseball |date=March 28, 2023 |accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref> The PCL champion then meets the [[International League]]'s champion in the [[Triple-A National Championship Game]], a single game to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball, which has been held annually since 2006, excluding 2020 and 2021. Previously, the PCL champion also competed in the [[Triple-A World Series]] (1983, 1998–2000), [[Junior World Series]] (1919), and other sporadic postseason competitions throughout the league's history.

Other interleague play occurred during the [[Triple-A All-Star Game]]. Traditionally, the game took place on the day after the mid-summer [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]].<ref name=Omaha2015>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-68763994|title=Omaha Storm Chasers and Werner Park to Host 2015 Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game|work=Omaha Storm Chasers|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=March 5, 2014|access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref> The game was meant to mark a symbolic halfway-point in the season (though not the mathematical halfway-point which, for most seasons, is usually one month prior). During the All-Star break, no regular-season games were scheduled for two days before the All-Star Game itself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41859966|title=Durham Lands 2014 Triple-A ASG|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

==Teams==
<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"|Founded
!scope="col"|MLB affiliation
!scope="col"|Affiliated
!scope="col"|City
!scope="col"|Stadium
!scope="col"|Capacity
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="5" | East
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Albuquerque Isotopes]]
|align=center|2003
|[[Colorado Rockies]]
|align=center|2015
|[[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
|[[Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park]]
|align=center|13,500
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[El Paso Chihuahuas]]
|align=center|2014
|[[San Diego Padres]]
|align=center|2014
|[[El Paso, Texas]]
|[[Southwest University Park]]
|align=center|9,500
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Oklahoma City Comets]]
|align=center|1962
|[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]
|align=center|2015
|[[Oklahoma City|Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
|[[Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark]]
|align=center|9,000
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Round Rock Express]]
|align=center|2000
|[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]
|align=center|2021
|[[Round Rock, Texas]]
|[[Dell Diamond]]
|align=center|11,631
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Sugar Land Space Cowboys]]
|align=center|2012
|[[Houston Astros]]
|align=center|2021
|[[Sugar Land, Texas]]
| [[Constellation Field]] 
|align=center| 7,500
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="5" | West
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Las Vegas Aviators]]
|align=center|1983
|[[Athletics (baseball)|Athletics]]
|align=center|2019
|[[Summerlin South, Nevada]]
|[[Las Vegas Ballpark]]
|align=center|10,000
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Reno Aces]]
|align=center|2009
|[[Arizona Diamondbacks]]
|align=center|2009
|[[Reno, Nevada]]
|[[Greater Nevada Field]]
|align=center|9,013
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Sacramento River Cats]]
|align=center|2000
|[[San Francisco Giants]]
|align=center|2015
|[[West Sacramento, California]]
|[[Sutter Health Park]]
|align=center|14,014
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Salt Lake Bees]]
|align=center|1994
|[[Los Angeles Angels]]
|align=center|2001
|[[South Jordan, Utah]]
|[[Daybreak Field at America First Square]]
|align=center|6,500
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left"|[[Tacoma Rainiers]]
|align=center|1960
|[[Seattle Mariners]]
|align=center|1995
|[[Tacoma, Washington]]
|[[Cheney Stadium]]
|align=center|6,500
|}
</onlyinclude>

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{{Clear}}

==Rules==
The Pacific Coast League plays by the same rules listed in the ''Official Baseball Rules'' published by Major League Baseball. One exception was the use of the [[designated hitter]] (DH). Whereas the application of the DH rule in Major League Baseball is determined by the identity of the home team, with the rules of the home team's league applying to both teams, PCL pitchers hit when both clubs were National League affiliates and they agreed to have their pitchers hit. Two National League affiliated clubs may agree to use the DH instead. The reason for this is that as players move up and get closer to reaching the majors, teams prefer to have the rules follow (as closely as possible) those of the major leagues. The DH is always used when one or both teams are American League affiliates.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.milb.com/milb/info/faq.jsp?mc=onfield#1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120608040649/http://www.milb.com/milb/info/faq.jsp?mc=onfield#1 |url-status= dead |archive-date= June 8, 2012 |work= The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |year=2012 |title=MiLB.com Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref> Since MLB's adoption of the universal DH in 2022, this no longer is an issue.

