The following is a timeline of franchise evolution in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

. The histories of franchises in the

National Association of Base Ball Players The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) was the first organization governing American baseball. (The sport was spelled with two words in the 19th century.) The first convention of sixteen New York City area clubs in 1857 effecti ...

(NABBP),

National Association of Professional Base Ball Players The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP), often known simply as the National Association (NA), was the first fully- professional sports league in baseball. The NA was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 se ...

(NA),

Union Association The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for just the 1884 season. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season. Seven of the twelve teams who were in the Association at some poi ...

(UA), and

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

(AA) before they joined the

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...

are also included. In 1900 the minor league Western League renamed itself the American League (AL). All of the 1899 Western League teams were a part of the transformation with the Saint Paul Apostles moving to Chicago and to play as the White Stockings. In 1901 the AL declared itself a Major League. For its inaugural major league season the AL dropped its teams in Indianapolis, Buffalo and Minneapolis and replaced them with franchises in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore and the Kansas City Blues moved to Washington to play as the Senators. In 2020, Major League Baseball designated seven

Negro Leagues The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...

from 1920–1948 as major leagues. The timeline has not yet been fully updated to reflect that designation (in addition, the timeline does not include any non-National League/American League teams which existed at the Major League level from 1876 to 1915).

MLB timeline

The first line is the formation of the

in 1876, and the second is the transformation of the

American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league b ...

to a major league in 1901. The third line is the beginning of the expansion era in 1961.

World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the Worl ...

