American League

Charter Franchises
Starting in 1901, the eight charter teams were the following:


 * Baltimore Orioles moved to New York (1903) and became the team now known as the New York Yankees
 * Boston Americans (unofficial name) became the Red Sox
 * Chicago White Sox
 * Cleveland Blues became the Naps and then the Indians
 * Detroit Tigers
 * Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis (1902) and to Baltimore (1954) and became today's Baltimore Orioles
 * Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City (1955) and then to Oakland (1968)
 * Washington Senators moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul (1961) and became the Minnesota Twins

Expansion and Relocation Summary

 * 1902: Milwaukee Brewers move to St. Louis, renamed "St. Louis Browns"
 * 1903: Baltimore Orioles move to New York, renamed "New York Highlanders" (later "New York Yankees")
 * 1954: St. Louis Browns move to Baltimore, renamed "Baltimore Orioles"
 * 1955: Philadelphia Athletics move to Kansas City
 * 1961: Washington Senators move to Minneapolis-St. Paul, renamed "Minnesota Twins"
 * 1961: Los Angeles Angels and Washington Senators enfranchised
 * 1968: Kansas City Athletics move to Oakland
 * 1969: Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots enfranchised
 * 1970: Seattle Pilots move to Milwaukee, renamed "Milwaukee Brewers"
 * 1972: Washington Senators move to Dallas-Fort Worth, renamed "Texas Rangers"
 * 1977: Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays enfranchised
 * 1998: Tampa Bay Devil Rays enfranchised
 * 1998: Milwaukee Brewers withdraw from the American League to join the National League

American League East

 * Baltimore Orioles enfranchised 1894 as the Milwaukee Brewers, moved to St. Louis (1902) and to Baltimore (1954)
 * Boston Red Sox enfranchised 1901*
 * New York Yankees enfranchised 1901* as the Baltimore Orioles, moved to New York (1903)
 * Tampa Bay Devil Rays enfranchised 1998
 * Toronto Blue Jays enfranchised 1977

American League Central

 * Chicago White Sox enfranchised 1894 as the Sioux City Cornhuskers, moved to St. Paul (1895) and to Chicago (1900)
 * Cleveland Indians enfranchised 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, moved to Cleveland (1900)
 * Detroit Tigers enfranchised 1894
 * Kansas City Royals enfranchised 1969
 * Minnesota Twins enfranchised 1901* as the Washington Senators, moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul (1961)

American League West

 * Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim enfranchised 1961
 * Oakland Athletics enfranchised 1901* in Philadelphia, moved to Kansas City (1955) and to Oakland (1968)
 * Seattle Mariners enfranchised 1977
 * Texas Rangers enfranchised 1961 as the Washington Senators, moved to Dallas-Fort Worth (1972)

AL Presidents 1901-1999
Office was eliminated in 1999, although Jackie Autry, former owner of the Anaheim Angels, currently holds the title of honorary American League president.
 * Ban Johnson 1901-1927
 * Ernest Barnard 1927-1931
 * Will Harridge 1931-1959
 * Joe Cronin 1959-1973
 * Lee McPhail 1973-1984
 * Bobby Brown 1984-1994
 * Gene Budig 1994-1999