American League

The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. It developed from a minor league, the Western League, that eventually aspired to major league status.

Teams

Starting in 1901, the eight charter teams were the following:

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• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Americans (unofficial name)
• Chicago White Sox
• Cleveland Blues
• Detroit Tigers
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Philadelphia Athletics
• Washington Senators

The Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit franchises exist today in their same 1901 cities. The Boston "Americans" later officially became the Red Sox, and the Cleveland Blues later became the Naps and then the Indians. Detroit is the only charter member of the Western League that is still in its original city dating back to 1894.

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The Milwaukee Brewers moved and became the St. Louis Browns in 1902, and moved again to become today's Baltimore Orioles in 1954. The original Baltimore Orioles moved to New York in 1903 and became the team now known as the New York Yankees. The Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955 and then to Oakland in 1968. The Washington Senators relocated in 1961, becoming the Minnesota Twins.

Related Topics:
St. Louis Browns - 1902 - Baltimore Orioles - 1954 - 1903 - New York Yankees - 1955 - 1968 - 1961 - Minnesota Twins

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Expansion and relocation

The American League has expanded four times. The first occurred in 1961, when the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators joined the league, the latter replacing the original Washington franchise, which had just relocated to Minnesota. The Los Angeles Angels went through several name changes are today formally known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The second Washington franchise moved to Dallas-Fort Worth in 1972 and became the Texas Rangers.

Related Topics:
1961 - Los Angeles Angels - Washington Senators - Dallas-Fort Worth - 1972

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The second expansion occurred in 1969 when the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots joined the league. The Pilots stayed just one season in Seattle before moving to Milwaukee and becoming today's Milwaukee Brewers. In 1977, the third expansion occurred adding the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. A fourth expansion took place in 1998 when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined, and in a reorganization, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to the National League.

Related Topics:
1969 - Kansas City Royals - Seattle Pilots - Milwaukee Brewers - 1977 - Toronto Blue Jays - Seattle Mariners - 1998 - Tampa Bay Devil Rays - National League

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Divisions

The American League is broken up into three Divisions, as follows:

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American League East

• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox
• New York Yankees
• Tampa Bay Devil Rays
• Toronto Blue Jays

American League Central

• Chicago White Sox
• Cleveland Indians
• Detroit Tigers
• Kansas City Royals
• Minnesota Twins

American League West

• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (formerly California or Anaheim Angels)
• Oakland Athletics
• Seattle Mariners
• Texas Rangers