History of Major League Baseball Teams
About Me
Tags
History of Major League Baseball Teams
written by Claire J Rottenberg
Arizona Diamondbacks
One of the two newest teams in major league baseball, the Arizona Diamondbacks, was established as a National League expansion team in 1998. The team has had a very successful, short history, winning four National League West division titles, one National League pennant and one World Series in only 11 years. The Diamondback's last win was in 2007 when the team won the National League West division title. [ read more... ]
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves team is one of the oldest teams in baseball, first being established in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings. The team has always been a part of the National League but it has called three cities home over its long history and it has had eight name changes since its beginnings over 135 years ago. [ read more... ]
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles, a powerful force in major league baseball in the late 1960s and 1970s, has not won a World Series or American League pennant since 1983. They won the Wild Card in 1996 and the AL East division in 1997, but those were the team's only post-season wins in the last 26 years. [ read more... ]
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox team has been a powerhouse in baseball the last six years, winning four American League championship series and two World Series. The team, which began in 1901, had victories early in its career but it didn't win a World Series from 1918 until 2004. [ read more... ]
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs team is one of the oldest baseball teams in the major leagues. The team started in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings and it went through several name changes until 1902 when it became the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have not won a World Series in 100 years and the last National League pennant the team won was in 1945. The Cubs did, however, make it to the National League division series in 2007 and last year, after winning the National League East division title both seasons. [ read more... ]
Chicago White Sox
Although the Chicago White Sox started in 1901 as a strong team, it took them over 80 years to win a World Series after their first two wins. The team has been strong in this century, winning three American League Central division titles (2000, 2005, 2008) and one American League pennant (2005) and one World Series (2005) since 2000. [ read more... ]
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds, one of baseball's oldest teams, is probably best known for its winning "Big Red Machine" team of the 1970s. In recent years, the Reds have struggled and the team has not seen post-season play since 1995. The origins of the modern-day Cincinnati Reds began with the third Cincinnati Red Stockings team that was established in 1882. The first Red Stockings team eventually became the Braves and the second team with that name was expelled from baseball in 1880. [ read more... ]
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians have won several American League Central division titles in the last decade, but it has been over 60 years since the team won a World Series. Although the team has been a member of the American League since 1901, the Indians have won only 2 World Series (1920, 1948) and 5 American League pennants (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997). [ read more... ]
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies team, one of the newest teams in major league baseball, has had some success in its short 16 year history. Established in 1993 as a National League West division franchise, the team has already won two National League Wild Card spots (1995, 2007) and a National League pennant (2007). However, the Rockies have not yet won a National League West division title or a World Series. [ read more... ]
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers team, established in 1901, is one of only a few major league baseball teams that has had only one name and one city in its history. The Tigers had a successful early start, winning three American League pennants in their first decade, but the team has struggled in recent years, with only one pennant win in the last 24 years. [ read more... ]
Florida Marlins
The Florida Marlins, one of major league baseball's younger teams, has won the World Series twice in its 16 year playing history. Both times they won a position in post-season play by winning the National League Wild Card. [ read more... ]
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros, established in 1962 as the Colt .45s, have never won a World Series but they have played in postseason games eight times since 1980. Their last postseason games were in 2005 when they won the National League Wild Card spot and their only National League pennant. [ read more... ]
Kansas City Royals
From 1976 to 1985, the Kansas City Royals team was one of the best teams in major league baseball, winning six American League West division titles (1976-1978, 1980, 1984, 1985), two American League pennants (1980, 1985) and one World Series (1985). However, the Royals have not seen post-season play since their 1985 World Series win. [ read more... ]
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have dominated the American League West division for the past five years, winning the title in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. Last year, they managed to earn the title by September 10th. However, despite their strong showings in the American League West division, the Angels have not been able to win a pennant since 2002. [ read more... ]
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have had 9 different names in their almost 120 year history. Their winning history also has large numbers - 6 World Series titles, 21 National League pennants, 10 West division titles, and 2 Wild Card wins. Last season, with the acquisition of Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers were able to win the National League West division title but it has been 20 years since they won their last pennant race. [ read more... ]
Milwaukee Brewers
