National League
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The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876 to replace the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, it is sometimes called the Senior Circuit in contrast to the "Junior Circuit" of the American League, established as a major league in 1901. The two league champions of 1903 arranged to meet in the World Series and, after the 1904 champions failed to do likewise, the two leagues have arranged to meet in that annual culmination of the American baseball season, failing to do so only in the strike-shortened 1994 season. National League teams have won 42 and lost 61 of the 103 World Series played between these two leagues from 1903 to 2007. The Colorado Rockies are the defending National League champions, winning the NL Pennant in 2007.
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[edit] Teams
[edit] Charter franchises (1876)
The eight charter teams were the following:
- Athletic of Philadelphia from National Association, expelled after 1876 season
- Boston Red Stockings (some say Red Caps) from National Association (now the Atlanta Braves)
- Chicago White Stockings from National Association (now the Chicago Cubs)
- Cincinnati Red Stockings new franchise, expelled after 1880 season
- Hartford Dark Blues (later the Brooklyn Hartfords) from National Association, folded after 1877 season
- Louisville Grays new franchise, folded after 1877 season
- Mutual of New York from National Association, expelled after 1876 season
- St. Louis Brown Stockings from National Association, folded after 1877 season
[edit] Other franchises, 1878–1891
Joined in 1878
- Indianapolis Blues, folded after 1878
- Milwaukee Grays, folded after 1878
- Providence Grays, folded after 1885
Joined in 1879
- Buffalo Bisons, folded after 1885
- Cleveland Blues, folded after 1884
- Syracuse Stars, folded after 1879
- Troy Trojans, folded after 1882
Joined in 1880
- Worcester Worcesters, folded after 1882
Joined in 1881
- Detroit Wolverines, folded after 1888
Joined in 1883
- New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants)
- Philadelphia Phillies
Joined in 1885
- St. Louis Maroons, joined from U.A., folded after 1886
Joined in 1886
- Kansas City Cowboys, folded after 1886
- Washington Nationals, folded after 1889
Joined in 1887
- Indianapolis Hoosiers, folded after 1889
- Pittsburgh Pirates, joined from A.A.
Joined in 1889
- Cleveland Spiders, joined from A.A., folded after 1899
Joined in 1890
- Cincinnati Reds, joined from A.A.
- Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers), joined from A.A.
[edit] Post-AA merger, 1892–1899
In 1892, the National League absorbed the American Association, bringing in four teams from the A.A., in addition to the four teams that had switched leagues in the preceding half-decade. From 1892 through 1899, the twelve teams in what, for a time, was termed the "National League and American Association" were the following:
- Baltimore Orioles joined from A.A. in 1892, contracted after 1899
- Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves), N.L. charter member, originated in N.A.
- Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers), joined from A.A. in 1890
- Chicago White Stockings or Colts (now the Chicago Cubs), N.L. charter member, originated in N.A.
- Cincinnati Reds, joined from A.A. in 1890
- Cleveland Spiders, joined from A.A. in 1889, contracted after 1899
- Louisville Colonels, joined from A.A. in 1892, contracted after 1899
- New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants), enfranchised 1883
- Philadelphia Phillies, enfranchised 1883
- Pittsburgh Pirates, joined from A.A. in 1887
- St. Louis Browns (now the St. Louis Cardinals), joined from A.A. in 1892
- Washington Senators, joined from A.A. in 1892, contracted after 1899
[edit] Classic Eight
After the 1899 season, the league underwent its largest contraction since 1877, dropping four clubs: the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Spiders, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Senators. This left the "classic eight" teams of the National League. All eight teams still exist today, and they would stay in place for over 50 years:
- Boston Beaneaters (eventually to become known as the Atlanta Braves)
- Brooklyn Superbas (eventually to become known as the Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Chicago Orphans (eventually to become known as the Chicago Cubs)
- Cincinnati Reds
- New York Giants (eventually to become known as the San Francisco Giants)
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Perfectos (eventually to become known as the St. Louis Cardinals)
[edit] Contraction, expansion, and relocation, 1953–present
- 1953: Boston Braves move to Milwaukee
- 1958: New York Giants move to San Francisco and Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles.
- 1962: Houston Colt .45s (renamed Astros in 1965) and New York Mets enfranchised
- 1966: Milwaukee Braves move to Atlanta
- 1969: Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres enfranchised
- 1993: Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies enfranchised
- 1998: Arizona Diamondbacks enfranchised
- 1998: Milwaukee Brewers transfer from the American League to the National League
- 2005: Montreal Expos moved by MLB to Washington, renamed the Washington Nationals
[edit] Current teams
[edit] National League East
- Atlanta Braves enfranchised 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings (or Red Caps) in National Association, and with connections to the original independent; joined National League as charter member (1876), moved to Milwaukee (1953) and to Atlanta (1966). Oldest professional sports franchise in North America (dating to 1869 in Cincinnati). Prior to the 1994 realignment, the Braves competed in the West division.
- Florida Marlins enfranchised 1993
- New York Mets enfranchised 1962
- Philadelphia Phillies enfranchised 1883 as the Quakers and adopted the Phillies name officially in 1884. From 1943 through 1948, the Phillies un-officially changed their name to the "Philadelphia Blue Jays". While their jerseys however retained the name "Phillies", they wore a blue jay patch on their sleeve. The Phillies have the longest, continuous name in American professional sports history.
- Washington Nationals enfranchised 1969 as the Montreal Expos, moved to Washington (2005)
[edit] National League Central
- Chicago Cubs enfranchised 1871 in National Association, and has been continuously active since 1874. It joined National League as charter member (1876). The club has played in its current city longer than any other American professional sports franchise.
- Cincinnati Reds enfranchised 1882 in American Association, joined National League (1890)
- Houston Astros enfranchised 1962 as the Houston Colt .45s, changed name to Astros (1965)
- Milwaukee Brewers enfranchised 1969 as the Seattle Pilots in American League, moved to Milwaukee (1970), joined National League (1998)
- Pittsburgh Pirates enfranchised 1882 in American Association, joined National League (1887)
- St. Louis Cardinals enfranchised 1882 in American Association, joined National League (1892)
[edit] National League West
- Arizona Diamondbacks enfranchised 1998
- Colorado Rockies enfranchised 1993
- Los Angeles Dodgers enfranchised 1884 as the Brooklyn Atlantics in American Association, soon acquired nickname "Dodgers" (from "trolley dodgers"), joined National League (1890), moved to Los Angeles (1958)
- San Diego Padres enfranchised 1969
- San Francisco Giants enfranchised 1883 as the New York Gothams, nearly half of its original players were members of the recently disbanded Troy Trojans, moved to San Francisco (1958)
Office eliminated in 1999, although Bill Giles, son of former N.L. President Warren C. Giles, currently holds the title of honorary National League president.
[edit] See also
- 19th century National League teams
- National League pennant winners 1876-1900
- National League pennant winners 1901-68
- National League Championship Series (NLCS)
- American League
- Major League Baseball
[edit] References
- The National League Story, Lee Allen, Putnam, 1961.
- The American League Story, Lee Allen, Putnam, 1962.
- The Baseball Encyclopedia, published by MacMillan, 1968 and later.
