Kansai Independent Baseball League

The Kansai Independent Baseball League (関西独立リーグ, Kansai Dokuritsu Rīgu) (nicknamed KANDOK) was a professional baseball league in Japan which operated from 2009–2013. The league made history on March 26, 2009, when pitcher Eri Yoshida made her debut as the first female in an otherwise all-male league.

Kansai Independent Baseball League
Most recent season or competition:
2013
SportBaseball
Founded2008
Inaugural season2009
Ceased2013
No. of teams3
CountryJapan
Last
champion(s)		06BULLS
Most titlesOsaka Gold Villicanes (1)
Kobe 9 Cruise (1)
Hyogo Blue Sandars (1)
06BULLS (1)
Official websiteKIBL Official site

History

The league's activities became public in 2008. Plans to form the league were announced at a press conference on March 6, 2008.[1] On July 30, 2008, the names of the four teams were released:

  • Osaka Gold Villicanes
  • Kobe 9 Cruise
  • Harima (later changed to Akashi Red Soldiers)
  • Wakayama (later changed to Kishu Rangers)

The league held its first draft on November 16, 2008. The Kobe 9 Cruise 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]

The first league champion, the Osaka Gold Villicanes, left KANDOK after the first season, seceding to the Japan Future Baseball League. A new team, Seoul Haechi, was created to fill their spot.

Following the model of the Osaka Gold Villicanes, the second league champion, the Kobe 9 Cruise, seceded from KANDOK after the 2010 season, while the Akashi Red Soldiers went defunct. The league added three new teams, the Hyogo Blue Sandars, the Kobe Suns, and the Osaka Hawks Dream. The league now had five teams.

The Osaka Hawks Dream seceded after the 2011 season and Seoul Haechi went defunct, reducing the league to three teams. To fill the void, the Yamato Samurai Reds and the 06BULLS were created in time for the 2012 season.

The Kobe Suns and Yamato Samurai Reds both went defunct after the 2012 season.

In its final season the league had three teams, the Kishu Rangers, the Hyogo Blue Sandars, and the 06BULLS, with the Rangers being the only team which lasted for the duration of the league.

Teams
TeamFirst seasonFinal seasonCityStadiumTeam colorNotes
Kishu Rangers[4]20092013Wakayama, WakayamaWakayama Prefectural Kimiidera Baseball Stadium
Hyogo Blue Sandars20112013Sanda, HyōgoKippi Stadium
06BULLS20122013Higashiōsaka, OsakaHanazono Central Stadium
Akashi Red Soldiers20092010Akashi, HyōgoAkashi ParkDefunct
Seoul Haechi20102011WakayamaDefunct
Kobe Suns20112012Kobe and Awaji Island, HyōgoSumoto Municipal StadiumDefunct
Yamato Samurai Reds20122012NaraNara Prefectural Kashihara Oyakesono baseball fieldDefunct
Osaka Gold Villicanes20092009Osaka, OsakaSuminoekoen StadiumSeceded
Kobe 9 Cruise20092010Kobe, HyōgoSkymark StadiumSeceded
Osaka Hawks Dream20112011OsakaSuminoekoen StadiumSeceded

Championship history
Year Winner
2009Osaka Gold Villicanes
2010Kobe 9 Cruise
2011Hyogo Blue Sandars
201206BULLS

References
  1. 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） Archived 2008-03-10 at the Wayback Machine (Yomiuri Shimbun) Retrieved on November 17, 2008
  2. 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 Archived 2009-02-22 at the Wayback Machine (Shijō hatsu josei pro yakyū senshu wa 16 sai joshikūsei! Sanspo) Retrieved on November 17, 2008
  3. 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.
  4. 紀州レンジャーズ Archived 2008-11-01 at the Wayback Machine (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.



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