championships are shown with a "*", National League Pennants before the World Series are shown with a "^", and American League Pennants before the World Series "#". No World Series was played in 1904, so the pennant winners for each league are indicated. Due to the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike, there were no pennant winners or World Series in 1994, so this year is left blank. DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:20 right:50 bottom:20 top:20 Colors = id:majorGridColor value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9) id:lineColor value:gray(0.6) id:nl1 value:gray(0.9) id:inactive value:gray(0.5) id:gold value:rgb(0.99,0.72,0.15) id:brown value:rgb(0.36,0.20,0.10) id:vegasgold value:rgb(0.80,0.72,0.49) id:green value:rgb(0, 0.51,0.28) id:darkgreen value:rgb(0, 0.20,0 ) id:orange value:rgb(1 ,0.39,0 ) id:redorange value:rgb(1 ,0.20,0 ) id:red value:rgb(0.80,0.01,0.07) id:red2 value:rgb(0.90,0.01,0.07) id:darkred value:rgb(0.50,0 ,0 ) id:iceblue value:rgb(0.20,0.60,0.80) id:lgray value:gray(0.1) id:gray value:gray(0.3) id:gray2 value:gray(0.5) id:sand value:rgb(0.94,0.89,0.77) id:navy value:rgb(0 ,0 ,0.30) id:teal value:rgb(0 ,0.65,0.65) id:teal2 value:rgb(0 ,0.45,0.45) Period = from:1855 till:2023 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = start:1860 increment:10 gridcolor:majorGridColor LineData = at:1876 color:lineColor #Formation of NL at:1901 color:lineColor #Formation of AL at:1961 color:lineColor #Expansion Era Begins BarData = bar:MNY # Mutual of New York bar:AOP # Athletic of Philadelphia bar:CHC # Chicago White Stockings / Colts / Orphans / Cubs bar:ATL # Boston Red Stockings / Beaneaters / Doves / Rustlers / Braves / Bees / Milwaukee Braves / Atlanta Braves bar:HAR # Hartford Dark Blues / Brooklyn Hartfords bar:SLBS # St. Louis Brown Stockings bar:CINR # Cincinnati Red Stockings bar:LOU # Louisville Grays bar:IND # Indianapolis Blues bar:MILG # Milwaukee Grays bar:PRO # Providence Grays bar:BUF # Buffalo Bisons bar:CLEB # Cleveland Blues bar:SYR # Syracuse Stars bar:TRY # Troy Trojans bar:CINS # Cincinnati Red Stars bar:WRC # Worcester Worcesters bar:DETW # Detroit Wolverines bar:SF # New York Giants / San Francisco Giants bar:PHI # Philadelphia Phillies bar:SLM # St. Louis Maroons bar:KCC # Kansas City Cowboys bar:WSHN # Washington Nationals bar:INDH # Indianapolis Hoosiers bar:PIT # Pittsburgh Pirates bar:CLES # Cleveland Spiders bar:CIN # Cincinnati Reds bar:LAD # Brooklyn Dodgers / Los Angeles Dodgers bar:BALO # Baltimore Orioles (AA) bar:LOUC # Louisville Cardinals bar:STL # St. Louis Browns / Cardinals bar:WSHS # Washington Senators bar:BLA # Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902) bar:BOS # Boston Americans / Red Sox bar:CWS # Chicago White Sox bar:CLE # Cleveland Blues / Bronchos / Naps / Indians / Guardians bar:DET # Detroit Tigers bar:BAL # Milwaukee Brewers / St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles bar:OAK # Philadelphia Athletics / Kansas City Athletics / Oakland Athletics bar:MIN # Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins bar:NYY # New York Highlanders / Yankees bar:TEX # Washington Senators / Texas Rangers bar:LAA # Los Angeles Angels / California Angels / Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bar:NYM # New York Mets bar:HOU # Houston Colt .45s / Houston Astros bar:KC #Kansas City Royals bar:MIL # Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers bar:SD # San Diego Padres bar:WSH # Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals bar:SEA # Seattle Mariners bar:TOR # Toronto Blue Jays bar:COL # Colorado Rockies bar:FLA #Florida Marlins bar:ARI # Arizona Diamondbacks bar:TB # Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Tampa Bay Rays Define $Up = shift:(,1) Define $Left = anchor:from align:right shift:(-1,) Define $Right = anchor:till align:left shift:(2,) Define $Right2 = anchor:till align:right shift:(-25,) Define $DownRight2 = anchor:till align:right shift:(-25,-10) Define $Down = shift:(,-10) Define $UpLeft = anchor:from align:right shift:(-1,1) Define $UpLeft2 = anchor:from align:left shift:(-1,1) Define $UpRight2 = anchor:till align:right shift:(-1,1) Define $UpRight = anchor:till align:left shift:(2,1) Define $DownRight = anchor:till align:left shift:(2,-10) Define $DownLeft = anchor:from align:left shift:(2,-10) Define $UpUpRight = anchor:till align:left shift:(2,10) Define $champ = text:"*" textcolor:white fontsize:XL shift:(5,-10) Define $champ2 = text:"^" textcolor:white fontsize:L shift:(5,-5) Define $champ3 = text:"#" textcolor:white shift:(5,1) PlotData = color:inactive textcolor:black width:20 fontsize:S mark:(line,black) anchor:middle # other options are anchor:from anchor:till align:center # other options are align:left align:right shift:(0,-5) # Note on dates: A team's bar begins with the season that team played its first game, and ends with the season after that team played its last game. For example, the Cincinnati Red Stockings played their first game in 1876, the first season of the National League, and played their last game in 1880. Therefore, their bar goes from 1876 to 1881. # --- Charter NL Franchises in 1876 bar:MNY from:1857 till:1871 color:nl1 text:"(NABBP)" bar:MNY from:1871 till:1876 color:nl1 text:"(NA)" bar:MNY from:1876 till:1877 color:green text:"New York Mutuals" $Right link:/wiki/New_York_Mutuals bar:AOP from:1860 till:1871 color:nl1 text:"(NABBP)" bar:AOP from:1871 till:1876 color:nl1 text:"(NA)" bar:AOP from:1876 till:1877 color:blue text:"Athletic of Philadelphia" $Right link:/wiki/Athletic_of_Philadelphia bar:ATL from:1876 till:end link:/wiki/Atlanta_Braves bar:ATL from:1871 till:1876 color:nl1 text:"(NA)" $Left at:ATL at:1876 text:"Red Stockings" $DownRight bar:ATL from:1876 till:1883 color:red bar:ATL from:1883 till:1907 color:red2 text:"Beaneaters " textcolor:navy $Down bar:ATL from:1907 till:1911 color:red text:"Boston~Doves" $UpLeft bar:ATL from:1911 till:1912 color:red2 text:"Rustlers" $DownRight bar:ATL from:1912 till:1936 color:red text:" Boston~ Braves" $Up bar:ATL from:1936 till:1941 color:vegasgold text:"Boston~Bees" textcolor:navy $Up bar:ATL from:1941 till:1953 color:red2 text:"Boston~Braves" textcolor:navy $Up bar:ATL from:1953 till:1966 color:red text:"Milwaukee Braves" textcolor:navy $Down bar:ATL from:1966 till:end color:red2 text:"Atlanta Braves" textcolor:navy $Right2 at:ATL at:1883 $champ2 mark:(line, red) at:ATL at:1891 $champ2 mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1892 $champ2 mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1893 $champ2 mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1897 $champ2 mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1898 $champ2 mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1877 $champ2 mark:(line, red) at:ATL at:1878 $champ2 mark:(line, red) at:ATL at:2021 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1995 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:ATL at:1914 $champ mark:(line, red) at:ATL at:1957 $champ mark:(line, red) bar:CHC from:1876 till:end link:/wiki/Chicago_Cubs bar:CHC from:1870 till:1871 color:nl1 text:"(NABBP)" $Left bar:CHC from:1871 till:1872 color:nl1 text:"(NA)" $UpRight bar:CHC from:1874 till:1876 color:nl1 text:" " $Up bar:CHC from:1876 till:1890 color:black text:"White Stockings" textcolor:white $Down bar:CHC from:1890 till:1898 color:gray text:"Chicago~Colts" textcolor:white $Up bar:CHC from:1898 till:1902 color:navy text:"Chicago Orphans " textcolor:white $DownRight bar:CHC from:1902 till:end color:darkblue text:"Chicago Cubs" textcolor:red2 $Right2 at:CHC at:1876 $champ2 mark:(line, black) at:CHC at:1880 $champ2 mark:(line, black) at:CHC at:1881 $champ2 mark:(line, black) at:CHC at:1882 $champ2 mark:(line, black) at:CHC at:1885 $champ2 mark:(line, black) at:CHC at:1886 $champ2 mark:(line, black) at:CHC at:1907 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:CHC at:1908 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:CHC at:2016 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) bar:CINR from:1876 till:1880 color:red text:"Cincinnati Red Stockings" $Right bar:HAR from:1874 till:1876 color:nl1 text:"(NA)" $Left bar:HAR from:1876 till:1877 color:darkblue text:"Hartford Dark Blues" $UpRight