Other differences lay in the use of professional baseball's [[pace-of-play]] initiatives which began to be implemented in 2015. A 15-second [[pitch clock]] is used when no runners were on base; 20 seconds are allowed with runners present.<ref>{{cite web |title=MiLB announces pace-of-play rules for 2018|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/minor-league-baseball-announces-pace-of-play-regulations-for-2018/c-268683294|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315020038/https://www.milb.com/milb/news/minor-league-baseball-announces-pace-of-play-regulations-for-2018/c-268683294|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2018|work=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=March 14, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> Teams are limited to five mound visits during a nine-inning game.<ref name=2019PaceOfPlay>{{cite web |title=MiLB announces pace-of-play rules for 2019|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/milb-announces-pace-of-play-rules-for-2019/c-305774226|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329154016/https://www.milb.com/milb/news/milb-announces-pace-of-play-rules-for-2019/c-305774226|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2019|work=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref> Pitchers are required to face a minimum of three consecutive batters until the side is retired or the pitcher is injured and unable to continue playing.<ref name=2019PaceOfPlay/>

==Teams timeline==

{{main|List of Pacific Coast League teams}}

Note: Teams in italics are PCL "classic" teams from the league's height in the 1950s.

Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific Coast League (AAA) Encyclopedia and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=PCL&class=AAA|website=Baseball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref>

* ''[[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]]'' (1903–1957) → [[Spokane Indians]] (1958–1971) → [[Albuquerque Dukes]] (1972–2000) → [[Portland Beavers]] (2001–2010) → [[Tucson Padres]] (2011–2013) → '''[[El Paso Chihuahuas]]''' (2014–present)
* ''[[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]]'' (1903–1955) → [[Vancouver Mounties]] (1956–1962) → [[Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers]] (1963) → [[Dallas Rangers]] (1964) → [[Vancouver Mounties]] (1965–1969) → [[Salt Lake City Bees]] (1970) → [[Salt Lake City Angels]] (1971–1974) → [[Salt Lake City Gulls]] (1975–1984) → [[Calgary Cannons]] (1985–2002) → '''[[Albuquerque Isotopes]]''' (2003–present)
* ''[[Portland Beavers]]'' (1919–1972) → [[Spokane Indians]] (1973–1982) → [[Las Vegas Stars (baseball)|Las Vegas Stars]] (1983–2000) → [[Las Vegas 51s]] (2001–2018) → '''[[Las Vegas Aviators]]''' (2019–present)
* [[Portland Beavers]] (1978–1993) → [[Salt Lake Buzz]] (1994–2000) → [[Salt Lake Stingers]] (2001–2005) → '''[[Salt Lake Bees]]''' (2006–present)
* [[Sacramento Senators (baseball)|Sacramento Senators]] (1903) → [[Tacoma Tigers]] (1904)→ [[Tacoma Tigers]]/[[Sacramento Senators (baseball)|Sacramento]] (1905){{refn|group=nb|name=:2|The 1905 Tacoma Tigers were moved back to Sacramento in the middle of the 1905 season due to poor play, then were moved again to Fresno the following season.}} → [[Fresno Raisin Eaters]] (1906){{refn|group=nb|name=:3|The 1907–1908 Sacramento Cordovas played in the California League after returning from Fresno.}} → [[Sacramento Sacts]] (1909–1913) → [[Sacramento Sacts|Sacramento/Mission Wolves]] (1914) → [[Salt Lake City Bees]] (1915–1925) → [[Hollywood Stars]] (1926–1935) →''[[San Diego Padres (PCL)|San Diego Padres]]'' (1936–1968) → [[Eugene Emeralds]] (1969–1973) → [[Sacramento Solons]] (1974–1976) → [[San Jose Missions]] (1977–1978) → [[Ogden A's]] (1979–1980) → [[Edmonton Trappers]] (1981–2004) → '''[[Round Rock Express]]''' (2005–present)
* ''[[San Francisco Seals (baseball)|San Francisco Seals]]'' (1903–1957) → [[Phoenix Giants]] (1958–1959) → [[Tacoma Giants]] (1960–1965) → [[Phoenix Giants]] (1966–1985) → [[Phoenix Firebirds]] (1986–1997) → [[Tucson Sidewinders]] (1998–2008)<ref>{{cite news|last=Nothaft|first=Mark|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2017/01/03/what-happened-phoenix-firebirds/96020572/|title=What happened to the Phoenix Firebirds?|newspaper=Arizona Republic|date=January 3, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2017}}</ref>→ '''[[Reno Aces]]''' (2009–present) <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/191624.php |title=PCL approves Sidewinders sale; Reno gets site |website=The Arizona Daily Star |date=July 13, 2007 |access-date=February 4, 2008}}</ref>
* [[Vancouver Canadians (PCL)|Vancouver Canadians]] (1978–1999) → '''[[Sacramento River Cats]]''' (2000–present)
* [[Vernon Tigers]] (1909–1912) → [[Venice Tigers]] (1913–1914) → [[Vernon Tigers|Venice/Vernon Tigers]] (1915) → [[Vernon Tigers]] (1916–1925) → [[Mission Reds|Mission Bells]] (1926–1927) → [[Mission Reds]] (1928–1937) → ''[[Hollywood Stars]]'' (1938–1957) → [[Salt Lake City Bees]] (1958–1965) → [[Tacoma Cubs]] (1966–1971) → [[Tacoma Twins]] (1972–1977) → [[Tacoma Yankees]] (1978) → [[Tacoma Tugs]] (1979) → [[Tacoma Tigers]] (1980–1994) → '''[[Tacoma Rainiers]]''' (1995–present)

===Former American Association teams===
One league team was acquired by the PCL following the disbandment of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] after the 1997 season.

