Continental League

From BR Bullpen

For the independent Continental League that started play in 2007, click here

The Continental League was a proposed league that had its beginnings in 1958. As a response to the moves by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles and the New York Giants to San Francisco, William Shea proposed a new league to bring a second team to New York.

Shea was backed by Branch Rickey, the legendary executive, who had resigned as president of the Pittsburgh Pirates to become president of the league.

The plan called for a ten team major league to begin play in 1961. The CL would place teams in New York, Houston, Minneapolis, Toronto, and Denver. Several other cities, including Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, and New Orleans, were considered for the other five franches.

The Continental League presaged several major league expansions as clubs would eventually be added in Houston, Toronto, and Denver. Clubs would also move to Minneapolis, Dallas, and Atlanta by 1972.

On July 18, 1960, the National League agreed to expand to 10 teams. With a franchise for New York secured, the Continental League abandoned their plans on August 2, 1960.