bar:HAR from:1877 till:1878 color:navy text:"Brooklyn Hartfords" $DownRight bar:LOU from:1876 till:1878 color:gray text:"Louisville Grays" $Right bar:SLBS from:1875 till:1876 color:nl1 text:"(NA)" $Left bar:SLBS from:1876 till:1878 color:brown text:"St. Louis Brown Stockings" $Right # --- 1878 bar:IND from:1878 till:1879 color:blue text:"Indianapolis Blues" $Right bar:MILG from:1878 till:1879 color:gray text:"Milwaukee Grays" $Right bar:PRO from:1878 till:1886 color:skyblue text:"Providence Grays" $Right at:PRO at:1879 $champ2 mark:(line, skyblue) at:PRO at:1884 $champ2 mark:(line, skyblue) # --- 1879 bar:BUF from:1879 till:1886 color:gray2 text:"Buffalo Bisons" $Right bar:CLEB from:1879 till:1885 color:navy text:"Cleveland Blues" $Right bar:SYR from:1879 till:1880 color:yellow text:"Syracuse Stars" $Right bar:TRY from:1879 till:1883 color:green text:"Troy Trojans" $Right # --- 1880 bar:CINS from:1880 till:1881 color:red text:"Cincinnati Stars" $Right bar:WRC from:1880 till:1883 color:brown text:"Worcester Worcesters" $Right # --- 1881 bar:DETW from:1881 till:1889 color:vegasgold text:"Detroit Wolverines" $Right at:DETW at:1887 $champ2 mark:(line, vegasgold) # --- 1883 bar:SF from:1883 till:end link:/wiki/San_Francisco_Giants bar:SF from:1883 till:1885 color:black text:"New York Gothams" $Left bar:SF from:1885 till:1958 color:orange text:"New York Giants" $Down bar:SF from:1958 till:end color:black text:"San Francisco Giants" textcolor:orange $Right2 at:SF at:1888 $champ2 mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1889 $champ2 mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1904 $champ2 mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1905 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1921 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1922 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1933 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:1954 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:SF at:2010 $champ mark:(line, black) at:SF at:2012 $champ mark:(line, black) at:SF at:2014 $champ mark:(line, black) bar:PHI from:1883 till:end link:/wiki/Philadelphia_Phillies bar:PHI from:1883 till:end color:red2 text:"Philadelphia Phillies" textcolor:white $DownRight2 at:PHI at:1980 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:PHI at:2008 $champ mark:(line, red2) # --- 1884 bar:SLM from:1884 till:1885 color:nl1 text:"(UA)" $Left bar:SLM from:1885 till:1887 color:darkred text:"St. Louis Maroons" $Right # --- 1886 bar:KCC from:1886 till:1887 color:oceanblue text:"Kansas City Cowboys" $Right bar:WSHN from:1886 till:1890 color:darkblue text:"Washington Nationals" $Right # --- 1887 bar:INDH from:1887 till:1890 color:navy text:"Indianapolis Hoosiers" $Right bar:PIT from:1887 till:end link:/wiki/Pittsburgh_Pirates bar:PIT from:1882 till:1887 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" $Left bar:PIT from:1887 till:1890 color:yelloworange text:"Alleghenys" $UpRight bar:PIT from:1890 till:1891 color:yellow text:"Pittsburgh Innocents" $DownRight bar:PIT from:1891 till:end color:yelloworange text:"Pittsburgh Pirates" $Right2 at:PIT at:1901 $champ2 mark:(line, yelloworange) at:PIT at:1902 $champ2 mark:(line, yelloworange) at:PIT at:1909 $champ mark:(line, yelloworange) at:PIT at:1925 $champ mark:(line, yelloworange) at:PIT at:1960 $champ mark:(line, yelloworange) at:PIT at:1971 $champ mark:(line, yelloworange) at:PIT at:1979 $champ mark:(line, yelloworange) # --- 1889 bar:CLES from:1889 till:1900 link:/wiki/Cleveland_Spiders bar:CLES from:1887 till:1889 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" $Left bar:CLES from:1889 till:1900 color:black text:"Cleveland~Spiders" textcolor:white $Up # --- 1890 bar:CIN from:1890 till:end link:/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds bar:CIN from:1882 till:1890 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" bar:CIN from:1890 till:1953 color:red text:"Cincinnati Reds" textcolor:white $Down bar:CIN from:1953 till:1958 color:red2 text:"Cincinnati~Redlegs" textcolor:white $Up bar:CIN from:1958 till:end color:red text:"Cincinnati Reds" textcolor:white $Right2 at:CIN at:1919 $champ mark:(line, red) at:CIN at:1940 $champ mark:(line, red) at:CIN at:1975 $champ mark:(line, red) at:CIN at:1976 $champ mark:(line, red) at:CIN at:1990 $champ mark:(line, red) bar:LAD from:1890 till:end link:/wiki/Los_Angeles_Dodgers bar:LAD from:1884 till:1885 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" $UpLeft bar:LAD from:1885 till:1888 color:nl1 bar:LAD from:1888 till:1890 color:nl1 text:"Grooms Bridegrooms" textcolor:White $DownRight bar:LAD from:1890 till:1896 color:navy bar:LAD from:1896 till:1899 color:darkblue bar:LAD from:1899 till:1914 color:navy text:"Brooklyn~Superbas" textcolor:white $UpRight2 bar:LAD from:1914 till:1932 color:darkblue text:"Brooklyn~Robins" textcolor:white $Up bar:LAD from:1932 till:1958 color:navy text:"Brooklyn Dodgers" textcolor:white bar:LAD from:1958 till:end color:darkblue text:"Los Angeles Dodgers" textcolor:white $Right2 at:LAD at:1890 $champ2 mark:(line, navy) at:LAD at:1899 $champ2 mark:(line, navy) at:LAD at:1900 $champ2 mark:(line, navy) at:LAD at:1955 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:LAD at:1959 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:LAD at:1963 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:LAD at:1965 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:LAD at:1981 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:LAD at:1988 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:LAD at:2020 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) # --- AA Merger bar:BALO from:1882 till:1892 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" bar:BALO from:1892 till:1900 color:orange text:"Baltimore Orioles" $Right at:BALO at:1894 $champ2 mark:(line, orange) at:BALO at:1895 $champ2 mark:(line, orange) at:BALO at:1896 $champ2 mark:(line, orange) bar:LOUC from:1882 till:1885 color:nl1 text:"Louisville Eclipse (AA)" $Left bar:LOUC from:1885 till:1892 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" bar:LOUC from:1892 till:1900 color:gray text:"Louisville Colonels" $Right bar:STL from:1892 till:end link:/wiki/St._Louis_Cardinals bar:STL from:1882 till:1892 color:nl1 text:"(AA)" $Left bar:STL from:1892 till:1900 color:brown text:"St. Louis~Brown Stockings" textcolor:white $UpLeft2 bar:STL from:1900 till:end color:red2 text:"St. Louis Cardinals" $DownRight2 at:STL at:1926 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1931 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1934 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1942 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1944 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1946 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1964 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1967 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:1982 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:2006 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:STL at:2011 $champ mark:(line, red2) bar:WSHS from:1891 till:1892 color:nl1 text:"Washington Statesmen (AA)" $Left bar:WSHS from:1892 till:1900 color:darkblue text:"Washington Senators" $Right # --- Charter Members of the American League bar:BLA from:1901 till:1903 link:/wiki/Baltimore_Orioles_(1901–1902) bar:BLA from:1901 till:1903 color:orange text:"Baltimore Orioles" $Right bar:BOS from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Boston_Red_Sox bar:BOS from:1901 till:1908 color:darkred text:"Boston Americans" $Left bar:BOS from:1908 till:end color:red text:"Boston Red Sox" $DownRight2 at:Bos at:1904 $champ3 mark:(line, darkred) at:BOS at:1903 $champ mark:(line, darkred) at:BOS at:1912 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:1915 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:1916 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:1918 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:2007 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:2004 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:2013 $champ mark:(line, red) at:BOS at:2018 $champ mark:(line, red) bar:CWS from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Chicago_White_Sox bar:CWS from:1901 till:end