*[[Oklahoma City 89ers]] (1963–1968){{refn|group=nb|name=:5|The Oklahoma City 89ers were members of the American Association in 1962 and from 1969 to 1997.}} → [[Oklahoma RedHawks]] (1998–2008) → [[Oklahoma City RedHawks]]  (2009–2014) → [[Oklahoma City Dodgers]] (2015–2023) → [[Oklahoma City Baseball Club]] (2024) → '''[[Oklahoma City Comets]]''' (2025–present)

===Former Atlantic League teams===
One league team joined the PCL from the independent [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball|Atlantic League]] in the 2021 reorganization.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic League (Independent) Encyclopedia and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=ATLL&class=Ind|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>

*[[Sugar Land Skeeters]] (2021) → '''[[Sugar Land Space Cowboys]]''' (2022–present)

===Former teams===
Two former league teams played in the PCL from 1964 to 1968. Each one had played in the [[International League]] during the 1963 season, and each was transferred to the American Association after the 1968 season.
*[[Arkansas Travelers]] (1964–1965) → [[Tulsa Oilers (baseball)|Tulsa Oilers]] (1966–1968)
*[[Indianapolis Indians]] (1964–1968)

Seven former league teams were transferred to other leagues in conjunction with the 2021 reorganization of the minors. Memphis, which was created as an expansion team in 1998, was transferred to the [[International League]] along with Iowa, Nashville, and Omaha, which joined the PCL from the American Association in 1998. Wichita, which also traces its roots to the American Association, was moved to the [[Texas League]] along with San Antonio. Fresno was transferred to the [[California League]].

* [[Nashville Sounds]] (1998–2020)
* [[Iowa Cubs]] (1998–2020)
* [[Memphis Redbirds]] (1998–2020)
* [[Denver Bears]] (1963–1968){{refn|group=nb|name=:6|Denver/New Orleans were members of the American Association from 1969 to 1997.}} → [[New Orleans Zephyrs]] (1998–2016) → [[New Orleans Baby Cakes]] (2017–2019) → [[Wichita Wind Surge]] (2020)
* [[Omaha Royals]] (1998) → [[Omaha Golden Spikes]] (1999–2001) → [[Omaha Royals]] (2002–2010) → [[Omaha Storm Chasers]] (2011–2020)
* [[Portland Browns]] (1903–1904) → [[Portland Giants]] (1905) → [[Portland Beavers]] (1906–1917){{refn|group=nb|name=:1|The 1917 Portland Beavers ceased operations, and its slot in the PCL was offered to Sacramento.}} → [[Sacramento Solons|Sacramento Senators]] (1918–1935) → ''[[Sacramento Solons]]'' (1936–1960) → [[Hawaii Islanders]] (1961–1987) → [[Colorado Springs Sky Sox]] (1988–2018) → [[San Antonio Missions]] (2019–2020)
* [[Seattle Siwashes]] (1903–1906) → [[Seattle Rainiers]] (1919–1921){{refn|group=nb|name=:4|The 1907–1918 Seattle club played in the Northwest League and Pacific Coast International League.}} → [[Seattle Indians]] (1922–1937) → ''[[Seattle Rainiers]]'' (1938–1964) → [[Seattle Angels]] (1965–1968) → [[Tucson Toros]] (1969–1997) → [[Fresno Grizzlies]] (1998–2020)

====Notes====
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==Presidents==
Seventeen presidents led the PCL before its 2021 reorganization:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-148681 |title=Former Presidents |website=Pacific Coast League |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=April 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bauer |first=Carlos |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-45989 |title=The Formation of the Pacific Coast League |website=Pacific Coast League |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=April 7, 2017}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 1902–1903: James Moran
* 1903–1906: Eugene F. Bert
* 1907–1909: [[J. Cal Ewing]]
* 1910–1911: Judge Thomas F. Graham
* 1912–1919: Allan T. Baum
* 1920–1923: William H. McCarthy
* 1924–1931: Harry A. Williams
* 1932–1935: Hyland H. Baggerly
* 1936–1943: [[W. C. Tuttle]]
* 1944–1954: [[Pants Rowland|Clarence H. Rowland]]
* 1955: Claire V. Goodwin
* 1956–1959: [[Leslie O'Connor]]
* 1960–1968: [[Dewey Soriano]]
* 1968–1973: William B. McKechnie Jr.
* 1974–1978: Roy Jackson
* 1979–1997: [[Bill Cutler (baseball executive)|Bill Cutler]]
* 1998–2020: [[Branch Barrett Rickey|Branch B. Rickey]]
{{div col end}}

