Origins of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest professional sports league in North America. It was established in 1903 as a response to the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, which had been dissolved earlier that year. MLB is composed of 30 teams split into two leagues, the National League and the American League, each with three divisions.
The original 16 teams in Major League Baseball included eight teams from the National League and eight teams from the American League. These teams were the Boston Americans, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, New York Highlanders, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cleveland Naps in the American League, and the Boston Beaneaters, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League.
Boston Americans
The Boston Americans were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1901 as the Boston Red Stockings. The team changed its name to the Boston Americans in 1908 and went on to become the first World Series champions in 1903. The team was founded by John I. Taylor and managed by Jimmy Collins.
The Americans won the American League pennant in 1903, 1904, and 1912. The team was sold in 1914 and was renamed the Boston Red Sox. They have since gone on to win the World Series nine times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers. The team changed its name to the Baltimore Orioles in 1902 and went on to win the American League pennant in 1903, 1904, and 1905. The team was founded by Harry Von der Horst and managed by Ned Hanlon.
The Orioles were sold in 1954 and moved to New York, where they became the New York Yankees. The Yankees have since gone on to win the World Series 27 times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Washington Senators
The Washington Senators were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1901 as the Washington Senators. The team moved to Minnesota in 1961 and became the Minnesota Twins. The team was founded by Byron Bancroft Johnson and managed by Tom Loftus.
The Senators won the American League pennant in 1924. The team returned to Washington, D.C. in 2005 and was renamed the Washington Nationals. They have since gone on to win the World Series twice and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1900 as the Chicago White Stockings. The team changed its name to the Chicago White Sox in 1904 and went on to win the American League pennant in 1906, 1917, and 1919. The team was founded by Charles Comiskey and managed by Fielder Jones.
The White Sox won the World Series in 1906 and 1917. They have since gone on to win the World Series three times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
New York Highlanders
The New York Highlanders were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1903 as the Baltimore Orioles. The team changed its name to the New York Highlanders in 1904 and went on to win the American League pennant in 1905 and 1914. The team was founded by Frank J. Farrell and Bill Devery and managed by Clark Griffith.
The Highlanders moved to New York in 1913 and were renamed the New York Yankees. They have since gone on to win the World Series 27 times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1901 as the Detroit Tigers. The team has remained in Detroit ever since and has gone on to win the American League pennant in 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, and 2006. The team was founded by James D. Burns and managed by Hughie Jennings.
The Tigers have won the World Series four times, most recently in 1984. They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Philadelphia Athletics
The Philadelphia Athletics were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics. The team went on to win the American League pennant in 1902, 1905, 1910, 1911, and 1913. The team was founded by Ben Shibe and managed by Connie Mack.
The Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955 and were renamed the Kansas City Athletics. They moved back to Philadelphia in 1968 and were renamed the Oakland Athletics. They have since gone on to win the World Series nine times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Cleveland Naps
The Cleveland Naps were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1901 as the Cleveland Blues. The team changed its name to the Cleveland Naps in 1903, in honor of their star player Nap Lajoie. The team went on to win the American League pennant in 1906 and 1920. The team was founded by Charles Somers and managed by Nap Lajoie.
The Naps moved to St. Louis in 1953 and were renamed the St. Louis Browns. They moved back to Cleveland in 1954 and were renamed the Cleveland Indians. They have since gone on to win the World Series two times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Boston Beaneaters
The Boston Beaneaters were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1883 as the Boston Red Caps. The team changed its name to the Boston Beaneaters in 1890 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1897, 1898, and 1899. The team was founded by Arthur Soden and managed by Frank Selee.
The Beaneaters moved to Milwaukee in 1953 and were renamed the Milwaukee Braves. They moved back to Boston in 1954 and were renamed the Boston Braves. They moved to Atlanta in 1966 and were renamed the Atlanta Braves. They have since gone on to win the World Series three times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings. The team changed its name to the Chicago Cubs in 1903 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918, and 1929. The team was founded by Albert Spalding and managed by Frank Selee.
The Cubs have won the World Series two times, most recently in 2016. They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1887 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. The team changed its name to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1891 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, and 1960. The team was founded by William Nimick and managed by Fred Clarke.
The Pirates have won the World Series five times, most recently in 1979. They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1881 as the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The team changed its name to the Cincinnati Reds in 1890 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1919, 1939, 1940, 1961, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, and 1990. The team was founded by Justus Thorner and managed by Pat Moran.
The Reds have won the World Series five times, most recently in 1990. They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings. The team changed its name to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1900 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2011, and 2013. The team was founded by Chris Von der Ahe and managed by Rogers Hornsby.
The Cardinals have won the World Series 11 times, most recently in 2011. They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
New York Giants
The New York Giants were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1883 as the New York Gothams. The team changed its name to the New York Giants in 1888 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1888, 1889, 1904, 1905, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1917, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1951, and 1954. The team was founded by John B. Day and managed by John McGraw.
The Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 and were renamed the San Francisco Giants. They have since gone on to win the World Series eight times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1884 as the Brooklyn Grays. The team changed its name to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1911 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1959. The team was founded by Charles Ebbets and managed by Wilbert Robinson.
The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958 and were renamed the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have since gone on to win the World Series six times and are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies were one of the original teams in Major League Baseball, established in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers. The team changed its name to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1890 and went on to win the National League pennant in 1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, and 2008. The team was founded by Al Reach and managed by Harry Wright.
The Phillies have won the World Series two times, most recently in 2008. They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history.
The original 16 teams in MLB were the foundation on which the modern league was built. Although some of these teams have moved or changed their name, they remain an important part of baseball history and an integral part of the game today.