 | |
| Classification | Triple-A (1958–present) Open (1952–1957) Triple-A (1946–1951) Double-A (1912–1945) Class-A (1904–1911) Independent (1903) |
|---|---|
| Sport | Baseball |
| Founded | 1903 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Sugar Land Space Cowboys (2024) |
| Most titles | San Francisco Seals (14) |
| Official website | 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 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 teams 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 won 14 Pacific Coast League titles, the most in the league's history, followed by the Los Angeles Angels (12) and the Albuquerque Dukes and Portland Beavers (8).