American League

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AmericanLeague.jpg

Officially known as American League of Professional Baseball Clubs

Abbreviation: AL

The American League has its origins in the minor league Western League, which existed from 1894 to 1899. The league was reorganized and renamed by Ban Johnson in 1900 and played as a minor league that year. Its intention, however, was to compete with the National League, and it did so in 1901 when it proclaimed itself a rival major league, moved teams into the cities of Boston, MA and Philadelphia, PA, even though they were occupied by National League teams, and started to sign NL players. In 1903, with a precarious peace established through the National Agreement, the champions of the rival leagues met in the first World Series. In 1904, though, there was no World Series due to the refusal of the New York Giants to play along; public pressure forced a permanent peace between the leagues after that, but the leagues remained distinct entities with their own presidents.

The leagues maintained their own umpiring crews, with the American League home-plate umpires continuing to use outside chest protectors for decades after the National League umps had phased them out. With the outside protector the American League umpires stood further back than National League umps. This positional difference, and the perspective on the strike zone it lent, may have led to what was perceived as a difference in pitching styles of the two leagues from mid-century into the free agency era, that the National League was a fastball league where pitchers would "challenge the hitter" whereas the American League was a "breaking ball league".

In 1973, the American League introduced the designated hitter to official big league games. In 1999, the two leagues were virtually dissolved as the league presidencies were abolished and merged under a single commissioner in Bud Selig, and the two leagues' umpire crews were commingled. The AL (as it's frequently called) now exists in name only as part of Major League Baseball. The American League is often called the "junior circuit", given it is 25 years younger than the National League.

League Presidents[edit]

The separate league office was eliminated in 2000 with the merger of the two leagues under the Commissioner's office, although the Commissioner named an honorary league President whose duties are purely ceremonial.

Honorary President

League Champions[edit]