==Past champions==
{{main|List of Pacific Coast League champions}}

League champions have been determined by different means since the Pacific Coast League's formation in 1903. With few exceptions, most PCL champions through 1927 were simply the regular season pennant winners.<ref name=PCLlist>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-148679|title=Past Champions|website=Pacific Coast League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=June 1, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142706/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=l112&ymd=20061214&content_id=148679&vkey=league3|archive-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref> However, a few seasons during this time did feature a postseason championship series to crown a champion. It was not until the mid-1930s that the league instituted regular postseason play that was only sporadically cancelled due to financial problems or other factors.<ref name=AAAlist>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tripleabaseball.com/PostSeasonPCL.jsp|title=Post-Season Play in the Pacific Coast League |website=Triple-A Baseball|access-date=June 1, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308050544/https://www.tripleabaseball.com/PostSeasonPCL.jsp|archive-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref> Beginning with 2023, the regular-season is split into two halves, and the winners of each half meet in a best-of-three series for the league championship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/triple-a-national-championship-game-2023 |title=2023 Triple-A National Championship Game Set for Sept. 30 in Las Vegas |website=Minor League Baseball |date=March 28, 2023 |accessdate=March 28, 2023}}</ref>

The [[San Francisco Seals (PCL)|San Francisco Seals]] won 14 PCL championships, the most among all teams in the league, followed by the [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]] (12) and the [[Albuquerque Dukes]] and [[Portland Beavers]] (8).

==Awards==
[[File:Lefty-odoul.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Frank "Lefty" O'Doul in a New York Yankees uniform.|[[Lefty O'Doul]] won the first [[Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award|Pacific Coast League MVP Award]] in 1927.<ref name=AwardWinners>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/pacific-coast/history/award-winners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012133012/https://www.milb.com/pacific-coast/history/award-winners|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2019|title=Pacific Coast League Award Winners|work=Pacific Coast League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 9, 2020}}</ref>]]
The PCL recognizes outstanding players and team personnel annually near the end of each season.

===MVP Award===
{{main|Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award}}
The [[Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]], first awarded in 1927, is given to honor the best player in the league. The award is voted on by team managers, general managers, broadcasters, and media representatives from around the league, as are all PCL year-end awards.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===Pitcher of the Year Award===
{{main|Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Award}}
The [[Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Award|Pitcher of the Year Award]], awarded sporadically from 1957 to 1974 and continuously since 2001, serves to recognize the league's best pitcher. Pitchers were also eligible to win the MVP Award from 1927 to 2000.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===Top MLB Prospect Award===
{{main|Pacific Coast League Top MLB Prospect Award}}
The [[Pacific Coast League Top MLB Prospect Award|Top MLB Prospect Award]], created in 1952 as the Rookie of the Year Award and issued from 1952 to 1972 and since 1998, is given to the best player with no prior PCL experience.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===Manager of the Year Award===
{{main|Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Award}}
The [[Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Award|Manager of the Year Award]], started in 1967, is given to the league's top manager.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

===Executive of the Year Award===
The Executive of the Year Award, first awarded in 1974, honored team executives who have achieved success in the area of attendance figures, promotions, and community involvement.<ref name=AwardWinners/>

==Hall of Fame==
{{main|Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame}}
The Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame was established in 1942 to honor league players, managers, and executives who have made significant contributions to the league's ideals. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class of 12&nbsp;men in 1943. The Hall became dormant after 1957, but was revived in 2003, the PCL's centennial season. Today, the Hall of Fame Committee seeks to recognize worthy players throughout the league's history who have made contributions to the league. New members are elected before the start of each season.<ref name=HallOfficial>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41573534|title=Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame|website=Pacific Coast League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
*[[List of Pacific Coast League no-hitters]]
*[[List of Pacific Coast League records]]
*[[List of Pacific Coast League stadiums]]
*[[Sports league attendances]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
<!-- *[http://www.tripleabaseball.com Triple-A Baseball] official website -->

{{Pacific Coast League}}
{{Professional Baseball}}

[[Category:Pacific Coast League| ]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in California]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1903]]
[[Category:Minor baseball leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States]]