The modern Milwaukee Brewers should not be confused with the original Milwaukee Brewers of 1901 that eventually became the Baltimore Orioles. The modern-day Brewers began in Seattle in 1968 as the Seattle Pilots. However, they only played in the major leagues for one year, 1969, and then, after extensive negotiations, maneuverings and ownership changes, they moved to Milwaukee and the team's name changed to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers started off badly, and ended their first season in Milwaukee with a 65-97 record. [ read more... ]
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins, like several other major league baseball teams, did not start out in Minnesota or as the Twins. From 1901 to 1960, they were usually known as the Washington Senators and occasionally referred to as the Washington Nationals. They moved to Minneapolis in 1961 and because the Minnesota Twins. In their 60 years in Washington, the team won only one World Series (1924) and three American League pennants (1924, 1925, 1933). [ read more... ]
New York Mets
In 1962, the New York Mets filled the void in New York baseball that resulted from the moves of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants to the West Coast. Seven years later, the Miracle Mets brought back World Series excitement to New York. [ read more... ]
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees have won more World Series than any other baseball team, winning 26 World Series from 1923 to 2000. They also won 39 American League pennants between 1921 and 2003. The New York Yankees were the American League East division leaders every year from 1998 to 2006, and they won the American League Wild Card in 1995, 1997 and 2007. [ read more... ]
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics, often referred to as the Oakland A’s, one of the four official names the team has had, began in Philadelphia in 1901. Fifty-five years later, they moved to Kansas City and in 1968, they moved to Oakland, California. The A’s have had a long career of successes, except for a 40 year dry spell from 1931 until 1971, when the team did not play in any post-season games. Over their 108 year span, the Oakland Athletics have won 1 Wild Card spot (2001), 14 American League West division titles, 15 American League pennants, and 9 World Series. [ read more... ]
Philadelphia Phillies
Although the Philadelphia Phillies were established in 1883, it took them almost 100 years to finally win a World Series. The last two years, after a 15 year stretch of no post-season play, the Phillies won the National League East division title and last year, they won their second World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies started as the Quakers in 1883, but they were soon known as the Phillies and the new name became official in 1890. The original team started off poorly and they did not win a National League pennant until 1915. The Phillies failed, however, after their 1915 win to record more than one winning season from 1916 to 1948. [ read more... ]
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won five World Series championships in their long history. However, the team that once dominated the National League Eastern division has not played in post-season games since 1992 and it has not won a pennant or World Series in 30 years. [ read more... ]
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres have not been very successful since their first season in 1969. They have won five National League West division titles but only two National League pennants (1984, 1998) and no World Series. Although they won the National League West division title in 2005 and 2006 and they had a winning season in 2007, the Padres ended up in fifth place last season, 21 games behind the National League West division leader, the Los Angeles Dodgers. [ read more... ]<
San Francisco Giants
Since moving to San Francisco in 1958, the Giants have won 6 National League West division titles and 1 National League Wild Card spot, but only 3 National League pennants and no World Series. In contrast, the New York Giants won 17 National League pennants and 5 World Series from 1888 through 1957. The San Francisco Giants fared better in the last decade, winning the National League West division title in 2000 and 2003, the Wild Card spot in 2002, and the National League pennant in 2002. [ read more... ]
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have not been very successful in their 33 year history. They did not win any post-season series in their first 19 years and, since 1995, the Mariners have won only three American League West Division titles and one American League Wild Card spot. Their last win was in 2001. [ read more... ]
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals, first established as a team in 1882, have won more World Series (10) than any other National League team. Only the New York Yankees, with 26 wins, have more World Series championship titles. The Cardinals' first win was in 1926 and their last World Series title, and post-season play, came in 2006. In those 80 years, the Cardinals also won 17 National League pennants, 7 National League Central Division titles, and 3 National League East Division titles. [ read more... ]
Tampa Bay Rays
Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays, after 10 years in major league baseball, won the American League pennant, under the leadership of their manager, Joe Maddon. The Rays managed to go from a 66-96 win-loss record in 2007 to a 97-65 record in 2008 and the team that had consistently been at the bottom of its division was playing in the World Series. [ read more... ]
Texas Rangers
Although the Texas Rangers team has been around for almost 50 years, it has a largely unsuccessful history, having won only three American League West division titles and no pennant races or World Series in all that time. However, this year may change that situation as the current team appears to be one of the strongest of the 2009 season. [ read more... ]
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays team, formed in 1977 and based in Canada, is currently the only non-US team in major league baseball. The Blue Jays won two consecutive World Series in the 1990s, but they have not seen post-season play since their second win in 1993. [ read more... ]
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals began as the Montreal Expos in 1969, but changed their name and country when they moved to Washington in 2005. They have been the least successful team in major league baseball, winning only one division title as the Expos in 1981 and winning no pennant races and no World Series. [ read more... ]