Kansai Independent Baseball League

{{Infobox sports league

|logo=

|pixels=

|sport=Baseball

|founded=2008

| inaugural = 2009

| last_season = 2013

| folded = 2013

|teams=3

|country=Japan

|champion=06BULLS

|most_champs=Osaka Gold Villicanes (1)
Kobe 9 Cruise (1)
Hyogo Blue Sandars (1)
06BULLS (1)

|website=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101029201158/http://www.yumeclub.or.jp/%E9%96%A2%E8%A5%BF%E7%8B%AC%E7%AB%8B%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B0/KANDOK.html KIBL Official site]

}}

The {{Nihongo|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 {{baseball year|2009}}–{{baseball year|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.

History

The league's activities became public in 2008. Plans to form the league were announced at a press conference on March 6, 2008.[http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/sp_others/20080306ks09.htm 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）] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310011144/http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/sp_others/20080306ks09.htm |date=2008-03-10 }} (Yomiuri Shimbun) Retrieved on November 17, 2008 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.[http://www.sanspo.com/shakai/news/081117/sha0811170504004-n1.htm 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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222190502/http://www.sanspo.com/shakai/news/081117/sha0811170504004-n1.htm |date=2009-02-22 }} (Shijō hatsu josei pro yakyū senshu wa 16 sai joshikūsei! Sanspo) Retrieved on November 17, 2008 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.{{cite news|last=Gonzalez|first=Alden|title=Female pitcher makes history in Japan: Side-arming knuckleballer notches strikeout in pro debut|work=MLB.com|date=2009-03-27|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090327&content_id=4074856&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|accessdate=2009-03-27}}

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

Team	First season	Final season \|\| City	Stadium	Team color	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
Kishu Rangers[http://www.kishu-ranger.jp/kishurangers/ 紀州レンジャーズ] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101122930/http://www.kishu-ranger.jp/kishurangers/ \|date=2008-11-01 }} (Official site of the Kishu Rangers) Retrieved on November 17, 2008	2009	2013	Wakayama, Wakayama	Wakayama Prefectural Kimiidera Baseball Stadium	style="background-color: #ffa500;"\|
Hyogo Blue Sandars	2011	2013	Sanda, Hyōgo	Kippi Stadium	style="background-color: #0000cd;"\|
06BULLS	2012	2013	Higashiōsaka, Osaka	Hanazono Central Stadium	style="background-color: #ff0000;"\|
Akashi Red Soldiers	2009	2010	Akashi, Hyōgo	Akashi Park		Defunct
Seoul Haechi	2010	2011	Wakayama			Defunct
Kobe Suns	2011	2012	Kobe and Awaji Island, Hyōgo	Sumoto Municipal Stadium		Defunct
Yamato Samurai Reds	2012	2012	Nara	Nara Prefectural Kashihara Oyakesono baseball field		Defunct
Osaka Gold Villicanes	2009	2009	Osaka, Osaka	Suminoekoen Stadium		Seceded
Kobe 9 Cruise	2009	2010	Kobe, Hyōgo	Skymark Stadium		Seceded
Osaka Hawks Dream	2011	2011	Osaka	Suminoekoen Stadium		Seceded

Championship history

Year ! Winner
class="wikitable"
{{baseball year\|2009}}	Osaka Gold Villicanes
{{baseball year\|2010}}	Kobe 9 Cruise
{{baseball year\|2011}}	Hyogo Blue Sandars
{{baseball year\|2012}}	06BULLS

References

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.

Category:Independent baseball leagues in Japan

Category:Defunct baseball leagues in Japan

Category:Sports leagues established in 2009

Category:2009 establishments in Japan