Timeline of Major League Baseball: Difference between revisions
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==== 1877 ==== |
==== 1877 ==== |
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* New York and Philadelphia are expelled from the NL. |
* New York and Philadelphia are expelled from the NL. |
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* The Hartford Dark Blues move from [[Hartford, Connecticut]] |
* The Hartford Dark Blues move from [[Hartford, Connecticut]] to [[Brooklyn]] and are renamed the [[Hartford Dark Blues|Brooklyn Hartfords]]. |
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* The Buffalo Buffeds are renamed the [[Buffalo Blues]]. |
* The Buffalo Buffeds are renamed the [[Buffalo Blues]]. |
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* The Chicago Federals are renamed the [[Chicago Whales]]. |
* The Chicago Federals are renamed the [[Chicago Whales]]. |
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* The Indianapolis Hoosiers relocate to [[Newark, New Jersey]] |
* The Indianapolis Hoosiers relocate to [[Newark, New Jersey]] to become the [[Newark Peppers]]. |
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==== 1955: Athletics relocation to Kansas City ==== |
==== 1955: Athletics relocation to Kansas City ==== |
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The Philadelphia Athletics move to [[Kansas City, Missouri]] |
The Philadelphia Athletics move to [[Kansas City, Missouri]] and become the [[Kansas City Athletics]]. |
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==== 1968: Athletics relocation to Oakland ==== |
==== 1968: Athletics relocation to Oakland ==== |
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The Kansas City Athletics move to [[Oakland, California]] |
The Kansas City Athletics move to [[Oakland, California]] and become the [[Oakland Athletics]]. |
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==== 1972: Senators relocation to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex ==== |
==== 1972: Senators relocation to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex ==== |
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* The Washington Senators move to [[Arlington, Texas]] |
* The Washington Senators move to [[Arlington, Texas]] in the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] and become the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. |
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* The Rangers transfer from the AL East to the AL West. |
* The Rangers transfer from the AL East to the AL West. |
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* The Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the AL West to the AL East. |
* The Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the AL West to the AL East. |
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Revision as of 08:27, 2 January 2023
The following is a timeline of franchise evolution in Major League Baseball. The histories of franchises in the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NA), Union Association (UA), and American Association (AA) before they joined the National League are also included. In 1900 the minor league Western League renamed itself the American League (AL). All of the 1899 Western League teams were a part of the transformation with the Saint Paul Apostles moving to Chicago and to play as the White Stockings. In 1901 the AL declared itself a Major League. For its inaugural major league season the AL dropped its teams in Indianapolis, Buffalo and Minneapolis and replaced them with franchises in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore and the Kansas City Blues moved to Washington to play as the Senators.
In 2020, Major League Baseball designated seven Negro Leagues from 1920–1948 as major leagues.[1] This page has not yet been fully updated to reflect that designation.
MLB timeline
The first line is the formation of the National League in 1876, and the second is the transformation of the American League to a major league in 1901. The third line is the beginning of the expansion era in 1961.
World Series championships are shown with a "*", National League Pennants before the World Series are shown with a "^", and American League Pennants before the World Series "#". No World Series was played in 1904, so the pennant winners for each league are indicated. Due to the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike, there were no pennant winners or World Series in 1994, so this year is left blank.
History of organizational changes
- Source: The Baseball Encyclopedia (10 ed.). Macmillan General Reference. 1996. ISBN 978-0028608150.
- Note: Team names are given here according to the convention used by The Baseball Encyclopedia, which regularized them into the familiar form of modern team names. However, most teams in the early period had no name, aside from that of the club (as in "Hartford Base Ball Club" or "Athletic Base Ball Club of Philadelphia"), and nicknames like "Beaneaters," "Perfectos" and the many allusions to uniform colors were inventions by the florid sportswriters of the day.[2]
Pre-modern Era (1876–1900)
1876: Founding of the National League
The National League is established with eight clubs.
| Only season in the NL § |
| Boston Red Caps | Louisville Grays | |
| Chicago White Stockings | New York Mutuals§ | |
| Cincinnati Reds | Philadelphia Athletics§ | |
| Hartford Dark Blues | St. Louis Brown Stockings |
1877
- New York and Philadelphia are expelled from the NL.
- The Hartford Dark Blues move from Hartford, Connecticut to Brooklyn and are renamed the Brooklyn Hartfords.
| Team folded after this season ^ |
| Boston Red Caps | Cincinnati Reds | |
| Brooklyn Hartfords^ | Louisville Grays^ | |
| Chicago White Stockings | St. Louis Brown Stockings^ |
1878
- Brooklyn, Louisville, and St. Louis fold.
- Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Providence join the NL.
| First season in the NL * | Only season in the NL § |
| Boston Red Caps | Indianapolis Blues§ | |
| Chicago White Stockings | Milwaukee Grays§ | |
| Cincinnati Reds | Providence Grays* |
1879
| First season in the NL * | Only season in the NL § | Team disbanded after this season ^ |
| Boston Red Caps | Cleveland Blues* | |
| Buffalo Bisons* | Providence Grays | |
| Chicago White Stockings | Syracuse Stars§ | |
| Cincinnati Reds^ | Troy Trojans* |
1880
- Syracuse folds.
- The Cincinnati Reds disband and are replaced by an entirely different club in the city, the Cincinnati Stars.
- Worcester joins the NL.
| First season in the NL * | Only season in the NL § |
| Boston Red Caps | Cleveland Blues | |
| Buffalo Bisons | Providence Grays | |
| Chicago White Stockings | Troy Trojans | |
| Cincinnati Stars§ | Worcester Worcesters* |
1881
- The NL expels Cincinnati after the club refuses to sign a league-wide pledge to ban alcohol at ballparks.
- Detroit joins the NL.
| First season in the NL * |
| Boston Red Caps | Detroit Wolverines* | |
| Buffalo Bisons | Providence Grays | |
| Chicago White Stockings | Troy Trojans | |
| Cleveland Blues | Worcester Worcesters |
1882: Establishment of the American Association
The American Association (AA) is established with six clubs.
| Team folded after this season ^ |
1883
- The Troy Trojans and Worcester Worcesters fold.
- The New York Gothams and Philadelphia Quakers join the NL.
- The Columbus Buckeyes and New York Metropolitans join the AA.
- The Boston Red Caps are renamed the Boston Beaneaters.
- The St. Louis Brown Stockings are renamed the St. Louis Browns.
| First MLB season * |
1884: The Union Association as a third league
- The Union Association (UA) is established with 12 clubs.
- The AA expands to 13 clubs with the addition of the Brooklyn Atlantics, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Richmond Virginians, Toledo Blue Stockings, and Washington Nationals.
| First season in the AA * | Only season in the AA § | Last season in AA or NL ^ |
1885: Back to two leagues
- The Union Association (UA) disbands.
- The former UA club St. Louis Maroons joins the NL.
- Both the Cleveland Blues of the NL and the Columbus Buckeyes of the AA fold.
- The AA contracts to 8 teams, with the Indianapolis Hoosiers, Richmond Virginians, Toledo Blue Stockings, and Washington Nationals either folding or returning to the minor leagues.
- The New York Gothams become the New York Giants.
- The Brooklyn Atlantics become the Brooklyn Grays.
- The Louisville Eclipse become the Louisville Colonels.
| Team moved from the former UA ** | Last season in NL ^ |
1886
- The Buffalo Bisons transfer from the NL into minor league baseball.
- The Providence Grays fold.
- The Kansas City Cowboys and a new Washington Nationals club join the NL.
| First season in NL * | Only season in the NL § |
1887
- The Kansas City Cowboys fold.
- The St. Louis Maroons move from St. Louis to Indianapolis to become a new Indianapolis Hoosiers club.
- The Pittsburgh Alleghenys transfer from the AA to the NL.
- A new Cleveland Blues club joins the AA.
| First season in AA * | Last season in AA ^ |
1888
- The Brooklyn Grays are renamed the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.
- The New York Metropolitans fold.
- A new Kansas City Cowboys club joins the AA.
| First season in AA * | Last season in NL ^ |
1889
- The Detroit Wolverines fold.
- The Cleveland Blues transfer from the AA to the NL and become the Cleveland Spiders.
- The Columbus Solons join the AA.
| First season in AA * | Last season in AA or NL ^ |
1890: The Players' League as a third league
- The Players' League (PL) is established with 8 clubs.
- The Chicago White Stockings are renamed the Chicago Colts.
- The Philadelphia Quakers are renamed the Philadelphia Phillies.
- The Brooklyn Bridegrooms transfer from the AA to the NL.
- The Cincinnati Red Stockings transfer from the AA to the NL and are renamed the Cincinnati Reds.
- The Indianapolis Hoosiers, Kansas City Cowboys, and Washington Nationals fold.
