Kansai Independent Baseball League
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country |  Japan |
| Most recent champion(s) | Hyogo Blue Sandars |
| Most titles | Osaka Gold Villicanes (1), Kobe 9 Cruise (1), Hyogo Blue Sandars (1) |
| Official website | KIBL Official site |
The Kansai Independent Baseball League (関西独立リーグ, Kansai Dokuritsu Rīgu) is a professional baseball league in Japan. Its debut season was in 2009.
The league's activities became public in 2008. Plans to form the league were announced at a press conference on March 6.[1] On July 30, the names of the four teams were released.
The league held its first draft on November 16. Kobe made history, selecting 16-year-old Eri Yoshida to be the first female in an otherwise all-male league.[2] Yoshida made her professional debut at the Osaka Dome in the opening game of the KIBL on March 26, 2009 before 11,592 fans. Yoshida faced two batters, walking the first and striking-out the second in a 5-0 win over the Osaka Gold Villicanes.[3]
Teams
The league has five teams.
| Team | Founded | City |
|---|---|---|
| Kishu Rangers (紀州レンジャーズ)[4] | 2009 | Wakayama, Wakayama |
| Seoul Haechi (ソウル・ヘチ) | 2010 | Osaka |
| Hyogo Blue Sandars (兵庫ブルーサンダーズ) | 2011 | Sanda, Hyōgo |
| Osaka Hawks Dream (大阪ホークスドリーム) | 2011 | Osaka |
| Kobe Suns (神戸サンズ) | 2011 | Kobe and Awaji Island, Hyōgo |
Championship history
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Osaka Gold Villicanes |
| 2010 | Kobe 9 Cruise |
| 2011 | Hyogo Blue Sandars |
Dormant franchises
- Akashi Red Soldiers - Akashi, Hyōgo (2009-2010)
Former franchises
- Osaka Gold Villicanes - Osaka, Osaka (2009)
- Kobe 9 Cruise - Kobe, Hyōgo (2009-2010)
References
- ^ 関西に野球独立リーグ : 一般スポーツ : スポーツ : 関西発 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞） (Yomiuri Shimbun) Retrieved on November 17, 2008
- ^ 史上初女性プロ野球選手は１６歳女子高生！ (1/3ページ) - 社会 - SANSPO.COM (Shijō hatsu josei pro yakyū senshu wa 16 sai joshikūsei! Sanspo) Retrieved on November 17, 2008
- ^ Gonzalez, Alden (2009-03-27). "Female pitcher makes history in Japan: Side-arming knuckleballer notches strikeout in pro debut". MLB.com. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ 紀州レンジャーズ (Official site of the Kishu Rangers) Retrieved on November 17, 2008
- This article incorporates information translated from 関西独立リーグ (Kansai Dokuritsu League) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on November 17, 2008.
External links
Template:Kansai Independent Baseball League
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