The Eastern League of Minor League Baseball is A Double-A baseball league in the United States that began play in 1923. A league champion has determined at the end of each season. Champions have been determined by postseason playoffs, winning the regular season pennant, or being declared champion by the league office. For 2019, the league operated under a split season format in which the first place teams from each division in both the first and second halves of the season qualified for the playoffs. In the event that the same team won both halves, the team with the best win–loss record over the full season qualified. The first and second half winners then competed in a best-of-five series to determine division champions. The division winners then played each other in a best-of-five series to determine a league champion. As of 2022, the winners of each division from both the first and second halves of the season meet in a best-of-three division series, with the winners of the two division series meeting in a best-of-three championship series.

The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the league ceased operations before the 2021 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball. In place of the Eastern League, MLB created the Double-A Northeast, a 12-team circuit divided into two divisions. Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Double-A Northeast as the Eastern League, and it carried on the history of the league prior to reorganization. In 2021, the Double-A Northeast held a best-of-five series between the top two teams in the league, regardless of division standings, to determine a league champion.

League champions Score and finalist information is only presented when postseason play occurred. The lack of this information indicates a declared league champion.

YearChampionScoreFinalist1923Williamsport Billies——1924Williamsport Grays——1925York White Roses3–1Williamsport Grays1926Scranton Miners——1927Harrisburg Senators——1928Harrisburg Senators——1929Binghamton Triplets——1930Wilkes-Barre Barons——1931Harrisburg Senators——1932Wilkes-Barre Barons——1933Binghamton Triplets——1934Williamsport Grays4–2Binghamton Triplets1935Binghamton Triplets4–3Scranton Miners1936Scranton Miners4–0Elmira Pioneers1937Elmira Colonels4–1Wilkes-Barre Barons1938Elmira Pioneers3–2Binghamton Triplets1939Scranton Red Sox4–1Albany Senators1940Binghamton Triplets4–1Hartford Bees1941Elmira Pioneers4–3Williamsport Grays1942Scranton Red Sox4–1Binghamton Triplets1943Elmira Pioneers4–2Scranton Red Sox1944Binghamton Triplets4–2Utica Blue Sox1945Albany Senators4–3Wilkes-Barre Barons1946Scranton Red Sox4–1Hartford Chiefs1947Utica Blue Sox4–3Albany Senators1948Scranton Red Sox4–0Albany Senators1949Binghamton Triplets4–3Wilkes-Barre Indians1950Wilkes-Barre Indians4–1Binghamton Triplets1951Scranton Red Sox4–0Elmira Pioneers1952Binghamton Triplets4–1Reading Indians1953Binghamton Triplets4–2Reading Indians1954Albany Senators4–1Reading Indians1955Allentown Cardinals3–2Schenectady Blue Jays1956Schenectady Blue Jays3–0Reading Indians1957Reading Indians3–1Albany Senators1958Binghamton Triplets3–2Lancaster Red Roses1959Springfield Giants3–1Williamsport Grays1960Springfield GiantsWilliamsport Grays——1961Springfield Giants——1962Elmira Pioneers3–1Williamsport Grays1963Charleston Indians——1964Elmira Pioneers——1965Pittsfield Red Sox——1966Elmira Pioneers——1967Binghamton Triplets3–1Elmira Pioneers1968Reading Phillies3–1Pittsfield Red Sox1969York Pirates——1970Waterbury Pirates——1971Elmira Royals3–1Trois-Rivières Aigles1972West Haven Yankees3–0Trois-Rivières Aigles1973Reading Phillies3–1Pittsfield Rangers1974Thetford Mines Pirates2–0Pittsfield Rangers1975Bristol Red Sox3–0Reading Phillies1976West Haven Yankees3–0Trois-Rivières Aigles1977West Haven Yankees3–0Trois-Rivières Aigles1978Bristol Red Sox2–0Reading Phillies1979West Haven Yankees——1980Holyoke Millers2–1Waterbury Reds1981Bristol Red Sox3–2Glens Falls White Sox1982West Haven A's3–0Lynn Sailors1983New Britain Red Sox3–1Lynn Sailors1984Vermont Reds3–2Waterbury Angels1985Vermont Reds3–1New Britain Red Sox1986Vermont Reds3–2Reading Phillies1987Harrisburg Senators3–2Vermont Reds1988Albany-Colonie Yankees3–1Vermont Mariners1989Albany-Colonie Yankees3–1Harrisburg Senators1990London Tigers3–0New Britain Red Sox1991Albany-Colonie Yankees3–0Harrisburg Senators1992Binghamton Mets3–2Canton-Akron Indians1993Harrisburg Senators3–2Canton-Akron Indians1994Binghamton Mets3–1Harrisburg Senators1995Reading Phillies3–2New Haven Ravens1996Harrisburg Senators3–1Portland Sea Dogs1997Harrisburg Senators3–1Portland Sea Dogs1998Harrisburg Senators3–1New Britain Rock Cats1999Harrisburg Senators3–2Norwich Navigators2000New Haven Ravens3–1Reading Phillies2001New Britain Rock CatsReading Phillies——2002Norwich Navigators3–2Harrisburg Senators2003Akron Aeros3–0New Haven Ravens2004New Hampshire Fisher Cats3–0Altoona Curve2005Akron Aeros3–1Portland Sea Dogs2006Portland Sea Dogs3–2Akron Aeros2007Trenton Thunder3–1Akron Aeros2008Trenton Thunder3–1Akron Aeros2009Akron Aeros3–1Connecticut Defenders2010Altoona Curve3–1Trenton Thunder2011New Hampshire Fisher Cats3–1Richmond Flying Squirrels2012Akron Aeros3–1Trenton Thunder2013Trenton Thunder3–0Harrisburg Senators2014Binghamton Mets3–0Richmond Flying Squirrels2015Bowie Baysox3–2Reading Fightin Phils2016Akron RubberDucks3–0Trenton Thunder2017Altoona Curve3–0Trenton Thunder2018New Hampshire Fisher Cats3–0Akron RubberDucks2019Trenton Thunder3–1Bowie Baysox20202021Akron RubberDucks3–0Bowie Baysox2022Somerset Patriots2–1Erie SeaWolves2023Erie SeaWolves2–0Binghamton Rumble Ponies2024Erie SeaWolves2–0Somerset Patriots2025Binghamton Rumble Ponies2–1Erie SeaWolves2026Reading Fightin Phils2–0Erie SeaWolves