Year Champion Record Manager Postseason Notes
1900 Chicago White Stockings 82-53 Charlie Comiskey none
1901 Chicago White Sox 83-53-1 Clark Griffith none
1902 Philadelphia Athletics 83-53-1 Connie Mack none
1903 Boston Americans 91-47-3 Jimmy Collins Won World Series over Pittsburgh Pirates 1
1904 Boston Americans 95-59-3 Jimmy Collins none 2
1905 Philadelphia Athletics 92-56-4 Connie Mack Lost World Series to New York Giants
1906 Chicago White Sox 93-58-4 Fielder Jones Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1907 Detroit Tigers 92-58-3 Hugh Jennings Lost World Series to Chicago Cubs
1908 Detroit Tigers 90-63-1 Hugh Jennings Lost World Series to Chicago Cubs
1909 Detroit Tigers 98-54-6 Hugh Jennings Lost World Series to Pittsburgh Pirates
1910 Philadelphia Athletics 102-48-5 Connie Mack Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1911 Philadelphia Athletics 101-50-1 Connie Mack Won World Series over New York Giants
1912 Boston Red Sox 105-47-2 Jake Stahl Won World Series over New York Giants
1913 Philadelphia Athletics 96-57 Connie Mack Won World Series over New York Giants
1914 Philadelphia Athletics 99-53-6 Connie Mack Lost World Series to Boston Braves
1915 Boston Red Sox 101-50-4 Bill Carrigan Won World Series over Philadelphia Phillies
1916 Boston Red Sox 91-63-2 Bill Carrigan Won World Series over Brooklyn Robins
1917 Chicago White Sox 100-54-2 Pants Rowland Won World Series over New York Giants
1918 Boston Red Sox 75-51 Ed Barrow Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1919 Chicago White Sox 88-52 Kid Gleason Lost World Series to Cincinnati Reds 1
1920 Cleveland Indians 98-56 Tris Speaker Won World Series over Brooklyn Robins 1
1921 New York Yankees 98-55 Miller Huggins Lost World Series to New York Giants 1
1922 New York Yankees 94-60 Miller Huggins Lost World Series to New York Giants
1923 New York Yankees 98-54 Miller Huggins Won World Series over New York Giants
1924 Washington Senators 92-62-2 Bucky Harris Won World Series over New York Giants
1925 Washington Senators 96-55-1 Bucky Harris Lost World Series to Pittsburgh Pirates
1926 New York Yankees 91-63-1 Miller Huggins Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1927 New York Yankees 110-41-1 Miller Huggins Won World Series over Pittsburgh Pirates
1928 New York Yankees 101-53 Miller Huggins Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
1929 Philadelphia Athletics 104-46-1 Connie Mack Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1930 Philadelphia Athletics 102-52 Connie Mack Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
1931 Philadelphia Athletics 107-45-1 Connie Mack Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1932 New York Yankees 107-47-1-1 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1933 Washington Senators 99-53-1 Joe Cronin Lost World Series to New York Giants
1934 Detroit Tigers 101-53 Mickey Cochrane Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1935 Detroit Tigers 93-58-1 Mickey Cochrane Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1936 New York Yankees 102-51-2 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over New York Giants
1937 New York Yankees 102-52-2-1 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over New York Giants
1938 New York Yankees 99-53-5 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1939 New York Yankees 106-45-1 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over Cincinnati Reds
1940 Detroit Tigers 90-64-1 Del Baker Lost World Series to Cincinnati Reds
1941 New York Yankees 101-53-2 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over Brooklyn Dodgers
1942 New York Yankees 103-51 Joe McCarthy Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1943 New York Yankees 98-56-1 Joe McCarthy Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
1944 St. Louis Browns 89-65 Luke Sewell Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1945 Detroit Tigers 88-65-2 Steve O'Neill Won World Series over Chicago Cubs
1946 Boston Red Sox 104-50-2 Joe Cronin Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1947 New York Yankees 97-57-1 Bucky Harris Won World Series over Brooklyn Dodgers
1948 Cleveland Indians 98-57-1 Lou Boudreau Won World Series over Boston Braves 3
1949 New York Yankees 97-57-1 Casey Stengel Won World Series over Brooklyn Dodgers
1950 New York Yankees 98-56-1 Casey Stengel Won World Series over Philadelphia Phillies
1951 New York Yankees 98-56 Casey Stengel Won World Series over New York Giants
1952 New York Yankees 95-59 Casey Stengel Won World Series over Brooklyn Dodgers
1953 New York Yankees 99-52 Casey Stengel Won World Series over Brooklyn Dodgers
1954 Cleveland Indians 111-43-2 Al Lopez Lost World Series to New York Giants
1955 New York Yankees 96-58 Casey Stengel Lost World Series to Brooklyn Dodgers
1956 New York Yankees 97-57 Casey Stengel Won World Series over Brooklyn Dodgers
1957 New York Yankees 98-59 Casey Stengel Lost World Series to Milwaukee Braves
1958 New York Yankees 92-62-1 Casey Stengel Won World Series over Milwaukee Braves
1959 Chicago White Sox 94-60-2 Al Lopez Lost World Series to Los Angeles Dodgers
1960 New York Yankees 97-57-1 Casey Stengel Lost World Series to Pittsburgh Pirates
1961 New York Yankees 109-53-1 Ralph Houk Won World Series over Cincinnati Reds
1962 New York Yankees 96-66 Ralph Houk Won World Series over San Francisco Giants
1963 New York Yankees 104-57 Ralph Houk Lost World Series to Los Angeles Dodgers
1964 New York Yankees 99-63-2 Yogi Berra Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1965 Minnesota Twins 102-60 Sam Mele Lost World Series to Los Angeles Dodgers
1966 Baltimore Orioles 97-63 Hank Bauer Won World Series over Los Angeles Dodgers
1967 New York Yankees 92-70 Dick Williams Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1968 Detroit Tigers 103-59-2 Eddie Smith Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
1969 Baltimore Orioles 109-53 Earl Weaver Lost World Series to New York Mets
1970 Baltimore Orioles 108-54 Earl Weaver Won World Series over Cincinnati Reds
1971 Baltimore Orioles 101-57 Earl Weaver Lost World Series to Pittsburgh Pirates
1972 Oakland Athletics 93-62 Dick Williams Won World Series over Cincinnati Reds
1973 Oakland Athletics 94-68 Dick Williams Won World Series over New York Mets
1974 Oakland Athletics 90-72 Alvin Dark Won World Series over Los Angeles Dodgers
1975 Boston Red Sox 95-65 Darrell Johnson Lost World Series to Cincinnati Reds
1976 New York Yankees 97-62 Billy Martin Lost World Series to Cincinnati Reds
1977 New York Yankees 100-62 Billy Martin Won World Series over Los Angeles Dodgers
1978 New York Yankees 100-63 Billy Martin / Dick Howser / Bob Lemon Won World Series over Los Angeles Dodgers
1979 Baltimore Orioles 102-57 Earl Weaver Lost World Series to Pittsburgh Pirates
1980 Kansas City Royals 97-65 Jim Frey Lost World Series to Philadelphia Phillies
1981 New York Yankees 59-48 Gene Michael / Bob Lemon Lost World Series to Los Angeles Dodgers 4
1982 Milwaukee Brewers 95-67-1 Buck Rodgers / Harvey Kuenn Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
1983 Baltimore Orioles 98-64 Joe Altobelli Won World Series over Philadelphia Phillies
1984 Detroit Tigers 104-58 Sparky Anderson Won World Series over San Diego Padres
1985 Kansas City Royals 91-71 Dick Howser Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
1986 Boston Red Sox 95-66 John McNamara Lost World Series to New York Mets
1987 Minnesota Twins 85-77 Tom Kelly Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
1988 Oakland Athletics 104-58 Tony LaRussa Lost World Series to Los Angeles Dodgers
1989 Oakland Athletics 99-63 Tony LaRussa Won World Series over San Francisco Giants
1990 Oakland Athletics 103-59 Tony LaRussa Lost World Series to Cincinnati Reds
1991 Minnesota Twins 95-67 Tom Kelly Won World Series over Atlanta Braves
1992 Toronto Blue Jays 96-66 Cito Gaston Won World Series over Atlanta Braves
1993 Toronto Blue Jays 95-67 Cito Gaston Won World Series over Philadelphia Phillies
1994 New York Yankees 70-43 Buck Showalter none 5
1995 Cleveland Indians 100-44 Mike Hargrove Lost World Series to Atlanta Braves
1996 New York Yankees 92-70 Joe Torre Won World Series over Atlanta Braves
1997 Cleveland Indians 86-75 Mike Hargrove Lost World Series to Florida Marlins
1998 New York Yankees 114-48 Joe Torre Won World Series over San Diego Padres
1999 New York Yankees 98-64 Joe Torre / Don Zimmer Won World Series over Atlanta Braves
2000 New York Yankees 87-74 Joe Torre Won World Series over New York Mets
2001 New York Yankees 95-65 Joe Torre Lost World Series to Arizona Diamondbacks
2002 Anaheim Angels 99-63 Mike Scioscia Won World Series over San Francisco Giants
2003 New York Yankees 101-61 Joe Torre Lost World Series to Florida Marlins
2004 Boston Red Sox 98-64 Terry Francona Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
2005 Chicago White Sox 99-63 Ozzie Guillen Won World Series over Houston Astros
2006 Detroit Tigers 95-67 Phil Garner Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
2007 Boston Red Sox 96-66 Terry Francona Won World Series over Colorado Rockies
2008 Tampa Bay Rays 97-65 Joe Maddon Lost World Series to Philadelphia Phillies
2009 New York Yankees 103-59 Joe Girardi Won World Series over Philaldelphia Phillies
2010 Texas Rangers 90-72 Ron Washington Lost World Series to San Francisco Giants
2011 Texas Rangers 96-66 Ron Washington Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
2012 Detroit Tigers 88-74 Jim Leyland Lost World Series to San Francisco Giants
2013 Boston Red Sox 97-65 John Farrell Won World Series over St. Louis Cardinals
2014 Kansas City Royals 89-73 Ned Yost Lost World Series to San Francisco Giants
2015 Kansas City Royals 95-67 Ned Yost Won World Series over New York Mets
2016 Cleveland Indians 94-67 Terry Francona Lost World Series to Chicago Cubs
2017 Houston Astros 101-61 A.J. Hinch Won World Series over Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 Boston Red Sox 108-54 Alex Cora Won World Series over Los Angeles Dodgers
2019 Houston Astros 107-55 A.J. Hinch Lost World Series to Washington Nationals
2020 Tampa Bay Rays 40-20 Kevin Cash Lost World Series to Los Angeles Dodgers 6
2021 Houston Astros 95-67 Dusty Baker Lost World Series to Atlanta Braves
2022 Houston Astros 106-56 Dusty Baker Won World Series over Philadelphia Phillies
2023 Texas Rangers 90-72 Bruce Bochy Won World Series over Arizona Diamondbacks

