National League

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NationalLeague.jpg

Officially known as: National League of Professional Baseball Teams

Abbreviated as: NL

The National League (NL) formed in 1876, giving it seniority over the American League (which became a major league in 1901). For this reason, the NL is nicknamed the "Senior Circuit." The league's founding meeting took place in New York, NY on February 2nd, at the instigation of William Hulbert, owner of the Chicago White Stockings. It was done in reaction to structural problems with the National Association, such as its lack of strong central leadership, its inability to force teams to complete their schedule, and the presence of many small and financially weak teams which brought down the quality of play. The National League in contrast was limited to larger cities, enforced territorial exclusivity for teams in its markets, and had a strong central league office. Even though Morgan Bulkeley, president of the Hartford Dark Blues, was the league's first president, Hulbert was the real power and took over the presidency after one year when Bulkeley stepped down to devote his time to his political career. Not everyone was happy about the creation of the new circuit; Henry Chadwick, for one, felt that the closed league model deprived too many teams of a chance to compete for the national championship, and he made it a mission to highlight how the games that National League teams lost against teams from outside the league. This was done in bad faith, since, even though such losses did occur, National League clubs were clearly superior overall, and Chadwick's contention that the league did not represent the best teams in baseball at the time held little water.

It took a few years and some tough decisions for the new circuit to become profitable - two teams were expelled after the inaugural 1876 season for not completing their schedules, and after the 1877 season, four players from the Louisville Grays were expelled for gambling, leading to the demise of that franchise as well - but it soon became the model for all professional sports leagues in North America. One of its major innovations was the reserve clause, which allowed teams to maintain their core of top players from year to year without fear of being outbid for their services by other teams. The policy, adopted in 1879, would be in force for almost a century. Rival leagues were set up from time to time to challenge its position, including the Union Association, which lasted only one year, the American Association, which was a lot more successful and lasted for a decade, and the Players League, which was forced out of business at great cost by the two other leagues. The NL had a monopoly on major league baseball from 1892 to 1901, when the American League proclaimed itself a rival major league. This time, however, the new entity was able to establish itself for the long term.

At first the two leagues were completely separate, competing leagues linked only by the World Series, which began in 1903. In 1920 they were unified under a single commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis. From 1900, after four teams were contracted out of the league, until 1961, the league had the same 8 teams, with only a few relocations affecting its composition. It expanded by two teams in 1962, in 1969 and again in 1993. It added one team in the expansion of 1998.

Through the years, the leagues have become more similar in rules and style, though the NL maintains a different style of play from the AL by continuing to eschew the designated hitter rule. The NL's style is a game that is less big-offense driven. The difference, arguably, was never so obvious as during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1997, teams in the National League began to play a number of interleague games against American League opponents each season.

Also in 1997, Radical Realignment almost saw seven NL teams switch to the American League. The plan failed and the NL kept all the teams, as well as gaining the Milwaukee Brewers from the AL. From 1998 to 2012, the National League had 16 teams while the American had 14; the two leagues have had the same number of teams - 15 - starting in 2013, after the Houston Astros switched to the AL.

Also, during that time, many teams played in multi-purpose stadiums that doubled as football stadiums. These stadiums often had playing surfaces made of artificial turf - "Astroturf" - rather than natural grass. By 2005, however, every NL team had eliminated artificial turf in favor of natural grass.

League Presidents[edit]

The office was eliminated in 1999, although Bill Giles, son of former National League President Warren Giles, and Phillies Chairman, was given the title of honorary National League president.

League Champions[edit]