color:black text:"Chicago White Sox" textcolor:white $DownRight2 at:CWS at:1906 $champ mark:(line, black) at:CWS at:1917 $champ mark:(line, black) at:CWS at:2005 $champ mark:(line, black) at:CWS at:1901 $champ3 mark:(line, black) bar:CLE from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Cleveland_Indians bar:CLE from:1901 till:1902 color:darkblue text:"Cleveland Blues" $Left bar:CLE from:1902 till:1915 color:red text:"Cleveland~Naps" textcolor:navy $Up bar:CLE from:1915 till:2022 color:red2 text:"Cleveland Indians" textcolor:navy bar:CLE from:2022 till:end color:red text:"Cleveland~Guardians" textcolor:navy $UpRight at:CLE at:1920 $champ mark:(line, red2) at:CLE at:1948 $champ mark:(line, red2) bar:DET from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Detroit_Tigers bar:DET from:1901 till:end color:navy text:"Detroit Tigers" textcolor:orange $Right2 at:DET at:1935 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:DET at:1945 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:DET at:1968 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:DET at:1984 $champ mark:(line, navy) bar:BAL from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Baltimore_Orioles bar:BAL from:1901 till:1902 color:vegasgold text:"Milwaukee Brewers" $Left bar:BAL from:1902 till:1954 color:brown text:"St. Louis Browns" textcolor:white bar:BAL from:1954 till:end color:orange text:"Baltimore Orioles" $Right2 at:BAL at:1966 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:BAL at:1970 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:BAL at:1983 $champ mark:(line, orange) bar:OAK from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Oakland_Athletics bar:OAK from:1901 till:1955 color:blue text:"Philadelphia Athletics" textcolor:vegasgold $Down bar:OAK from:1955 till:1968 color:oceanblue text:"Kansas City~Athletics" textcolor:gold $Up bar:OAK from:1968 till:end color:green text:"Oakland Athletics" textcolor:yellow2 $Right2 at:OAK at:1902 $champ3 mark:(line, blue) at:OAK at:1972 $champ mark:(line, kelleygreen) at:OAK at:1973 $champ mark:(line, kelleygreen) at:OAK at:1974 $champ mark:(line, kelleygreen) at:OAK at:1989 $champ mark:(line, kelleygreen) at:OAK at:1910 $champ mark:(line, blue) at:OAK at:1911 $champ mark:(line, blue) at:OAK at:1913 $champ mark:(line, blue) at:OAK at:1929 $champ mark:(line, blue) at:OAK at:1930 $champ mark:(line, blue) bar:MIN from:1901 till:end link:/wiki/Minnesota_Twins bar:MIN from:1901 till:1961 color:darkblue text:"Washington Senators" textcolor:white $Down bar:MIN from:1961 till:end color:skyblue text:"Minnesota Twins" textcolor:red $Right2 at:MIN at:1987 $champ mark:(line, skyblue) at:MIN at:1991 $champ mark:(line, skyblue) at:MIN at:1924 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) # --- 1903: New York replaces Baltimore bar:NYY from:1903 till:1912 color:gray text:"New York~Highlanders" textcolor:white $Up bar:NYY from:1912 till:end color:navy text:"New York Yankees" textcolor:white $DownRight2 at:NYY at:1923 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1927 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1928 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1932 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1936 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1937 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1938 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1939 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1941 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1943 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1947 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1949 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1950 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1951 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1952 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1953 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1956 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1958 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1961 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1962 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1977 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1978 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1996 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1998 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:1999 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:2000 $champ mark:(line, navy) at:NYY at:2009 $champ mark:(line, navy) # --- 1961 Expansion bar:TEX from:1961 till:end link:/wiki/Texas_Rangers bar:TEX from:1961 till:1972 color:darkblue text:"Washington Senators" $Left bar:TEX from:1972 till:end color:oceanblue text:"Texas Rangers" textcolor:darkred $Right2 bar:LAA from:1961 till:end link:/wiki/Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim bar:LAA from:1961 till:1965 color:red text:"Los Angeles~Angels" $UpLeft bar:LAA from:1965 till:1997 color:red2 text:"California ~Angels " $Up bar:LAA from:1997 till:2005 color:skyblue text:"Anaheim~Angels" $Up bar:LAA from:2005 till:2016 color:darkred text:"Los Angeles~Angels of Anaheim" textcolor:white $Up bar:LAA from:2016 till:end color:red text:"Los Angeles~Angels" textcolor:navy $UpRight at:LAA at:2002 $champ mark:(line, skyblue) # --- 1962 Expansion bar:NYM from:1962 till:end link:/wiki/New_York_Mets bar:NYM from:1962 till:end color:darkblue text:"New York Mets" textcolor:redorange $Right2 at:NYM at:1969 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:NYM at:1986 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) bar:HOU from:1962 till:end link:/wiki/Houston_Astros bar:HOU from:1962 till:1964 color:redorange text:"Houston Colt .45s" $Left bar:HOU from:1964 till:2013 color:navy text:"Houston Astros (NL)" textcolor:redorange bar:HOU from:2013 till:end color:orange text:"Houston~Astros (AL)" $UpRight at:HOU at:2017 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:HOU at:2022 $champ mark:(line, orange) # --- 1969 Expansion bar:KC from:1969 till:end link:/wiki/Kansas_City_Royals bar:KC from:1969 till:end color:skyblue text:"Kansas City Royals" textcolor:darkblue $Right2 at:KC at:1985 $champ mark:(line, skyblue) at:KC at:2015 $champ mark:(line, skyblue) bar:MIL from:1969 till:end link:/wiki/Milwaukee_Brewers bar:MIL from:1969 till:1970 color:darkblue text:"Seattle Pilots" $Left bar:MIL from:1970 till:1998 color:gold text:"Milwaukee Brewers (AL)" textcolor:darkblue bar:MIL from:1998 till:end color:vegasgold text:"Milwaukee Brewers (NL)" textcolor:navy bar:SD from:1969 till:end link:/wiki/San_Diego_Padres bar:SD from:1969 till:end color:brown text:"San Diego Padres" textcolor:redorange $Right2 bar:WSH from:1969 till:end link:/wiki/Washington_Nationals bar:WSH from:1969 till:2005 color:darkblue text:"Montreal Expos" textcolor:red2 bar:WSH from:2005 till:end color:red text:"Washington~Nationals" textcolor:white $Up at:WSH at:2019 $champ mark:(line, red) # --- 1977 Expansion bar:SEA from:1977 till:end link:/wiki/Seattle_Mariners bar:SEA from:1977 till:end color:teal2 text:"Seattle Mariners" $Right2 bar:TOR from:1977 till:end link:/wiki/Toronto_Blue_Jays bar:TOR from:1977 till:end color:darkblue text:"Toronto Blue Jays" textcolor:white $Right2 at:TOR at:1992 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:TOR at:1993 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) # --- 1993 Expansion bar:COL from:1993 till:end link:/wiki/Colorado_Rockies bar:COL from:1993 till:end color:purple text:"Colorado Rockies" textcolor:white $Right2 bar:FLA from:1993 till:end link:/wiki/Florida_Marlins bar:FLA from:1993 till:2012 color:teal text:"Florida Marlins" textcolor:black $Down bar:FLA from:2012 till:end color:redorange text:"Miami~Marlins" textcolor:black $Up at:FLA at:1997 $champ mark:(line, teal) at:FLA at:2003 $champ mark:(line, teal) # --- 1998 Expansion bar:ARI from:1998 till:end link:/wiki/Arizona_Diamondbacks bar:ARI from:1998 till:end color:darkred text:"Arizona~Diamondbacks" $Up at:ARI at:2001 $champ mark:(line, darkred) bar:TB from:1998 till:end link:/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays bar:TB from:1998 till:2008 color:blue text:"Tampa Bay~Devil Rays" textcolor:white $Up bar:TB from:2008 till:end color:navy text:"Tampa~Bay Rays" textcolor:skyblue $Up

