American League

From BR Bullpen

AL Season Summaries 2009 AL 2008 AL 2007 AL 2006 AL 2005 AL 2004 AL 2003 AL 2002 AL 2001 AL 2000 AL 1999 AL 1998 AL 1997 AL 1996 AL 1995 AL 1994 AL 1993 AL 1992 AL 1991 AL 1990 AL 1989 AL 1988 AL 1987 AL 1986 AL 1985 AL 1984 AL 1983 AL 1982 AL 1981 AL 1980 AL 1979 AL 1978 AL 1977 AL 1976 AL 1975 AL 1974 AL 1973 AL 1972 AL 1971 AL 1970 AL 1969 AL 1968 AL 1967 AL 1966 AL 1965 AL 1964 AL 1963 AL 1962 AL 1961 AL 1960 AL 1959 AL 1958 AL 1957 AL 1956 AL 1955 AL 1954 AL 1953 AL 1952 AL 1951 AL 1950 AL 1949 AL 1948 AL 1947 AL 1946 AL 1945 AL 1944 AL 1943 AL 1942 AL 1941 AL 1940 AL 1939 AL 1938 AL 1937 AL 1936 AL 1935 AL 1934 AL 1933 AL 1932 AL 1931 AL 1930 AL 1929 AL 1928 AL 1927 AL 1926 AL 1925 AL 1924 AL 1923 AL 1922 AL 1921 AL 1920 AL 1919 AL 1918 AL 1917 AL 1916 AL 1915 AL 1914 AL 1913 AL 1912 AL 1911 AL 1910 AL 1909 AL 1908 AL 1907 AL 1906 AL 1905 AL 1904 AL 1903 AL 1902 AL 1901 AL

The American League was originally known as the Western League from 1894 to 1899. The league was reorganized and renamed by Ban Johnson in 1900 and played as a minor league that year. Its intention, however, was to compete with the National League, and did so in 1901. After three years, the rival leagues met in the first World Series.

In 1904 there was no World Series due to a disagreement between the leagues. In 1999, the two leagues were virtually dissolved as the league presidencies were abolished and merged under a single commissioner, Bud Selig. The AL (as it's frequently called) now exists in name only.

[edit] League Presidents

• Ban Johnson: 1901 to 1927
• Ernest Barnard: 1927 to 1931
• Will Harridge: 1931 to 1959
• Joe Cronin: 1959 to 1973
• Lee MacPhail: 1974 to 1984
• Bobby Brown: 1984 to 1994
• Gene Budig: 1994 to 1999

The office was eliminated in 1999, although Jackie Autry, former owner of the Angels, currently holds the title of honorary American League president.

[edit] Further Reading

• Warren N. Wilbert: The Arrival of the American League: Ban Johnson and the 1901 Challenge of the National League Monopoly, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2007.

[edit] Related Sites

• [1] An article examining the differences between the American and National Leagues over the decades in The Hardball Times, part 1.
• [2] An article examining the differences between the American and National Leagues over the decades in The Hardball Times, part 2.