The Carolina League of Minor League Baseball is a Single-A baseball league in the United States that began play in 1945. A league champion was determined at the end of each season by either postseason playoffs or being declared champion by the league office. As of 2019, the first-half and second-half winners in each division (Northern and Southern) competed in a best-of-five division series. Then, the Northern and Southern division winners played a best-of-five series to determine a league champion.[1]
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[2] and the league ceased operations before the 2021 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball.[3] In place of the Carolina League, MLB created the Low-A East, a 12-team circuit divided into three divisions.[4] Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Low-A Easr as the Carolina League, and it carried on the history of the league prior to reorganization.[5] In 2021, the Low-A East held a best-of-five series between the top two teams in the league, regardless of division standings, to determine a league champion.[6] 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.[7]
League champions
- Score and finalist information is only presented when postseason play occurred. The lack of this information indicates a declared league champion.
Championship wins by team
Notes
- a Myrtle Beach and Wilmington were declared co-champions when the series was tied 2–2 and canceled because of the threat of Hurricane Floyd.[12]
- b Down East and Lynchburg were declared co-champions as a result of the playoffs being called off because of the threat of Hurricane Irma.[13]
- c The best-of-five championship series was shortened to a one-game final due to the threat of Hurricane Florence.[14]
References
- General
- "League Champions". Carolina League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- Specific
- ^ "Playoff Procedures". Carolina League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Heneghan, Kelsie (July 1, 2021). "Playoffs Return to the Minor Leagues". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "MiLB Playoff Procedures". MiLB.com. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Trujillo, Nick (September 26, 2021). "Charleston Wins the Low-A East Championship". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Terranova, Rob (September 21, 2022). "RiverDogs Sweep to Second Straight Championship". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- ^ Mast, Allison (September 20, 2023). "RiverDogs Roll to Third straight Carolina Crown". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Martinez-Lopez, Melanie (September 19, 2024). "FredNats Have to Play Two to Win First Crown Since Move". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Young, Ryan (April 3, 2013). "Pelicans Through the Years". The Sun News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ "Carolina League cancels Mills Cup Finals". Carolina League. Minor League Baseball. September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ Dykstra, Sam (September 11, 2018). "Mills Cup Finals to be one-game series". Carolina League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