- The Baltimore Orioles transfer from the AA into minor league baseball, and are replaced by the Brooklyn Gladiators. The Gladiators then folded midway through the 1890 season, and the Orioles returned to the AA to finish out the season.
- The Rochester Broncos, Syracuse Stars, and Toledo Maumees also join the AA.
| Only season in the AA § |
1891: Last AA season
- The Players' League (PL) disbands.
- The Brooklyn Bridegrooms are renamed the Brooklyn Grooms.
- The Pittsburgh Alleghenys are renamed the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- The Boston Reds of the former PL join the AA.
- The AA's Philadelphia Athletics are expelled from the league and are replaced by the former PL's Philadelphia Athletics.
- The Cincinnati Kelly's Killers join the AA. The club then folded midway through the 1891 season and are replaced by the minor league team Milwaukee Brewers.
- The Washington Statesman join the AA.
| First MLB season * | Only season in MLB § | Last MLB season ^ |
1892: NL monopoly
- The AA folds, leaving only the NL.
- Four former AA clubs (Baltimore, Louisville, St. Louis, and Washington) join the NL.
- The Washington Statesmen become known as the Washington Senators.
| Teams move from the former AA ** |
1896
The Brooklyn Grooms revert back to the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.
1898
The Chicago Colts become known as the Chicago Orphans.
1899
- The Brooklyn Bridegrooms become known as the Brooklyn Superbas.
- The St. Louis Browns become known as the St. Louis Perfectos.
| Team folded after this season ^ |
1900: Classic Eight
- The NL contracts to eight clubs, with the folding of Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville, and Washington. This eight-team lineup in the NL remained unchanged through 1952.
- The St. Louis Perfectos are renamed the St. Louis Cardinals.
| Boston Beaneaters | New York Giants | |
| Brooklyn Superbas | Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Chicago Orphans | Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Cincinnati Reds | St. Louis Cardinals |
Birth of the Modern Era (1901–1952)
1901: Founding of the American League
The American League is established with its own eight clubs.
1902
The Milwaukee Brewers move to St. Louis and become the St. Louis Browns.
1903
- The Baltimore Orioles move to New York City to become the New York Highlanders.
- The Cleveland Bluebirds are renamed the Cleveland Naps.
- The Chicago Orphans are renamed the Chicago Cubs.
1904
The Chicago White Stockings are renamed the Chicago White Sox.
1907
The Boston Beaneaters are renamed the Boston Doves.
1908
The Boston Americans are renamed the Boston Red Sox.
1911
- The Boston Doves are renamed the Boston Rustlers.
- The Brooklyn Superbas are renamed the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.
1912
The Boston Rustlers are renamed the Boston Braves.
1913
- The New York Highlanders are renamed the New York Yankees.
- The Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers are renamed the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1914
- The Federal League declares itself as a "third major league" with its own eight teams, in competition with the established National and American Leagues.
- The Brooklyn Dodgers are renamed the Brooklyn Robins.
1915
- The Cleveland Naps are renamed the Cleveland Indians.
- The Buffalo Buffeds are renamed the Buffalo Blues.
- The Chicago Federals are renamed the Chicago Whales.
- The Indianapolis Hoosiers relocate to Newark, New Jersey to become the Newark Peppers.
1916
The Federal League folds prior to the season.
1920
The first Negro National League is formed, the first black baseball league to be designated a major league.
1923
The Eastern Colored League is formed.
1928
The Eastern Colored League is disbanded at the end of the season.
1929
The American Negro League (not to be confused with the Negro American League) is formed. It lasts only one season.
1932
The Brooklyn Robins reverts back to the Brooklyn Dodgers name.
Two Negro Leagues, the East–West League and the Negro Southern League are major leagues during this season.
1933
The second Negro National League is formed. It is designated a major league in 2020.
1936
The Boston Braves are renamed the Boston Bees.
1937
The Negro American League is formed. It is designated a major league in 2020.
1941
The Boston Bees reverts back to the Boston Braves name.
1949
With the beginning of integration in Baseball in 1947, the Negro National League folds and the Negro American League reverts to minor league status.
Relocations begin (1953–1960)
1953: Braves relocation to Milwaukee, and Cincinnati renaming
- The Boston Braves move to Milwaukee and become the Milwaukee Braves.
- The Cincinnati Reds are renamed the Cincinnati Redlegs.
