The Arizona Complex League (ACL), formerly known as the Arizona League (AZL), is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, at the Rookie level, which is the lowest grade below Major League Baseball. A champion has been determined at the end of each season since the league was formed in 1988.
The ACL Athletics have won six Arizona Complex League championships, more than any other team, followed by the ACL Brewers and ACL Giants (5) and the ACL Mariners (4).
History
The Arizona League (AZL) was founded in 1988. A league champion has been determined at the end of each season. Champions from 1988 to 1998 were simply the regular-season pennant winners—the team with the best winning percentage at the conclusion of the regular championship season. The first league champions were the AZL Brewers, who won by six games over the AZL Athletics in 1988.
The league began holding playoffs to determine league champions in 1999. Typically, the winners of each half of the league's split-season met in a single championship game. With the introduction of divisions in 2009, the postseason was expanded to include four teams. It was expanded further to include six teams in 2013. The championship round became a best-of-three series starting in 2016.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Arizona League became known as the Arizona Complex League (ACL). No playoffs were held in 2021. Instead, the team with the best winning percentage was declared champion.
Since 2022, four teams—three division winners and one wild card—have qualified for the postseason. The semi-finals consist of a single-game. The winners advance to the best-of-three championship series.
Champions
+KeyScoreScore of the championship series
+Champions Year Champion Score Runner-up 1988 AZL Brewers — AZL Athletics 1989 AZL Brewers — AZL Athletics 1990 AZL Brewers — AZL Mariners 1991 AZL Athletics — AZL Brewers 1992 AZL Athletics — AZL Giants & AZL Mariners 1993 AZL Athletics — AZL Cardinals 1994 AZL Cardinals — AZL Athletics & AZL Brewers 1995 AZL Athletics — AZL Angels 1996 AZL Padres — AZL Athletics 1997 AZL Cubs — AZL Mariners 1998 AZL Rockies — AZL Mariners 1999 AZL Athletics 1–0 AZL Mexican Academy 2000 AZL Mariners 1–0 AZL Rockies 2001 AZL Athletics 1–0 AZL Mariners 2002 AZL Cubs 1–0 AZL Giants 2003 AZL Royals 1 1–0 AZL Rangers 2004 AZL Giants 3–2 AZL Athletics 2005 AZL Giants — — 2006 AZL Padres 1–0 AZL Angels 2007 AZL Mariners 1–0 AZL Giants 2008 AZL Giants 1–0 AZL Angels 2009 AZL Mariners 1–0 AZL Giants 2010 AZL Brewers 1–0 AZL Reds 2011 AZL Dodgers 1–0 AZL Giants 2012 AZL Rangers 1–0 AZL Athletics 2013 AZL Giants 1–0 AZL Dodgers 2014 AZL Indians 1–0 AZL Giants 2015 AZL White Sox 1–0 AZL Mariners 2016 AZL Mariners 2–0 AZL Angels 2017 AZL Cubs 2–1 AZL Giants 2018 AZL Dodgers 2–1 AZL Cubs 1 2019 AZL Rangers 2–0 AZL Indians Blue 2020 2021 ACL Rockies — ACL Mariners 2022 ACL Giants Black 2–1 ACL Rockies 2023 ACL Brewers 2–1 ACL Diamondbacks Red 2024 ACL Dodgers 2–0 ACL Diamondbacks 2025 ACL Angels 2–0 ACL Giants2026 ACL Rockies 2–1ACL Reds
Wins by team
Active Arizona Complex League teams appear in bold. Championships by split-squad teams (e.g. ACL Giants Black) are listed by their main team (e.g. ACL Giants).
Team Wins Year(s)ACL Athletics (AZL Athletics)61991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001ACL Brewers (AZL Brewers)51988, 1989, 1990, 2010, 2023ACL Giants (AZL Giants)2004, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2022ACL Mariners (AZL Mariners)42000, 2007, 2009, 2016ACL Cubs (AZL Cubs)31997, 2002, 2017ACL Dodgers (AZL Dodgers)2011, 2018, 2024ACL Rockies (AZL Rockies)1998, 2021, 2026ACL Padres (AZL Padres)21996, 2006ACL Rangers (AZL Rangers)2012, 2019ACL Angels12025AZL Cardinals1994ACL Guardians (AZL Indians)2014ACL Royals (AZL Royals)2003ACL White Sox (AZL White Sox)2015
Notes
References