History of organizational changes

:''Source:'' :''Note: Team names are given here according to the convention used by '' The Baseball Encyclopedia'', which regularized them into the familiar form of modern team names. However, most teams in the early period had no name, aside from that of the club (as in "Hartford Base Ball Club" or "Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia"), and nicknames like "Beaneaters," "Perfectos" and the many allusions to uniform colors were inventions by the florid sportswriters of the day.''According to the National League's 1877 Constitution, the member clubs were given as "Boston B. B. Club, Chicago B. B. Club, Cincinnati B. B. Club, Hartford B. B. Club, Louisville B. B. Club, St. Louis B. B. Club." ''Constitution and Playing Rules of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs''. Chicago, A. G. Spalding 1877.

Pre-modern Era (1876–1900)

1876: Founding of the National League

The National League is established with eight clubs.

1877

* New York and Philadelphia are expelled from the NL. * The Hartford Dark Blues move from

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...

, to

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

and are renamed the Brooklyn Hartfords.

1878

* Brooklyn, Louisville, and St. Louis fold. *

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee i ...

, and

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

join the NL.

1879

* Indianapolis and Milwaukee fold. * Buffalo,

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...

Syracuse Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy * Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' * Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York ** North Syracuse, New York * Syracuse, Indiana *Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, M ...

, and

Troy Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...

join the NL.

1880

* Syracuse folds. * The Cincinnati Reds disband and are replaced by an entirely different club in the city, the

Cincinnati Stars The Cincinnati Stars were a Major League Baseball team that played in the National League for the 1880 season and were managed by John Clapp. The club finished their only season in 8th place with a record of 21–59. Following the 1880 campa ...

. *

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engla ...

joins the NL.

1881

* The NL expels Cincinnati after the club refuses to sign a league-wide pledge to ban alcohol at ballparks. *

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

joins the NL.

1882: Establishment of the American Association

The

(AA) is established with six clubs.

1883

* The Troy Trojans and Worcester Worcesters fold. * The

New York Gothams The New York Giants were a Major League Baseball team in the National League that began play in the season as the New York Gothams and were renamed in . They continued as the New York Giants until the team relocated to San Francisco, Calif ...

and Philadelphia Quakers join the NL. * The Columbus Buckeyes and

New York Metropolitans The Metropolitan Club (New York Metropolitans or the Mets) was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887. (The ''New York Metropolitan Baseball Club'' was the name chosen in 1961 for the New Yor ...

join the AA. * The Boston Red Caps are renamed the

Boston Beaneaters Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most p ...

. * The St. Louis Brown Stockings are renamed the St. Louis Browns.

1884: The Union Association as a third league

* The Union Association (UA) is established with 12 clubs. * The AA expands to 13 clubs with the addition of the

Brooklyn Atlantics The Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn ("Atlantic" or the "Brooklyn Atlantics") was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty. The team was also the first baseball club to visit the White House in 1865 at the invitation of President A ...

Indianapolis Hoosiers Indianapolis Hoosiers was the name of three major league and at least three minor league baseball clubs based in Indianapolis. * Indianapolis Hoosiers (American Association), which played in 1884 * Indianapolis Hoosiers (National League), which pla ...

, Richmond Virginians,

Toledo Blue Stockings The Toledo Blue Stockings formed as a minor league baseball team in Toledo, Ohio, in 1883. They won the Northwestern League championship in 1883. Their home ballpark was League Park. The following year, they joined the major league American Assoc ...

, and

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

1885: Back to two leagues

* The Union Association (UA) disbands. * The former UA club St. Louis Maroons joins the NL. * Both the Cleveland Blues of the NL and the Columbus Buckeyes of the AA fold. * The AA contracts to 8 teams, with the Indianapolis Hoosiers, Richmond Virginians, Toledo Blue Stockings, and Washington Nationals either folding or returning to the minor leagues. * The New York Gothams become the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisio ...

. * The Brooklyn Atlantics become the

Brooklyn Grays The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Califo ...

. * The Louisville Eclipse become the Louisville Colonels.

1886

* The Buffalo Bisons transfer from the NL into minor league baseball. * The Providence Grays fold. * The

Kansas City Cowboys Several sports team in Kansas City, Missouri have used the name Cowboys: *Kansas City Cowboys (Union Association), a baseball team in the Union Association in 1884 *Kansas City Cowboys (National League), a baseball team in the National League in 18 ...

and a new

club join the NL.

1887

* The Kansas City Cowboys fold. * The St. Louis Maroons move from St. Louis to

to become a new

club. * The Pittsburgh Alleghenys transfer from the AA to the NL. * A new Cleveland Blues club joins the AA.

1888

* The Brooklyn Grays are renamed the

Brooklyn Bridegrooms The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Califor ...

. * The New York Metropolitans fold. * A new

club joins the AA.

1889

* The Detroit Wolverines fold. * The Cleveland Blues transfer from the AA to the NL and become the

Cleveland Spiders The Cleveland Spiders were an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team competed at the major league level from 1887 to 1899, first for two seasons as a member of the now-defunct American Association (AA), followe ...

. * The

Columbus Solons The Columbus Solons were a professional baseball team in the American Association from 1889 to 1891. In three seasons, they won 200 games and lost 209 for a winning percentage of .489. Their home games were played at Recreation Park in Columbus ...

join the AA.

1890: The Players' League as a third league

* The Players' League (PL) is established with 8 clubs. * The Chicago White Stockings are renamed the

Chicago Colts The following is a franchise history of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball, a charter member of the National League who started play in the National Association in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings. The Chicago National League Ball Cl ...

. * The Philadelphia Quakers are renamed the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

. * The Brooklyn Bridegrooms transfer from the AA to the NL. * The Cincinnati Red Stockings transfer from the AA to the NL and are renamed the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. * The Indianapolis Hoosiers, Kansas City Cowboys, and Washington Nationals fold. * The Baltimore Orioles transfer from the AA into minor league baseball, and are replaced by the

Brooklyn Gladiators The Brooklyn Gladiators were a Major League Baseball team in the American Association during the 1890 season. They were last in the league with a 26–73 record when the franchise folded on August 27, 1890. History The Gladiators were managed by ...

. The Gladiators then folded midway through the 1890 season, and the Orioles returned to the AA to finish out the season. * The Rochester Broncos, Syracuse Stars, and Toledo Maumees also join the AA.

1891: Last AA season

* The Players' League (PL) disbands. * The Brooklyn Bridegrooms are renamed the Brooklyn Grooms. * The Pittsburgh Alleghenys are renamed the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

. * The Boston Reds of the former PL join the AA. * The AA's Philadelphia Athletics are expelled from the league and are replaced by the former PL's Philadelphia Athletics. * The Cincinnati Kelly's Killers join the AA. The club then folded midway through the 1891 season and are replaced by the minor league team

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...

. * The Washington Statesman join the AA.

1892: NL monopoly

* The AA folds, leaving only the NL. * Four former AA clubs (Baltimore, Louisville, St. Louis, and Washington) join the NL. * The Washington Statesmen become known as the Washington Senators.

1896

The Brooklyn Grooms revert back to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

1898

The Chicago Colts become known as the

Chicago Orphans The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

1899

* The Brooklyn Bridegrooms become known as the

Brooklyn Superbas The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Califo ...

. * The St. Louis Browns become known as the St. Louis Perfectos.

1900: Classic Eight

* The NL contracts to eight clubs, with the folding of Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville, and Washington. This eight-team lineup in the NL remained unchanged through 1952. * The St. Louis Perfectos are renamed the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

Birth of the Modern Era & Negro Major Leagues (1901–1946)

1901: Founding of the American League

The American League is established with its own eight clubs.