1954: Browns relocation to Baltimore
The St. Louis Browns move to Baltimore and become the Baltimore Orioles.
1955: Athletics relocation to Kansas City
The Philadelphia Athletics move to Kansas City, Missouri and become the Kansas City Athletics.
1958: The NL exits New York for California
- The Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles and become the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- The New York Giants move to San Francisco and become the San Francisco Giants.
1959: Cincinnati reverts back to the Reds
After calling themselves the Cincinnati Redlegs for the past six seasons, the club reverts back to the Cincinnati Reds.
First expansion (1961–1968)
1961 relocation and expansion
- The Los Angeles Angels are enfranchised.
- The original Washington Senators move to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area and are renamed the Minnesota Twins.
- A new Washington Senators club is enfranchised.
| 1961 expansion team * |
1962 expansion
- The Houston Colt .45s are enfranchised.
- The New York Mets are enfranchised.
| 1962 expansion team * |
1965: Houston and Angels renaming
- The Houston Colt .45s are renamed the Houston Astros.
- The Los Angeles Angels are renamed the California Angels on September 2, 1965, with 28 games left in the season.
1966: Braves relocation to Atlanta
The Milwaukee Braves move to Atlanta and become the Atlanta Braves.
1968: Athletics relocation to Oakland
The Kansas City Athletics move to Oakland, California and become the Oakland Athletics.
Birth of division play (1969–1993)
1969 expansion and realignment
- The Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots are enfranchised in the AL.
- The Montreal Expos and the San Diego Padres are enfranchised in the NL.
- The two leagues each realign into two six-team divisions
| 1969 expansion team * |
1970: Pilots relocation to Milwaukee
The Seattle Pilots move to Milwaukee and become the Milwaukee Brewers.
1972: Senators relocation to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex
- The Washington Senators move to Arlington, Texas in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and become the Texas Rangers.
- The Rangers transfer from the AL East to the AL West.
- The Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the AL West to the AL East.
1977 expansion
- The Seattle Mariners are enfranchised and are placed in the AL West.
- The Toronto Blue Jays are enfranchised and are placed in the AL East.
| 1977 expansion team * |
1993 expansion
- The Colorado Rockies are enfranchised and are placed in the NL West.
- The Florida Marlins are enfranchised and are placed in the NL East.
| 1993 expansion team * |
Wild Card era (1994–present)
1994 realignment
MLB realigns to three divisions in each league to accommodate an expanded postseason format with a wild card team (although this new playoff format would not be fully implemented until 1995 due to a work stoppage):
- The AL Central is formed with Cleveland and Milwaukee transferring from the AL East; and the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City, and Minnesota from the AL West.
- The NL Central is formed with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis transferring from the NL East; and Cincinnati and Houston from the NL West.
- The Atlanta Braves transfer from the NL West to the NL East.
1997: Angels renaming
The California Angels are renamed the Anaheim Angels.
1998 expansion
- The Arizona Diamondbacks are enfranchised and are placed in the NL West.
- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are enfranchised and are placed in the AL East.
- The Detroit Tigers transfer from the AL East to the AL Central.
- In order to primarily continue intraleague play, the Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the AL Central to the NL Central so both leagues each have an even number of teams.
| 1998 expansion team * |
2005: Expos relocation and Angels renaming
- The Montreal Expos relocate to Washington, D.C. and become the Washington Nationals.
- The Anaheim Angels are renamed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
2008: Tampa Bay renaming
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays shorten their name to Tampa Bay Rays.
2012: Marlins renaming
The Florida Marlins are renamed the Miami Marlins.
2013: Astros switch leagues
With interleague play expanded to occur throughout the season, the Houston Astros transfer from the NL Central to the AL West to accommodate each league with 15 clubs a piece.
2016: Angels renaming
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim phase out the official use of "of Anaheim" in favor of just Los Angeles Angels.
2022: Cleveland renaming
The Cleveland Indians are renamed the Cleveland Guardians.
See also
- Timeline of Negro league baseball teams
- Timeline of the National Football League
- Timeline of the National Basketball Association
- History of organizational changes in the NHL
References
- ^ "MLB officially designates the Negro Leagues as 'Major League'". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ^ According to the National League's 1877 Constitution, the member clubs were given as "Boston B. B. Club, Chicago B. B. Club, Cincinnati B. B. Club, Hartford B. B. Club, Louisville B. B. Club, St. Louis B. B. Club." Constitution and Playing Rules of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs. Chicago, A. G. Spalding 1877.