American League facts for kids
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| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 28, 1901 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Founder | Ban Johnson |
| President | vacant (honorary) |
| Divisions | 3 |
| No. of teams | 15 |
| Countries |
|
| Most recent champion(s) |
Texas Rangers (3rd title) |
| Most titles | New York Yankees (40) |
The American League (AL) is one of two main groups of teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). It is based in the United States and Canada. The American League is often called the Junior Circuit. This is because it became a major league in 1901, which was 25 years after the National League (the Senior Circuit) was formed.
Since 1903, the American League champion team has played against the National League champion in the World Series. This has happened almost every year. The only times it didn't happen were in 1904 and 1994. Through 2023, American League teams have won 68 of the 119 World Series played. The New York Yankees have won the most World Series titles (27) and American League titles (40).
For many years, teams only played against others in their own league during the regular season. Also, each league had its own umpires. This led to slightly different ways of playing. The American League was seen as less "traditional." For example, in 1973, the AL started using the designated hitter rule. This rule lets a player bat instead of the pitcher. Over time, these differences have become much smaller. This is because players can now move between leagues more easily. Also, teams from different leagues play each other during the regular season.
Even though both leagues agreed to have a commissioner in 1920, they stayed separate businesses. They had their own presidents. But after the 1999 season, the American League officially joined with the National League. Now, Major League Baseball runs both leagues together.
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How did the American League start?
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The American League began as a smaller league called the Western League. This league existed from 1885 to 1899. Its teams were mostly in the Great Lakes area. In 1900, the league changed its name to the American League. The next year, it became a major league. It competed with the older National League. This happened after the National League removed four teams in 1899.
The Western League struggled in its early years. But in 1894, Ban Johnson became its president. Johnson worked hard to make the league a major one. The decision to change the name to the American League happened at a meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In March 1904, Johnson moved the league's main office from Chicago to New York.
Babe Ruth, one of baseball's greatest hitters, played most of his career in the American League. He played for the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. From 1973 to 2022, the American League had a special rule: the designated hitter. This rule lets a team use a player to bat instead of the pitcher. The National League did not use this rule until 2022.
In 1969, both the American League and National League were split into East and West divisions. This led to a playoff series to decide the league champion. In 1994, the league changed again. It was divided into three divisions: East, West, and Central. A new playoff round was added, called the American League Division Series. The best second-place team could also make the playoffs as a "wild-card" team.
In 1998, two new teams joined MLB. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the American League. The Arizona Diamondbacks joined the National League. This meant each league had 15 teams. To make things even, the Milwaukee Brewers moved from the American League to the National League. The Detroit Tigers also moved within the American League. In 2013, the Houston Astros moved from the National League to the American League. Now, both leagues have 15 teams.
Playing against the National League
For 96 years, American League teams only played National League teams in special exhibition games or the World Series. But starting in 1997, they began playing each other during the regular season. These games count in the standings. Until 2022, the designated hitter rule was only used when an American League team was playing at home. In 2022, the designated hitter rule became used by all teams in both leagues.
In 2000, the American League officially joined with Major League Baseball. This meant MLB became one big organization with two parts, still called leagues. This change did not affect how the games were played or scheduled.
Teams of the American League
There were eight original teams when the American League became a major league in 1901. Over the years, some teams moved or changed their names.
Original teams (1901)
- Original Baltimore Orioles: This team moved and became the New York Yankees in 1903.
- Boston Americans: This team became the Boston Red Sox in 1908.
- Chicago White Stockings: Their name was shortened to White Sox in 1904.
- Cleveland Blues: This team became the Cleveland Indians in 1915 and the Cleveland Guardians in 2022.
- Detroit Tigers: This team's name and city have not changed since 1894.
- Original Milwaukee Brewers: This team moved to St. Louis in 1902 and became the St. Louis Browns. Later, they moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the current Baltimore Orioles.
- Philadelphia Athletics: This team moved to Kansas City in 1955 and then to Oakland in 1968. They are now the Oakland Athletics.
- Original Washington Senators: This team moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul in 1961 and became the Minnesota Twins.
Current teams by division
American League East
- Baltimore Orioles: Started in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers, moved to St. Louis (1902), then to Baltimore (1954).
- Boston Red Sox: Started in 1901, became the Red Sox in 1908.
- New York Yankees: Started in 1903, replacing the original Baltimore Orioles. They were called the Highlanders before becoming the Yankees in 1913.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Started in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The name changed in 2008.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Started in 1977.
American League Central
- Chicago White Sox: Started in 1894 as the Sioux City Cornhuskers, moved to St. Paul (1895), then to Chicago (1900).
- Cleveland Guardians: Started in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, moved to Cleveland (1900).
- Detroit Tigers: Started in 1894.
- Kansas City Royals: Started in 1969.
- Minnesota Twins: Started in 1894 as the Kansas City Blues, moved to Washington (1901), then to Minneapolis-St. Paul (1961).
American League West
- Houston Astros: Started in 1962 in the National League as the Houston Colt .45s. They changed their name to Astros in 1965 and moved to the American League in 2013.
- Los Angeles Angels: Started in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels. They have changed their name several times but are now known as the Los Angeles Angels.
- Oakland Athletics: Started in 1901 in Philadelphia, moved to Kansas City (1955), then to Oakland (1968).
- Seattle Mariners: Started in 1977.
- Texas Rangers: Started in 1961 as the Washington Senators, then moved to the Dallas–Fort Worth area in 1972.
Presidents of the American League
After the 1999 season, the American and National Leagues joined with Major League Baseball. The role of American League President became an honorary title.
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Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
|---|---|
| * | Honorary President |
| Name | Years | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Ban Johnson |
1901–1927 | |
| Frank Navin | 1927 | |
| Ernest Barnard | 1927–1931 | |
| Will Harridge |
1931–1959 | |
| Joe Cronin |
1959–1973 | |
| Lee MacPhail |
1973–1984 | |
| Bobby Brown | 1984–1994 | |
| Gene Budig | 1994–1999 | |
| Jackie Autry* | 2000–2015 | |
| Frank Robinson* |
2015–2019 |
See Also
In Spanish: Liga Americana para niños
- List of American League pennant winners
- American League Championship Series (ALCS)
- American League Division Series (ALDS)
- List of American League Wild Card winners
