The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, which took in most of the National Association teams, but which sought to rid baseball of gambling, drunkenness, and rowdyism. Its constitution provided that a club forfeit its franchise if it sold alcoholic beverages or played Sunday baseball. The National League began with eight charter members: Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Hartford, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Louisville.
By 1882, when the American Association became a rival to the National League, there had been some shifts in membership. The two leagues drew up a national agreement, a loose pact covering player and territory rights and relations with minor leagues. Following player disputes in 1891, four clubs then in the American Association- St. Louis, Louisville, Baltimore and Washington- merge with National League in 1892, to form a new 12-club league called the National League and Association. It was St. Louis' third appearance in the league; the Missouri city was represented in 1876-1877 and 1885-1886. In the 19th century, National League franchise also were held, at various times, by clubs in providence; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Buffalo; Troy, N.Y.; Syracuse; Cleveland; Worcester, Mass.; Kansas City; Mo,; Pittsburgh; and Brooklyn.
The 12-club league lasted from 1892 until 1899, when it was reduced to eight teams by dropping Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, and Louisville. The National League then unquestionably ran the baseball world.
The American League. The reduction by the National League gave Byron Bancroft Johnson, president of the Western League, the opportunity to establish a second major League, the opportunity to establish a second major league, the American League. The move to put second clubs in Philadelphia and Boston and to take up vacated territory in Baltimore and Washington set off a bitter baseball was in 1901-1902, in which the American League raided the National League for many of its top stars. It began in 1901 with clubs in the four eastern cities listed above and with western clubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee. In 1902 the Milwaukee club was shifted to St. Louis, and in 1903 the Baltimore club was moved to New York.
The American League emerged victorious in the struggle. When a pact was drawn up in Cincinnati in January 1903, the two leagues established the National Commission made up of the league presidents and headed by a chairman.
The establishment of the American League and the rivalry between the two leagues were to increase popular interest in the game greatly and to give it its most famous and distinctive annual event, The climactic World Series.
Teams now:
American League
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Minnesota Twins
New York Yankees
Oakland A's
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks
Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
St. Louis Cardinals
Washington Nationals
*from Encylopedia Americana
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