Championship wins by team

Current EL teams appear in bold.

WinsTeamChampionship years10Binghamton Triplets1929, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1958, 19678Elmira Colonels/Pioneers/Royals1937, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1962, 1964, 1966, 19717Scranton Miners/Red Sox1926, 1936, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1948, 19516Harrisburg Senators1987, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 19996Akron RubberDucks (Akron Aeros)2003, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, 20215Reading Fightin Phils (Reading Phillies)1968, 1973, 1995, 2001, 20265West Haven Yankees/A's1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 19824Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Binghamton Mets)1992, 1994, 2014, 20254Trenton Thunder2007, 2008, 2013, 20194Williamsport Billies/Grays1923, 1924, 1934, 19603New Hampshire Fisher Cats2004, 2011, 20183Albany-Colonie Yankees1988, 1989, 19913Bristol Red Sox1975, 1978, 19813Harrisburg Senators (NYPL) 1927, 1928, 19313Springfield Giants1959, 1960, 19613Vermont Reds1984, 1985, 19863Wilkes-Barre Barons/Indians1930, 1932, 19502Albany Senators1945, 19542Altoona Curve2010, 20172Erie SeaWolves2023, 20242New Britain Red Sox/Rock Cats1983, 20012York White Roses/Pirates1925, 19691Allentown Cardinals19551Bowie Baysox20151Charleston Indians19631Holyoke Millers19801London Tigers19901New Haven Ravens20001Norwich Navigators20021Pittsfield Red Sox19651Portland Sea Dogs20061Reading Indians19571Schenectady Blue Jays19561Somerset Patriots20221Thetford Mines Pirates19741Utica Blue Sox19471Waterbury Pirates1970

Notes Williamsport and York finished the season with identical win–loss records. York defeated Williamsport, 3–1, in a championship series to determine the champion. Springfield and Williamsport were declared co-champions after inclement weather forced the cancellation of the playoffs. York was declared champion after inclement weather forced the cancellation of the playoffs. New Britain and Reading were declared co-champions after the playoffs were cancelled in the wake the September 11 terrorist attacks.

References