title: 1996 Eastern League season
text: # 1996 Eastern League season
  
  The 1996 Eastern League season began on approximately April 1 and the regular season ended on approximately September 1.
  
  The Harrisburg Senators defeated the Portland Sea Dogs 3 games to 1 to win the Eastern League Championship Series.
  
  ## Regular season
  
  ### Standings
  
  Eastern League – Northern Division :
  
  | Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Portland Sea Dogs | 83 | 58 | .589 | – |
  | Binghamton Mets | 76 | 66 | .535 | 7.5 |
  | Norwich Navigators | 71 | 70 | .504 | 12.0 |
  | New Haven Ravens | 66 | 75 | .468 | 17.0 |
  | New Britain Rock Cats | 61 | 81 | .430 | 22.5 |
  
  Eastern League – Southern Division :
  
  | Team | Win | Loss | % | GB |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Trenton Thunder | 86 | 56 | .606 | – |
  | Harrisburg Senators | 74 | 68 | .521 | 12.0 |
  | Canton–Akron Indians | 71 | 71 | .500 | 15.0 |
  | Reading Phillies | 66 | 75 | .468 | 19.5 |
  | Bowie Baysox | 54 | 88 | .380 | 32.0 |
  
  Notes:
  
      Green shade indicates that team advanced to the playoffs
      Bold indicates that team advanced to ELCS
      Italics indicates that team won ELCS
  
  ## Playoffs
  
  ### Divisional Series
  
  **Northern Division**
  
  The Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Binghamton Mets in the Northern Division playoffs 3 games to 2.
  
  **Southern Division**
  
  The Harrisburg Senators defeated the Trenton Thunder in the Southern Division playoffs 3 games to 1.
  
  ### Championship series
  
  The Harrisburg Senators defeated the Portland Sea Dogs in the ELCS 3 games to 1.
  
  