National League

Charter Franchises (1876)
The original eight charter teams were the following:


 * Athletic of Philadelphia from National Association, expelled after 1876 season
 * Boston Red Stockings (some say Red Caps) from National Association (now the Atlanta Braves, and the only surviving N.A. charter member)
 * Chicago White Stockings from National Association (now the Chicago Cubs)
 * Cincinnati Red Stockings new franchise, folded after 1880 season
 * Hartford Dark Blues from National Association, folded after 1877 season
 * Louisville Grays new franchise, folded after 1877 season
 * Mutual of New York from National Association, expelled after 1876 season
 * St. Louis Brown Stockings from National Association, folded after 1877 season.

Post-AA Merger (1892)
Many franchises came and went between 1876 and 1892 when the National League absorbed the American Association. In 1892 the twelve teams in what---for a time---was termed the "National League and American Association" were the following:


 * Baltimore Orioles joined from A.A. in 1892, contracted after 1899
 * Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves), N.L. Charter Member, originated in N.A.
 * Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers), joined from A.A. in 1890
 * Chicago White Stockings or Colts (now the Chicago Cubs), N.L. Charter Member, originated in N.A.
 * Cincinnati Reds joined from A.A. in 1890
 * Cleveland Spiders joined from A.A. in 1889, contracted after 1899
 * Louisville Colonels joined from A.A. in 1892, contracted after 1899
 * New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants), enfranchised 1883
 * Philadelphia Phillies enfranchised 1883
 * Pittsburgh Pirates joined from A.A. in 1887
 * St. Louis Cardinals joined from A.A. in 1892
 * Washington Nationals joined from A.A. in 1892, contracted after 1899

After the 1899 season, the league contracted for the first time since 1877, dropping four clubs and leaving eight teams which would stay in place for over 50 years.

Contraction, Expansion and Relocation Since 1892

 * 1900: Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Spiders, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Nationals are all expelled from the National League
 * 1953: Boston Braves move to Milwaukee
 * 1958: Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles and New York Giants move to San Francisco
 * 1962: Houston Colt .45s and New York Mets enfranchised
 * 1966: Milwaukee Braves move to Atlanta
 * 1969: Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres enfranchised
 * 1993: Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins enfranchised
 * 1998: Arizona Diamondbacks enfranchised
 * 1998: Milwaukee Brewers withdraw from the American League and join the National League
 * 2005: Montreal Expos move to Washington, renamed the Washington Nationals

National League East

 * Atlanta Braves enfranchised 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings (or Red Caps) in National Association, joined National League as Charter Member (1876), moved to Milwaukee (1953) and to Atlanta (1966)
 * Florida Marlins enfranchised 1993
 * New York Mets enfranchised 1962
 * Philadelphia Phillies enfranchised 1883
 * Washington Nationals enfranchised 1969 as the Montreal Expos, moved to Washington (2005)

National League Central

 * Chicago Cubs enfranchised 1874 in National Association, joined National League as Charter Member (1876)
 * Cincinnati Reds enfranchised 1882 in American Association, joined National League (1890)
 * Houston Astros enfranchised 1962
 * Milwaukee Brewers enfranchised 1969 as the Seattle Pilots in American League, moved to Milwaukee (1970), joined N.L. (1998)
 * Pittsburgh Pirates enfranchised 1882 in American Association, joined National League (1887)
 * St. Louis Cardinals enfranchised 1882 in American Association, joined National League (1892)

National League West

 * Arizona Diamondbacks enfranchised 1998
 * Colorado Rockies enfranchised 1993
 * Los Angeles Dodgers enfranchised 1884 as the Brooklyn Atlantics in American Association, joined National League (1890), moved to Los Angeles (1958)
 * San Diego Padres enfranchised 1969
 * San Francisco Giants enfranchised 1883 in New York, moved to San Francisco (1958)

NL Presidents 1876-1999
Office eliminated in 1999, although Bill Giles, son of former NL President Warren C. Giles, currently holds the title of honorary National League president.
 * Morgan G. Bulkeley 1876-1876
 * William A. Hulbert 1877-1882
 * Arthur H. Soden 1882-1882
 * Abraham G. Mills 1883-1884
 * Nicholas E. Young 1885-1902
 * Harry C. Pulliam 1903-1909
 * John A. Heydler 1909-1909
 * Thomas J. Lynch 1910-1913
 * John K. Tener 1913-1918
 * John A. Heydler 1918-1934
 * Ford C. Frick 1934-1951
 * Warren C. Giles 1951-1969
 * Charles S. Feeney 1970-1986
 * A. Bartlett Giamatti 1986-1989
 * William D. White 1989-1994
 * Leonard S. Coleman, Jr. 1994-1999