American League facts for kids
 |
|
| 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) |
New York Yankees (41st title) |
| Most titles | New York Yankees (41) |
The American League (often called the AL) is one of the two main groups of teams that make up Major League Baseball (MLB). MLB is the biggest professional baseball league in the United States and Canada. The American League is sometimes 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 winner of the American League has played against the winner of the National League in the World Series. This championship game has only been missed twice. In 1904, the National League team refused to play. In 1994, a players' strike stopped the Series from happening. As of 2024, American League teams have won 68 out of 120 World Series played since 1903. The New York Yankees have won the most World Series (27) and American League titles (41). The Athletics are next with 15 AL titles, followed by the Boston Red Sox with 14.
For many years, baseball teams mostly played against teams from their own league. The only time they met was in the World Series. The AL and NL also had their own umpires. This led to slightly different ways of playing the game. The American League was seen as less "traditional." For example, in 1973, the AL started using the designated hitter rule. This rule allowed a player to bat instead of the pitcher. Over time, these differences have become much smaller. Players can now move between leagues more easily. Also, teams from both leagues play each other during the regular season since 1997. Umpires also work games across all of MLB since 1999. The National League also adopted the designated hitter rule in 2022.
Even though both leagues agreed to be led by a commissioner in 1920, they stayed separate businesses. They had their own presidents and managers. This changed after the 1999 season. The American League and National League officially joined together under Major League Baseball. Now, MLB works like other big sports leagues, but it still has two "leagues" instead of "conferences."
Contents
History of the American League
.jpg)
The American League started as a smaller league called the Western League. This league played from 1885 to 1899, mostly in the Great Lakes area. In 1900, the league changed its name to the American League. The next year, in 1901, it became a major league. This meant it was now a competitor to the older National League. This happened after the National League dropped four teams in 1899.
In its early days, the Western League struggled. 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 was made at a meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A special marker now stands where the old Republican Hotel, where the meeting happened, used to be. 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 allowed a player to bat for the pitcher, who usually doesn't hit well. This was different from the National League, where pitchers had to bat. Now, both leagues use the designated hitter rule.
Since 1969, the American League (and National League) have been divided into smaller groups called divisions. This led to playoff games after the regular season. These playoffs decide which team will play in the World Series.
For many years, umpires in the American League wore their chest protectors outside their shirts. National League umpires wore them inside. In 1977, new umpires had to wear the protector inside. Most umpires eventually switched to the inside protector.
In 1994, the league changed its structure again. It was divided into three divisions: East, West, and Central. They also added a new round to the playoffs called the American League Division Series. A "wild-card" team, which was the best second-place team, could also make the playoffs. In 1998, two new teams joined MLB. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the AL, and the Arizona Diamondbacks joined the NL.
Having an odd number of teams in each league meant some teams would have to sit out or play against teams from the other league. To fix this, the Milwaukee Brewers moved from the American League to the National League. The Detroit Tigers also moved from the AL East to the AL Central. This made room for the Devil Rays in the East. In 2013, the Houston Astros moved from the National League to the American League. This made both leagues have 15 teams each.
Interleague Play and Merger
For 96 years, American League teams only played National League teams in 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. At first, the designated hitter rule was only used when an American League team was playing at home. But since the 2022 season, the designated hitter rule is used in all games across both leagues.
In 2000, the American League and National League officially joined together under Major League Baseball (MLB). This meant they were no longer separate businesses. This change didn't affect how the games were played or scheduled. MLB now acts as one big league, but it still has two parts, which are still called the American League and National League.
Teams of the American League
The American League has 15 teams, divided into three groups called divisions.
Original Teams
When the American League became a major league in 1901, it had eight original teams. Here's what happened to them:
- The original Baltimore Orioles moved and became the New York Yankees in 1903.
- The Boston Americans became the Boston Red Sox in 1908.
- The Chicago White Stockings became the Chicago White Sox in 1904.
- The Cleveland Blues changed names several times and are now the Cleveland Guardians.
- The Detroit Tigers have kept their name and city since 1894.
- The original Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Browns. They later moved to Baltimore and became the current Baltimore Orioles.
- The Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955, then to Oakland in 1968. They will be known as the Athletics starting in 2025, playing temporarily in West Sacramento.
- The original Washington Senators moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul and became the Minnesota Twins in 1961.
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 first called the Highlanders and became the Yankees by 1913.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Started in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, changed to Rays 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 1896 as the Columbus Buckeyes, moved to Grand Rapids (1899), then 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
- Athletics: Started in 1901 in Philadelphia, moved to Kansas City (1955), then Oakland (1968), and will be in West Sacramento (2025).
- Houston Astros: Started in 1962 in the National League. They moved to the American League in 2013.
- Los Angeles Angels: Started in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels. They have had several name changes but are now known as the Los Angeles Angels.
- Seattle Mariners: Started in 1977.
- Texas Rangers: Started in 1961 as the Washington Senators, moved to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex 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.
 |
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 |
More About the American League
- List of American League pennant winners
- American League Championship Series (ALCS)
- American League Division Series (ALDS)
- List of American League Wild Card winners
See also
In Spanish: Liga Americana para niños