Year Champion Record Manager Postseason Notes
1876 Chicago White Stockings 52-14 Al Spalding none
1877 Boston Red Caps 42-18-1 Harry Wright none
1878 Boston Red Caps 41-19 Harry Wright none
1879 Providence Grays 59-25-1 George Wright none
1880 Chicago White Stockings 67-17-2 Cap Anson none
1881 Chicago White Stockings 56-28 Cap Anson none
1882 Chicago White Stockings 55-29 Cap Anson none
1883 Boston Beaneaters 60-35 Jack Burdock/John Morrill none
1884 Providence Grays 84-28-2 Frank Bancroft Won World's Series over New York Metropolitans 1
1885 Chicago White Stockings 87-25-1 Cap Anson World's Series with St. Louis Browns ended in a tie
1886 Chicago White Stockings 90-34-2 Cap Anson Lost World's Series to St. Louis Browns
1887 Detroit Wolverines 79-45-3 Bill Watkins Won World's Series over St. Louis Browns
1888 New York Giants 84-47-7 Jim Mutrie Won World's Series over St. Louis Browns
1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 86-43 Bill McGunnigle World's Series with Louisville Colonels ended in a tie
1891 Boston Beaneaters 87-51-2 Frank Selee none 2
1892 Boston Beaneaters 102-48-1 Frank Selee Won Championship Series over Cleveland Spiders 3
1893 Boston Beaneaters 86-43-2 Frank Selee none
1894 Baltimore Orioles 89-39-1 Ned Hanlon Lost Temple Cup to New York Giants 4
1894 Baltimore Orioles 87-43-2 Ned Hanlon Lost Temple Cup to Cleveland Spiders 4
1896 Baltimore Orioles 90-39-3 Ned Hanlon Won Temple Cup over Cleveland Spiders 4
1897 Boston Beaneaters 93-39-3 Frank Selee Lost Temple Cup to Baltimore Orioles 4
1898 Boston Beaneaters 102-47-3 Frank Selee none
1899 Brooklyn Superbas 101-47-2 Ned Hanlon none
1900 Brooklyn Superbas 82-54-6 Ned Hanlon Won Chronicle-Telegraph Cup over Pittsburgh Pirates 5
1901 Pittsburgh Pirates 90-49-1 Fred Clarke none
1902 Pittsburgh Pirates 103-36-3 Fred Clarke none
1903 Pittsburgh Pirates 91-49-1 Fred Clarke Lost World Series to Boston Americans 6
1904 New York Giants 106-47-5 John McGraw none 7
1905 New York Giants 105-48-2 John McGraw Won World Series over Philadelphia Athletics
1906 Chicago Cubs 116-36-3 Frank Chance Lost World Series to Chicago White Sox
1907 Chicago Cubs 107-45-3 Frank Chance Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
1908 Chicago Cubs 99-55-4 Frank Chance Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
1909 Pittsburgh Pirates 110-42-1-1 Fred Clarke Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
1910 Chicago Cubs 104-50 Frank Chance Lost World Series to Philadelphia Athletics
1911 New York Giants 99-54-1 John McGraw Lost World Series to Philadelphia Athletics
1912 New York Giants 103-48-3 John McGraw Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
1913 New York Giants 101-51-4 John McGraw Lost World Series to Philadelphia Athletics
1914 Boston Braves 94-59-5 George Stallings Won World Series over Philadelphia Athletics
1915 Philadelphia Phillies 90-62-1 Pat Moran Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
1916 Brooklyn Robins 94-60-2 Wilbert Robinson Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
1917 New York Giants 98-56-4 John McGraw Lost World Series to Chicago White Sox
1918 Chicago Cubs 84-45-2 Fred Mitchell Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
1919 Cincinnati Reds 96-64 Pat Moran Won World Series over Chicago White Sox 6
1920 Brooklyn Robins 93-61-1 Wilbert Robinson Lost World Series to Cleveland Indians 6
1921 New York Giants 94-59 John McGraw Won World Series over New York Yankees 6
1922 New York Giants 93-61-2 John McGraw Won World Series over New York Yankees
1923 New York Giants 95-58 John McGraw Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1924 New York Giants 93-60-0-1 John McGraw/Hughie Jennings Lost World Series to Washington Senators
1925 Pittsburgh Pirates 95-58 Bill McKechnie Won World Series over Washington Senators
1926 St. Louis Cardinals 89-65-2 Rogers Hornsby Won World Series over New York Yankees
1927 Pittsburgh Pirates 94-60-2 Donie Bush Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1928 St. Louis Cardinals 95-59 Bill McKechnie Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1929 Chicago Cubs 98-54-4 Joe McCarthy Lost World Series to Philadelphia Athletics
1930 St. Louis Cardinals 92-62 Gabby Street Lost World Series to Philadelphia Athletics
1931 St. Louis Cardinals 101-53 Gabby Street Won World Series over Philadelphia Athletics
1932 Chicago Cubs 90-64 Rogers Hornsby/Charlie Grimm Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1933 New York Giants 91-61-4 Bill Terry Won World Series over Washington Senators
1934 St. Louis Cardinals 98-58-1 Frankie Frisch Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
1935 Chicago Cubs 100-54 Charlie Grimm Lost World Series to Detroit Tigers
1936 New York Giants 92-62 Bill Terry Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1937 New York Giants 95-57 Bill Terry Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1938 Chicago Cubs 89-63-2 Charlie Grimm/Gabby Hartnett Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1939 Cincinnati Reds 97-57-2 Bill McKechnie Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1940 Cincinnati Reds 100-53-2 Bill McKechnie Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
1941 Brooklyn Dodgers 100-54-3 Leo Durocher Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1942 St. Louis Cardinals 106-48-2 Billy Southworth Won World Series over New York Yankees
1943 St. Louis Cardinals 105-49-3 Billy Southworth Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1944 St. Louis Cardinals 105-49-3 Billy Southworth Won World Series over St. Louis Browns
1945 Chicago Cubs 98-56-1 Charlie Grimm Lost World Series to Detroit Tigers
1946 St. Louis Cardinals 98-58 Eddie Dyer Won World Series over Boston Red Sox 8
1947 Brooklyn Dodgers 94-60-1 Clyde Sukeforth/Burt Shotton Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1948 Boston Braves 91-62-1 Billy Southworth Lost World Series to Cleveland Indians
1949 Brooklyn Dodgers 97-57-2 Burt Shotton Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1950 Philadelphia Phillies 91-63-3 Eddie Sawyer Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1951 New York Giants 98-59 Leo Durocher Lost World Series to New York Yankees 9