1902

The Milwaukee Brewers move to St. Louis and become the St. Louis Browns.

1903

* The

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

fold. * The

New York Highlanders The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one o ...

are enfranchised. * The Cleveland Bluebirds are renamed the

Cleveland Naps The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...

. * The Chicago Orphans are renamed the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...

1904

The Chicago White Stockings are renamed the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...

1907

The Boston Beaneaters are renamed the

Boston Doves The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta. During ...

1908

The Boston Americans are renamed the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...

1911

* The Boston Doves are renamed the

Boston Rustlers The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta. During it ...

. * The Brooklyn Superbas are renamed the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.

1912

The Boston Rustlers are renamed the

Boston Braves The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta. During it ...

1913

* The New York Highlanders are renamed the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one ...

. * The Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers are renamed the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Californi ...

1914

* The

Federal League The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that played its first season as a minor league in 1913 and operated as a "third major league", in competition with the e ...

declares itself as a "third major league" with its own eight teams, in competition with the established National and American Leagues. * The Brooklyn Dodgers are renamed the

Brooklyn Robins The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Califor ...

1915

* The Cleveland Naps are renamed the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central division. Since , they have ...

. * The Buffalo Buffeds are renamed the Buffalo Blues. * The Chicago Federals are renamed the

Chicago Whales The Chicago Whales were a professional baseball team based in Chicago. They played in the Federal League, a short-lived "third Major League", in 1914 and 1915. They originally lacked a formal nickname, and were known simply as the "Chicago Fed ...

. * The Indianapolis Hoosiers relocate to

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat, seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County and the second largest city within the New Yo ...

, to become the

Newark Peppers The Newark Peppers, originally known as the Indianapolis Hoosiers, were a Federal League baseball team from 1913–1915. The Federal League (FL), founded in 1913, was a third major league in 1914 and 1915. History The Federal League began as an in ...

1916

The Federal League folds prior to the season.

1920: Establishment of first Negro National League

The first Negro National League is formed with eight clubs, the first black baseball league to be designated a major league.

1921

Dayton Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Da ...

departs the NNL as an independent team. *

Columbus Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to: * Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer * Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio Columbus may also refer to: Places ...

joins the NNL. *The Cuban Stars are renamed the Cincinnati Cuban Stars.

1922

*The

Chicago Giants The Chicago Giants were a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois which played in the Negro leagues from 1910 to 1921. History The team was founded by Frank Leland after he and his partner, Rube Foster, split up the Leland Gian ...

and Columbus Buckeyes fold. *The Cleveland Tate Stars and Pittsburgh Keystones join the NNL. *The Cincinnati Cuban Stars are renamed the Cuban Stars. *The St. Louis Giants are renamed the St. Louis Stars

1923: Founding of the Eastern Colored League

*The

Eastern Colored League The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs, more commonly known as the Eastern Colored League (ECL), was one of the several Negro leagues, which operated during the time organized baseball was segregated. League history Founding The ECL ...

is established with six clubs. *The Pittsburgh Keystones folds. *

joins the NNL. *The Cleveland Tate Stars depart from the NNL as an independent team and are replaced by the

Toledo Tigers The Toledo Tigers were a Negro National League team that operated during the season, its only season in the league, representing Toledo, Ohio. It played its home games at Toledo's Swayne Field, home of the minor league Mud Hens. The team was ...

. The Tigers then folded midway through the 1923 season, and the Tate Stars returned to the NL to finish out the season.

1924

folds. *

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...

, the

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conferenc ...

, and

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

join the NNL. *

Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in ...

and the Washington Potomacs join the ECL.

1925

fold. *The Washington Potomacs move from Washington, D.C. to

Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington (Unami language, Lenape: ''Paxahakink /'' ''Pakehakink)'' is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish colonization of the Americas, Swedish settlement in North ...

and are renamed the Wilmington Potomacs, before folding mid-season.

1926

*The Cleveland Elites join the NNL and fold mid-season. *The

Dayton Marcos The Dayton Marcos were a Negro league baseball team based from Dayton, Ohio that played during the early twentieth century. Founding and early years The Dayton Marcos history predates the formal organized leagues of Negro league baseball. As an ...

rejoin the NNL and depart mid-season as an independent team. *The

Newark Stars The Newark Stars were a Negro league baseball team in the Eastern Colored League, based in Newark, New Jersey, in 1926. The team's owner was Wilbur Crelin and its manager and third baseman was Andy Harris. The team featured outfielder Charlie Ma ...

join the ECL and fold mid-season. *

and

depart the NNL and join the minor league Negro Southern League.

1927

*The

Indianapolis ABCs The Indianapolis ABCs were a Negro league baseball team that played both as an independent club and as a charter member of the first Negro National League (NNL). They claimed the western championship of black baseball in 1915 and 1916, and fini ...

fold. *

and

rejoin the NNL. *The Cleveland Hornets join the NNL.

1928: Last ECL season

*The Eastern Colored League disbands mid-season. *The Cleveland Hornets fold. *

and Hilldale withdraw from the ECL as independent teams. *The Cleveland Tigers join the NNL. *The

Philadelphia Tigers The Philadelphia Tigers were a Negro league baseball team that played briefly in the 1928 Eastern Colored League (ECL) before the circuit disbanded in early June. The Tigers, organized by Smittie Lucas, featured a few well-known east coast player ...

joins the ECL.

1929: Only ANL season

*The American Negro League (not to be confused with the Negro American League) is formed with six clubs, consisting of five clubs from the former

and the independent

Homestead Grays The Homestead Grays (also known as Washington Grays or Washington Homestead Grays) were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues in the United States. The team was formed in 1912 by Cumberland Posey, and remained in continuo ...

. *The Cleveland Tigers fold. *The

fold. *The

Brooklyn Royal Giants The Brooklyn Royal Giants were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1905 by John Wilson Connor (1875–1926), owner of the Brooklyn Royal Cafe, the team initially played against white semi-pro teams. T ...

becomes a permanent independent team.

1930

*The American Negro League disbands. *

Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.

and the

Cuban Stars (East) The Cuban Stars (East) were a team of professional baseball players from Cuba and other Latin American countries who competed in the Negro leagues in the eastern United States from 1916 to 1933. They generally were a traveling team that played on ...

fold. *

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

, Hilldale, Homestead, and New York Lincoln become independent teams. *

Louisville Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...

and

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and th ...

join the NNL.

1931: Last NNL season

*The Cuban Stars folds. *

and

depart the NNL and join the minor league Negro Southern League. *A new

joins the NNL. *The Chicago American Giants are renamed the

Chicago Columbia Giants The Columbia Giants were a professional, black baseball team based in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century, prior to the Negro leagues. Founding In 1899, a group known as the Columbia Club, organized the Columbia Giants under the direction ...

