High-resolution laser excitation spectra have been obtained for the 0-0, 1-1, and 0-1 bands of the B(2)Sigma(+)-X(2)Sigma(+) transition of YbCl and a rotational analysis has been performed on the (174)Yb(35)Cl and (172)Yb(35)Cl isotopomers. Comparison of the spin-rotation constant, gamma, for the B(2)Sigma(+) state with the lambda-doubling constant of the A(2)Pi(1/2) state (1) shows that the two excited states form a unique perturber pair arising from the 6psigma and 6ppi orbitals centered on the Yb(+) ion. The principal results for the B(2)Sigma(+) state are B(e)=0.097552(5) cm(-1), R(e)=2.43623(6) Å, gamma(e)=-2.1655(6)x10(-4) cm(-1), and DeltaG(1/2)=313.111(2) cm(-1). Copyright 2001 Academic Press.