1952 Brooklyn Dodgers 96-57-2 Chuck Dressen Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 105-49-1 Chuck Dressen Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1954 New York Giants 97-57 Leo Durocher Won World Series over Cleveland Indians
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers 98-55-1 Walter Alston Won World Series over New York Yankees
1956 Brooklyn Dodgers 93-61 Walter Alston Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1957 Milwaukee Braves 95-59-1 Fred Haney Won World Series over New York Yankees
1958 Milwaukee Braves 92-62 Fred Haney Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers 88-68 Walter Alston Won World Series over Chicago White Sox 10
1960 Pittsburgh Pirates 95-59 Danny Murtaugh Won World Series over New York Yankees
1961 Cincinnati Reds 93-61 Fred Hutchinson Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1962 San Francisco Giants 103-62 Alvin Dark Lost World Series to New York Yankees 11
1963 Los Angeles Dodgers 99-63 Walter Alston Won World Series over New York Yankees
1964 St. Louis Cardinals 93-69 Red Schoendienst Won World Series over New York Yankees
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers 97-65 Walter Alston Won World Series over Minnesota Twins
1966 Los Angeles Dodgers 95-67 Walter Alston Lost World Series to Baltimore Orioles
1967 St. Louis Cardinals 101-60 Red Schoendienst Won World Series over Boston Red Sox
1968 St. Louis Cardinals 97-65 Red Schoendienst Lost World Series to Detroit Tigers
1969 New York Mets 100-62 Gil Hodges Won World Series over Baltimore Orioles
1970 Cincinnati Reds 102-60 Sparky Anderson Lost World Series to Baltimore Orioles
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates 97-65 Danny Murtaugh Won World Series over Baltimore Orioles
1972 Cincinnati Reds 95-59 Sparky Anderson Lost World Series to Oakland Athletics
1973 New York Mets 82-79 Yogi Berra Lost World Series to Oakland Athletics
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers 102-60 Walter Alston Lost World Series to Oakland Athletics
1975 Cincinnati Reds 108-54 Sparky Anderson Won World Series over Boston Red Sox
1976 Cincinnati Reds 102-60 Sparky Anderson Won World Series over New York Yankees
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers 98-64 Tom Lasorda Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1978 Los Angeles Dodgers 95-67 Tom Lasorda Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates 98-64 Chuck Tanner Won World Series over Baltimore Orioles
1980 Philadelphia Phillies 91-71 Dallas Green Won World Series over Kansas City Royals
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers 63-47 Tom Lasorda Won World Series over New York Yankees 12
1982 St. Louis Cardinals 92-70 Whitey Herzog Won World Series over Milwaukee Brewers
1983 Philadelphia Phillies 90-72 Pat Corrales/Paul Owens Lost World Series to Baltimore Orioles
1984 San Diego Padres 92-70 Dick Williams Lost World Series to Detroit Tigers
1985 St. Louis Cardinals 101-61 Whitey Herzog Lost World Series to Kansas City Royals
1986 New York Mets 108-54 Davey Johnson Won World Series over Boston Red Sox
1987 St. Louis Cardinals 95-67 Whitey Herzog Lost World Series to Minnesota Twins
1988 Los Angeles Dodgers 94-67 Tom Lasorda Won World Series over Oakland Athletics
1989 San Francisco Giants 92-70 Roger Craig Lost World Series to Oakland Athletics
1990 Cincinnati Reds 91-71 Lou Piniella Won World Series over Oakland Athletics
1991 Atlanta Braves 94-68 Bobby Cox Lost World Series to Minnesota Twins
1992 Atlanta Braves 98-64 Bobby Cox Lost World Series to Toronto Blue Jays
1993 Philadelphia Phillies 97-65 Jim Fregosi Lost World Series to Toronto Blue Jays
1994 Montréal Expos 74-40 Felipe Alou none 13
1995 Atlanta Braves 90-54 Bobby Cox Won World Series over Cleveland Indians
1996 Atlanta Braves 96-66 Bobby Cox Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1997 Florida Marlins 92-70 Jim Leyland Won World Series over Cleveland Indians
1998 San Diego Padres 98-64 Bruce Bochy Lost World Series to New York Yankees
1999 Atlanta Braves 103-59 Bobby Cox Lost World Series to New York Yankees
2000 New York Mets 94-68 Bobby Valentine Lost World Series to New York Yankees
2001 Arizona Diamondbacks 92-70 Bob Brenly Won World Series over New York Yankees
2002 San Francisco Giants 95-66 Dusty Baker Lost World Series to Anaheim Angels
2003 Florida Marlins 91-71 Jeff Torborg/Jack McKeon Won World Series over New York Yankees
2004 St. Louis Cardinals 105-57 Tony LaRussa Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
2005 Houston Astros 89-73 Phil Garner Lost World Series to Chicago White Sox
2006 St. Louis Cardinals 83-78 Tony LaRussa Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
2007 Colorado Rockies 90-73 Clint Hurdle Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
2008 Philadelphia Phillies 90-72 Charlie Manuel Won World Series over Tampa Bay Rays
2009 Philadelphia Phillies 93-69 Charlie Manuel Lost World Series to New York Yankees
2010 San Francisco Giants 92-70 Bruce Bochy Won World Series over Texas Rangers
2011 St. Louis Cardinals 90-72 Tony LaRussa Won World Series over Texas Rangers
2012 San Francisco Giants 94-68 Bruce Bochy Won World Series over Detroit Tigers
2013 St. Louis Cardinals 97-65 Mike Matheny Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
2014 San Francisco Giants 88-74 Bruce Bochy Won World Series over Kansas City Royals
2015 New York Mets 90-72 Terry Collins Lost World Series to Kansas City Royals
2016 Chicago Cubs 103-58 Joe Maddon Won World Series over Cleveland Indians
2017 Los Angeles Dodgers 104-58 Dave Roberts Lost World Series to Houston Astros
2018 Los Angeles Dodgers 92-71 Dave Roberts Lost World Series to Boston Red Sox
2019 Washington Nationals 93-69 Dave Martinez Won World Series over Houston Astros
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers 43-17 Dave Roberts Won World Series over Tampa Bay Rays 14
2021 Atlanta Braves 88-73 Brian Snitker Won World Series over Houston Astros
2022 Philadelphia Phillies 87-75 Joe Girardi/Rob Thomson Lost World Series to Houston Astros
2023 Arizona Diamondbacks 84-78 Torey Lovullo Lost World Series to Texas Rangers
2024 Los Angeles Dodgers 98-64 Dave Roberts