*The Louisville Black Caps are renamed the Louisville White Sox *The Nashville Elite Giants move from

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and ...

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S ...

and are renamed the

Cleveland Cubs Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

. *The Negro National League disbands mid-season, though teams continue to play each other as independent teams.

1932: Only EWL season and major league NSL season

*The Negro National League disbands. *The

East–West League The East–West League was an American Negro baseball league that operated during the period when professional baseball in the United States was segregated. Cum Posey organized the league in 1932, but it did not last the full year and folded in Ju ...

is established with 8 clubs (3 of which (

, Hilldale, and Homestead) were members of the former American Negro League). *The minor league Negro Southern League is considered major league for the 1932 season, consisting of 10 clubs (6 of which (

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

) were members of the former Negro National League). *The Brooklyn Robins reverts back to the

name. *The Chicago Columbia Giants reverts back to the

Chicago American Giants The Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball. Owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" ...

name. *The

Newark Browns The Newark Browns were a Negro league baseball team in the East-West League, based in Bloomfield, New Jersey, in 1932. They played their home games at General Electric Field. 1932 season The Browns were the final team to join the East-West League ...

depart mid-season as an independent team.

1933: Establishment of second Negro National League

*The Negro Southern League (NSL) is considered demoted to minor league status. *Little Rock and Columbus of the NSL fold. *Monroe, Montgomery, and Memphis remain in the NSL and are therefore considered minor league teams. *Atlanta and Birmingham withdraw from MLB as independent teams. *The East-West League (EWL) disbands. *Cleveland, Detroit, Hilldale, and Newark of the EWL fold. *Pollock's Cuban Stars and Washington of the EWL withdraw from MLB as independent teams. *The Baltimore Black Sox are renamed as the Baltimore Sox. *The second Negro National League is formed, consisting of 7 clubs (5 of which (Baltimore,

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

, Homestead,

, and

) were members of either the NSL or the EWL the previous year). *The

Pittsburgh Crawfords The Pittsburgh Crawfords, popularly known as the Craws, were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team, previously known as the Crawford Colored Giants, was named after the Crawford Bath House, a recr ...

joins the NNL. *The Indianapolis ABCs move mid-season from

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mar ...

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

and are renamed the

Detroit Stars The Detroit Stars were an American baseball team in the Negro leagues and played at historic Mack Park. The Stars had winning seasons every year but two, but were never able to secure any championships. Among their best players was Baseball Hall of ...

. *The

Columbus Blue Birds The Columbus Blue Birds were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio in 1931 and 1933. Founding Their name appears to have been derived from that of the Columbus Red Birds, the top-level minor league baseball team that ...

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, an ...

rejoins MLB with the NNL. The team disbanded and merged with the independent

Akron Black Tyrites The Akron Black Tyrites were a Negro league baseball team that played out another team's schedule for a portion of a single season. They were based in Akron, Ohio Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county s ...

Akron, Ohio Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city ...

after the first half of the split season. Akron joins the NNL in place of Columbus before shortly moving to

as the

Cleveland Giants The Cleveland Giants were a Negro league baseball team. The team played only one year, 1933. Their home games were contested at Cleveland's Luna Bowl in Luna Park. History In 1933, the struggling Columbus Blue Birds of the Negro National Leag ...

1934

*The

and

fold. * Homestead withdraws from the league as an independent team. *The

Cleveland Red Sox The Cleveland Red Sox was a Negro league baseball team in the Negro National League, based in Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Loc ...

, Newark Dodgers, Philadelphia Bacharach Giants, and Philadelphia Stars join the NNL. *Baltimore reverts back to the

Baltimore Black Sox The Baltimore Black Sox were a professional Negro league baseball team active between 1913 and 1936, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Founding The Black Sox started as an independent team in 1913 by Howard Young. They were one of the original six ...

name.

1935

*The

fold. *The

and Philadelphia Bacharach Giants withdraw from the league as independent teams. *The

Brooklyn Eagles Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

and

New York Cubans The New York Cubans were a Negro league baseball team that played during the 1930s and from 1939 to 1950. Despite playing in the Negro leagues, the team occasionally employed white-skinned Hispanic baseball players as well, because Hispanics in ...

join and the

rejoin the NNL. *The Nashville Elite Giants move from

and are renamed the Columbus Elite Giants.

1936

*The

withdraw from the NNL. *The Brooklyn Eagles and Newark Dodgers merge to form the

Newark Eagles The Newark Eagles were a professional Negro league baseball team which played in the Negro National League from 1936 to 1948. They were owned by Abe and Effa Manley. History Formation The Newark Eagles were formed in 1936 when the Newark Dodg ...

. *The

New York Black Yankees The New York Black Yankees were a professional Negro league baseball team based in New York City; Paterson, New Jersey; and Rochester, New York. Beginning as the independent Harlem Stars, the team was renamed the New York Black Yankees in 1932 and ...

join the NNL. *The Boston Braves are renamed the

Boston Bees The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta. During ...

. *The Columbus Elite Giants move from

to Washington, D.C. and are renamed the Washington Elite Giants.

1937: Founding of the Negro American League

*The Negro American League (NAL) is formed, consisting of eight clubs (four of which were in previous Negro Major Leagues, including

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more th ...

, and

). *The

withdraw from the NNL.

1938

*The Cincinnati Tigers,

Indianapolis Athletics The Indianapolis Athletics were a Negro league baseball team in the Negro American League, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1937. Ted Strong was their player-manager. After their only season in 1937, they were replaced by the Indianapolis ABCs ...

, St. Louis Stars fold. *

, a new

, and

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

join the NAL. *The Washington Black Senators join the NNL. *The Washington Elite Giants move from Washington, D.C. to

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore wa ...

and are renamed the

Baltimore Elite Giants The Baltimore Elite Giants were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues from to . The team was established by Thomas T. Wilson, in Nashville, Tennessee as the semi-pro Nashville Standard Giants on March 26, 1920. The team ...

1939

*The Washington Black Senators fold. *

withdraws from the NAL and does not play during the 1939 season. *The

rejoin the NNL. *The

move from

to St. Louis, Missouri are renamed the St. Louis Stars. *The Atlanta Black Crackers move from

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital city, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georgia, Fulton County, the mos ...

and are renamed the

. *The Jacksonville Red Caps move from

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which th ...

and are renamed the Cleveland Bears. *The Pittsburgh Crawfords move from

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnat ...

and are renamed the Toledo Crawfords. *Toledo withdraws from the NNL and join the NAL mid-season.

1940

*The

fold. *

rejoins the NAL. *The St. Louis Stars split their home games between St. Louis, Missouri and

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

and are renamed the St. Louis–New Orleans Stars. *The Toledo Crawfords move from

and are renamed the

Indianapolis Crawfords The Pittsburgh Crawfords, popularly known as the Craws, were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team, previously known as the Crawford Colored Giants, was named after the Crawford Bath House, a recrea ...