Notes:

  1. The World Series was played in a best-of-nine format
  2. The New York Giants declined to play the American League champions; there was no World Series
  3. Won one-game playoff against Boston Red Sox
  4. The season was shortened by a strike; a special postseason format was used
  5. The season was ended by a strike and the postseason was cancelled; the Yankees had the best record in the league when the season ended
  6. The season was shortened by the coronavirus pandemic; a special postseason format was used

See Also[edit]

American League Team History

Sources[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

  • "Frank Robinson named Senior Advisor and Honorary A.L. President", mlb.com, February 2, 2015. [1]
  • Paul Hensler: The American League in Transition, 1965-1975: How Competition Thrived When the Yankees Didn't, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2013. ISBN 978-0-7864-4626-1
  • Donald Honig: The American League: An Illustrated History, Crown Publishers, New York, NY, 1983. ISBN 0517550423
  • Michael T. Lynch, Jr: Harry Frazee, Ban Johnson and the Feud That Nearly Destroyed the American League, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2008 .
  • Andy McCue: Stumbling around the Bases: The American League’s Mismanagement in the Expansion Eras, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 2022. ISBN 978-1-4962-0703-6
  • Robert Kuhn McGregor: A Calculus of Color: The Integration of Baseball’s American League, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2015. ISBN 978-0-7864-9440-8
  • Eugene C. Murdock: Ban Johnson: Czar of Baseball, Contributions to the Study of Popular Culture, Greenwood Press; annotated edition, 1982.
  • John T. Pregler: "Tom Loftus: The American League's Forgotten Founding Father", in Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Vol. 49, Nr. 1 (Spring 2020), pp. 26-36.
  • John T. Pregler: "The Evolution of the American League", Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Volume 51, Number 2 (Fall 2022), pp. 89-97.
  • Warren N. Wilbert: The Arrival of the American League: Ban Johnson and the 1901 Challenge of the National League Monopoly, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7864-3013-0

Related Sites[edit]

  • [2] An article examining the differences between the American and National Leagues over the decades in The Hardball Times, part 1.
  • [3] An article examining the differences between the American and National Leagues over the decades in The Hardball Times, part 2.


    MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL    

NATIONAL LEAGUE
EASTERN DIVISION

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CENTRAL DIVISION

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