AL Central Division

The American League Central Division, often abbreviated AL Central, comprises 5 teams playing in the American League geographically located in the midwestern United States. It was created in 1994, one year after the expansion of 1993, when both leagues moved from two to three divisions.

The American League Central Division has contained the following teams:

1994-1997: Chicago White Sox,Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins.

1998-present: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins.

After the 2021 season, the Cleveland team became known as the Cleveland Guardians.

Division Champions

Year	Champion	Record	Manager	Postseason	Notes
1994	Chicago White Sox	67-47	Gene Lamont	Postseason cancelled	1
1995	Cleveland Indians	100-44	Mike Hargrove	Lost World Series to Atlanta Braves
1996	Cleveland Indians	99-62	Mike Hargrove	Lost ALDS to Baltimore Orioles
1997	Cleveland Indians	86-75	Mike Hargrove	Lost World Series to Florida Marlins
1998	Cleveland Indians	89-73	Mike Hargrove	Lost ALCS to New York Yankees
1999	Cleveland Indians	97-65	Mike Hargrove	Lost ALDS to Boston Red Sox
2000	Chicago White Sox	95-67	Jerry Manuel	Lost ALDS to Seattle Mariners
2001	Cleveland Indians	91-71	Charlie Manuel	Lost ALDS to Seattle Mariners
2002	Minnesota Twins	94-67	Ron Gardenhire	Lost ALCS to Anaheim Angels
2003	Minnesota Twins	90-72	Ron Gardenhire	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees
2004	Minnesota Twins	92-70	Ron Gardenhire	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees
2005	Chicago White Sox	99-63	Ozzie Guillen	Won World Series over Houston Astros
2006	Minnesota Twins	96-66	Ron Gardenhire	Lost ALDS to Oakland Athletics
2007	Cleveland Indians	96-66	Eric Wedge	Lost ALCS to Boston Red Sox
2008	Chicago White Sox	89-74	Ozzie Guillen	Lost ALDS to Tampa Bay Rays	2
2009	Minnesota Twins	87-76	Ron Gardenhire	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees	3
2010	Minnesota Twins	94-68	Ron Gardenhire	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees
2011	Detroit Tigers	95-67	Jim Leyland	Lost ALCS to Texas Rangers
2012	Detroit Tigers	88-74	Jim Leyland	Lost World Series to San Francisco Giants
2013	Detroit Tigers	93-69	Jim Leyland	Lost ALCS to Boston Red Sox
2014	Detroit Tigers	90-72	Brad Ausmus	Lost ALDS to Baltimore Orioles
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	Cleveland Indians	102-60	Terry Francona	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees
2018	Cleveland Indians	91-71	Terry Francona	Lost ALDS to Houston Astros
2019	Minnesota Twins	101-61	Rocco Baldelli	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees
2020	Minnesota Twins	36-24	Rocco Baldelli	Lost ALWCS to Houston Astros	4
2021	Chicago White Sox	93-69	Tony LaRussa	Lost ALDS to Houston Astros
2022	Cleveland Guardians	92-70	Terry Francona	Lost ALDS to New York Yankees
2023	Minnesota Twins	87-75	Rocco Baldelli	Lost ALDS to Houston Astros

Notes:

1. The 1994 postseason was cancelled because of the 1994 strike.
2. The Chicago White Sox won a one-game playoff with the Minnesota Twins for the Division title.
3. The Minnesota Twins won a one-game playoff with the Detroit Tigers for the Division title.
4. Season shortened by the Coronavirus pandemic; a special Postseason format was used.

Wild Cards

The American League Wild Card team has come from the Central Division 5 times since 1995:

• 2006 Detroit Tigers Lost World Series to St. Louis Cardinals
• 2013 Cleveland Indians
• 2014 Kansas City Royals Lost World Series to San Francisco Giants
• 2017 Minnesota Twins
• 2020 Cleveland Indians (2nd place) and Chicago White Sox (Wild Card)

See Also

• Resolution of ties in division races