1941

*The

fold. *The Cleveland Bears move from

back to

and reverts its name back to the

Jacksonville Red Caps The Jacksonville Red Caps were a Negro league baseball team based primarily in Jacksonville, Florida. They played the Negro American League from 1938 until 1942. History The team was based in Jacksonville, Florida playing at Durkee Field in ...

*The Boston Bees reverts back to the Boston Braves name.

1942

*The St. Louis–New Orleans Stars temporarily disband. *The Cincinnati Buckeyes joins the NAL. *The

fold mid-season.

1943

*The St. Louis–New Orleans Stars reform and join the NNL as the Harrisburg–St. Louis Stars, having moved to

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in ...

, though keep the St. Louis moniker as a part of their name. The team would proceed to withdraw from the league in July to barnstorm before quickly folding for good. *The Cincinnati Buckeyes move from

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

and are renamed the

Cleveland Buckeyes The Cleveland Buckeyes were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1942 to 1950 in the Negro American League. The Buckeyes played in two Negro World Series, defeating the Washington Homestead Grays in 1945, and losing to the New York Cu ...

. *The

Cincinnati Clowns The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. Tracing their origins back to the 1930s, the Clowns were the last of the Negro league teams to disband, continuing to play exhibition games into the 1980s. The ...

join the NAL.

1944

The Cincinnati Clowns split their home games between

and

and are renamed the Cincinnati–Indianapolis Clowns.

1946

The Cincinnati–Indianapolis Clowns cease playing in

and permanently play in

and are renamed the

Indianapolis Clowns The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. Tracing their origins back to the 1930s, the Clowns were the last of the Negro league teams to disband, continuing to play exhibition games into the 1980s. The ...

Integration, end of Negro Major Leagues, and Relocations begin (1947–1960)

1947

The

, and St. Louis Browns are the first teams in the MLB to integrate.

1948

1949

*Due to the ongoing process of integration, the Negro American League (NAL) reverts to minor league status, while the Negro National League (NNL) folds. All NNL teams (except for the collapsed

and newly independent

) join the minor league NAL. *The

integrate.

1950

The

integrate.

1951

The

integrate.

1953: Braves relocation to Milwaukee, and Cincinnati renaming

* The Boston Braves move to Milwaukee and become the

Milwaukee Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...

. * The Cincinnati Reds are renamed the

Cincinnati Redlegs Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

. * The

Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, the team became the Oakla ...

, and

integrate.

1954: Browns relocation to Baltimore

*The St. Louis Browns move to Baltimore and become the

. *The

, and Washington Senators integrate.

1955: Athletics relocation to Kansas City

*The Philadelphia Athletics move to

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the List of United States cities by populat ...

, and become the

Kansas City Athletics The history of the Athletics Major League Baseball franchise spans the period from 1901 to the present day, having begun as a charter member franchise in the new American League in Philadelphia before moving to Kansas City in 1955 for 13 sea ...

. *The

integrate.

1957

The

integrate.

1958: The NL exits New York for California

*The Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles and become the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League West, West division. Established in 1883 i ...

. *The New York Giants move to San Francisco and become the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yo ...

. *The

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

integrate.

1959: Cincinnati reverts back to the Reds

*After calling themselves the Cincinnati Redlegs for the past six seasons, the club reverts back to the Cincinnati Reds. *The

are the final team to integrate.

First expansion (1961–1968)

1961 relocation and expansion

* The

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...

are enfranchised. * The ''original'' Washington Senators move to the

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi, Minnesota River, Minnesota and St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota) ...

area and are renamed the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

. * A ''new'' Washington Senators club is enfranchised.

1962 expansion

* The Houston Colt .45s are enfranchised. * The

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major lea ...

are enfranchised.

1965: Houston and Angels renaming

* The Houston Colt .45s are renamed the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after s ...

. * The Los Angeles Angels are renamed the

California Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ...

on September 2, 1965, with 28 games left in the season.

1966: Braves relocation to Atlanta

The Milwaukee Braves move to

and become the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in ...

1968: Athletics relocation to Oakland

The Kansas City Athletics move to

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the ...

, and become the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The t ...

Birth of division play (1969–1993)

1969 expansion and realignment

* The

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

and

Seattle Pilots The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington during the 1969 Major League Baseball season. During their single-season existence, the Pilots played their home games at Sick's Stadium and were a mem ...

are enfranchised in the AL. * The

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in ...

and the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

are enfranchised in the NL. * The two leagues each realign into two six-team divisions

1970: Pilots relocation to Milwaukee

The Seattle Pilots move to

and become the

1972: Senators relocation to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex

* The Washington Senators move to

Arlington, Texas Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region ...

, in the

Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, officially designated Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is a conurbated metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Texas encompassing 11 counties and anchor ...

and become the Texas Rangers. * The Rangers transfer from the AL East to the AL West. * The Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the AL West to the AL East.

1977 expansion

* The

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion ...

are enfranchised and are placed in the AL West. * The

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

are enfranchised and are placed in the AL East.

1993 expansion

* The

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fi ...

are enfranchised and are placed in the NL West. * The

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fran ...

are enfranchised and are placed in the NL East.

Wild Card era (1994–present)

1994 realignment

MLB realigns to three divisions in each league to accommodate an expanded postseason format with a wild card team (although this new playoff format would not be fully implemented until 1995 due to a work stoppage): * The

AL Central The American League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed in the realignment of 1994 by moving three teams from the American League West and two teams from the American League East. Its teams are all loc ...

is formed with Cleveland and Milwaukee transferring from the AL East; and the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City, and Minnesota from the AL West. * The NL Central is formed with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis transferring from the NL East; and Cincinnati and Houston from the NL West. * The Atlanta Braves transfer from the NL West to the NL East.

1997: Angels renaming

The California Angels are renamed the

Anaheim Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team h ...

1998 expansion

* The

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...

are enfranchised and are placed in the NL West. * The

Tampa Bay Devil Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home ve ...

are enfranchised and are placed in the AL East. * The Detroit Tigers transfer from the AL East to the AL Central. * In order to primarily continue intraleague play, the Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the AL Central to the NL Central so both leagues each have an even number of teams.

2005: Expos relocation and Angels renaming

* The Montreal Expos relocate to Washington, D.C. and become the

. * The Anaheim Angels are renamed the

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ...

2008: Tampa Bay renaming

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays shorten their name to

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...

2012: Marlins renaming

The Florida Marlins are renamed the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fra ...

2013: Astros switch leagues

With interleague play expanded to occur throughout the season, the Houston Astros transfer from the NL Central to the AL West to accommodate each league with 15 clubs apiece.

2016: Angels renaming

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim phase out the official use of "of Anaheim" in favor of just

2022: Cleveland renaming

The Cleveland Indians are renamed the

Cleveland Guardians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...

References

{{MLB History of Major League Baseball Articles which contain graphical timelines