Notes:

  1. First World's Series between the champions of the National League and American Association
  2. No postseason following the demise of the American Association
  3. World's Championship Series played between the teams with the two best records in the National League
  4. Temple Cup played between the teams with the two best records in the National League
  5. Chronicle-Telegraph Cup played between the teams with the two best records in the National League
  6. The World Series was played in a best-of-nine format
  7. The New York Giants declined to play the American League champions; there was no World Series
  8. Won three-game playoff against Brooklyn Dodgers
  9. Won three-game playoff against Brooklyn Dodgers
  10. Won three-game playoff against Milwaukee Braves
  11. Won three-game playoff against Los Angeles Dodgers
  12. The season was shortened by a strike; a special postseason format was used
  13. The season was ended by a strike and the postseason was cancelled; the Expos had the best record in the league when the season ended
  14. The season was shortened by the coronavirus pandemic; a special postseason format was used

Further Reading[edit]

  • David Bohmer: "William Hulbert: Father of Professional Sports Leagues", in Stuart Shea, ed.: North Side, South Side, All Around Town, The National Pastime, SABR, 2015. ISBN 978-1-93359987-8
  • Woody Eckard: "Harry Chadwick and the National League' Performance vs. "Outsiders": 1876-81", Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Vol. 52, Nr. 2 (Fall 2023), pp. 67-76.
  • Michael Haupert: "William Hulbert and the Birth of the National League", The Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Vol. 44, Number 1 (Spring 2015), pp. 83-92.
  • Richard Hershberger: "The First Baseball War: The American Association and the National League", in Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Vol. 49, Nr. 2 (Fall 2020), pp. 115-124.
  • Donald Honig: The National League: An Illustrated History, Crown Publishers, New York, NY, 1983. ISBN 0517550415
  • Tom Melville: Early Baseball and the Rise of the National League, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2001. ISBN 978-0-7864-0962-4

See also[edit]

Related Sites[edit]

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

Sources:

    MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL    

NATIONAL LEAGUE
EASTERN DIVISION

Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals

WESTERN DIVISION

Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants


AMERICAN LEAGUE
EASTERN DIVISION

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays

CENTRAL DIVISION

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Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins

WESTERN DIVISION

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Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers


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