American League East

History

Writers have posited that the American League East is the toughest division in MLB; during its 46-year existence, an East division team has gone on to play in the World Series 25 times, and 14 of those teams have been crowned World Series champions. Since the 1995 season when the wild-card playoff berth was introduced, the AL East has produced the wild-card team for the American League in 13 out of the 17 years (the West division three, and the Central division just one).

When the Major Leagues split into divisions for the 1969 season, the American League, unlike the National League, split its 12 teams strictly on geography. The six teams located in the Eastern Time Zone were placed in the East division, and the other six were placed in the West division.

In September 1971, American League owners approved the move of the second Washington Senators franchise to Arlington, Texas to become the Texas Rangers. The owners then debated whether the Chicago White Sox or Milwaukee Brewers should move to the East division for 1972, with the Rangers moving to the West. The White Sox requested they be moved to the East, stating they were an original American League franchise and wanted to play more games against other old-line A.L. teams, five of which were in the East.

The Oakland Athletics objected to moving the White Sox to the East; owner Charlie Finley was a Chicago native who wanted to continue to make three trips per season with his club to the Windy City. The Minnesota Twins went a step farther and objected to switching either the White Sox or Brewers. The Twins wanted to keep nearby Chicago and Milwaukee as division rivals, citing the National League's lack of geographic accuracy in forming its divisions as a reason why the Rangers should not have been shifted out of the East. The Twins also noted the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys played in the NFC East.

The White Sox' pleas fell on deaf ears, and the Brewers, who began life as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, were moved to the East.

Current members

Baltimore Orioles – Founding member

Boston Red Sox – Founding member

New York Yankees – Founding member

Tampa Bay Rays – Joined in 1998 as an expansion team (as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays)

Toronto Blue Jays – Joined in 1977 as an expansion team

Former members

Cleveland Indians – Founding member; moved in 1994 to the AL Central.

Detroit Tigers – Founding member, moved in 1998 to the AL Central

Milwaukee Brewers – Joined in 1972, stayed through 1993; then moved to the American League Central; joined National League Central in 1998

Washington Senators – Founding member, stayed through 1971; relocated to Arlington, Texas in 1972 (becoming the Texas Rangers); moved to the AL West

The division members

^A Creation of six-team division (Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, NY Yankees, Washington Senators) due to 1969 expansion^B Washington franchise moved to Dallas/Ft. Worth, became Texas Rangers and moved into AL West. Either Milwaukee or the Chicago White Sox would have had to move to the East, eventually it was decided that Milwaukee make the switch. Total teams remains at six.^C Toronto, the seventh team, is added in 1977 expansion^D Due to 1994 realignment, Cleveland and Milwaukee were moved to newly created AL Central. Division reduced to five teams.^E Tampa Bay added in 1998 expansion along with the Detroit Tigers moving to AL Central. Total teams remains at five.^F Tampa Bay Devil Rays become Tampa Bay Rays.

Champions by year

Team names link to the season in which each team played

‡ – In 1978, the New York Yankees (3)*ended up in a tie with the Boston Red Sox for the division championship, and won a 1-game playoff against Boston.

* – Due to the players' strike, the season was split. New York won the first half and defeated second-half champion Milwaukee (62–45) in the postseason.

§ – Due to the 1994 baseball strike starting August 12, no official winner was awarded. New York was leading at the strike.

†† – The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees finished the 2005 season tied for first place with identical records. New York won the season series against Boston and was awarded the tie-breaker; Boston was awarded the wild card berth. Had a team from another division won the wild card, a one-game playoff would have decided the division champion.

The Cleveland Indians were the only team to not win the AL East before the 1994 division realignment.

Wild Card winners produced

Since the advent of the Wild Card, AL East teams have faced each other in the ALCS 5 times and the ALDS twice.

See List of American League Wild Card winners (since 1994)

* – Starting with the 2012 season, there will be two Wild Card winners in each league. The qualifiers will play a single-game playoff to determine who will face the top-seeded team in the American League Division Series.

** In 2013, the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with the identical records of 91–71. A one-game playoff was held and the Rays won it 5–2 over the Rangers to capture the second Wild Card berth.