American League East

AL East
League	American League
Sport	Major League Baseball
Founded	1969
No. of teams	Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays
Most recent champion(s)	Toronto Blue Jays (6th title)
Most titles	New York Yankees (18)

The American League East is one of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s six divisions (An East, Central, and West division for each of the two leagues). This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the American League West division. Before that time the American League (AL) had existed as a single league of 10 teams.

Four of its five teams are located in the Eastern United States, with the other in Central Canada. At the end of the MLB season, the team with the best record in the division earns one of the American League's five playoff spots. The most recent team to win this division was the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015.

During its 46-year existence, an East division team has gone on to play in the World Series 25 times, and 14 of those teams have been crowned World Series champions. Since the 1995 season when the wild-card playoff berth was introduced, the AL East has produced the wild-card team for the American League in 13 out of the 17 years (the West division three, and the Central division just one).

Division membership

Current members

Baltimore Orioles – Founding member
Boston Red Sox – Founding member
New York Yankees – Founding member
Tampa Bay Rays – Joined in 1998 as an expansion team (as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
Toronto Blue Jays – Joined in 1977 as an expansion team

Former members

Cleveland Indians – Founding member; moved in 1994 to the AL Central.
Detroit Tigers – Founding member, moved in 1998 to the AL Central
Milwaukee Brewers – Joined in 1972, stayed through 1993; then moved to the American League Central; joined National League Central in 1998
Washington Senators – Founding member, stayed through 1971; relocated to Arlington, Texas in 1972 (becoming the Texas Rangers); moved to the AL West

The division members

Years
AL East Division^[A]
69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Detroit Tigers ^[E]
Cleveland Indians ^[D]
Washington Senators ^[B]
			Milwaukee Brewers ^[B] ^[D]
								Toronto Blue Jays ^[C]
																													Tampa Bay Devil Rays ^[E]
05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Devil Rays			Tampa Bay Rays ^[F]
Team not in division Division Won World Series Division Won AL Championship World Series canceled due to strike

^A Creation of division due to 1969 expansion

^B Washington franchise moved to Dallas/Ft. Worth, became Texas Rangers and moved into AL West. Either Milwaukee or the Chicago White Sox would have had to move to the East, eventually it was decided that Milwaukee make the switch.

^C Toronto added in 1977 expansion

^D Due to 1994 realignment, Cleveland and Milwaukee were moved to newly created AL Central

^E Tampa Bay added in 1998 expansion along with the Tigers moving to AL Central

^F Tampa Bay Devil Rays become Tampa Bay Rays

Champions by year

Team names link to the season in which each team played

Year	Winner	Record	%	Playoffs
1969	Baltimore Orioles	109–53	.673	Lost World Series to New York, 4–1
1970	Baltimore Orioles	108–54	.667	Won World Series over Cincinnati, 4–1
1971	Baltimore Orioles	101–57	.639	Lost World Series to Pittsburgh, 4–3
1972	Detroit Tigers	86–70	.551	Lost ALCS to Oakland, 3–2
1973	Baltimore Orioles	97–65	.599	Lost ALCS to Oakland, 3–2
1974	Baltimore Orioles	91–71	.562	Lost ALCS to Oakland, 3–1
1975	Boston Red Sox	95–65	.594	Lost World Series to Cincinnati, 4–3
1976	New York Yankees	97–62	.610	Lost World Series to Cincinnati, 4–0
1977	New York Yankees	100–62	.617	Won World Series over Los Angeles, 4–2
1978	New York Yankees‡	100–63	.613	Won World Series over Los Angeles, 4–2
1979	Baltimore Orioles	102–57	.642	Lost World Series to Pittsburgh, 4–3
1980	New York Yankees	103–59	.636	Lost ALCS to Kansas City, 3–0
1981	New York Yankees*	59–48	.551	Lost World Series to Los Angeles, 4–2
1982	Milwaukee Brewers	95–67	.586	Lost World Series to St. Louis, 4–3
1983	Baltimore Orioles	98–64	.605	Won World Series over Philadelphia, 4–1
1984	Detroit Tigers	104–58	.642	Won World Series over San Diego, 4–1
1985	Toronto Blue Jays	99–62	.615	Lost ALCS to Kansas City, 4–3
1986	Boston Red Sox	95–66	.590	Lost World Series to New York, 4–3
1987	Detroit Tigers	98–64	.605	Lost ALCS to Minnesota, 4–1
1988	Boston Red Sox	89–73	.549	Lost ALCS to Oakland, 4–0
1989	Toronto Blue Jays	89–73	.549	Lost ALCS to Oakland, 4–1
1990	Boston Red Sox	88–74	.543	Lost ALCS to Oakland, 4–0
1991	Toronto Blue Jays	91–71	.562	Lost ALCS to Minnesota, 4–1
1992	Toronto Blue Jays	96–66	.593	Won World Series over Atlanta, 4–2
1993	Toronto Blue Jays	95–67	.586	Won World Series over Philadelphia, 4–2
1994	Strike Shortened Season§			No Postseason
1995	Boston Red Sox	86–58	.597	Lost ALDS to Cleveland, 3–0
1996	New York Yankees	92–70	.568	Won World Series over Atlanta, 4–2
1997	Baltimore Orioles	98–64	.605	Lost ALCS to Cleveland, 4–2
1998	New York Yankees	114–48	.704	Won World Series over San Diego, 4–0
1999	New York Yankees	98–64	.605	Won World Series over Atlanta, 4–0
2000	New York Yankees	87–74	.540	Won World Series over New York, 4–1
2001	New York Yankees	95–65	.594	Lost World Series to Arizona, 4–3
2002	New York Yankees	103–58	.640	Lost ALDS to Anaheim, 3–1
2003	New York Yankees	101–61	.623	Lost World Series to Florida, 4–2
2004	New York Yankees	101–61	.623	Lost ALCS to Boston, 4–3
2005	New York Yankees††	95–67	.586	Lost ALDS to Los Angeles, 3–2
2006	New York Yankees	97–65	.599	Lost ALDS to Detroit, 3–1
2007	Boston Red Sox	96–66	.593	Won World Series over Colorado, 4–0
2008	Tampa Bay Rays	97–65	.599	Lost World Series to Philadelphia, 4–1
2009	New York Yankees	103–59	.636	Won World Series over Philadelphia, 4–2
2010	Tampa Bay Rays	96–66	.593	Lost ALDS to Texas, 3–2
2011	New York Yankees	97–65	.599	Lost ALDS to Detroit, 3–2
2012	New York Yankees	95–67	.586	Lost ALCS to Detroit, 4–0
2013	Boston Red Sox	97–65	.599	Won World Series over St. Louis, 4–2
2014	Baltimore Orioles	96–66	.593	Lost ALCS to Kansas City, 4–0
2015	Toronto Blue Jays	93–69	.574	Lost ALCS to Kansas City, 4–2

‡ – In 1978, the New York Yankees ended up in a tie with the Boston Red Sox for the division championship, and won a 1-game playoff against Boston.

* – Due to the players' strike, the season was split. New York won the first half and defeated second-half champion Milwaukee (62–45) in the postseason.

§ – Due to the 1994 baseball strike starting August 12, no official winner was awarded. New York was leading at the strike.

†† – The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees finished the 2005 season tied for first place with identical records. New York won the season series against Boston and was awarded the tie-breaker; Boston was awarded the wild card berth. Had a team from another division won the wild card, a one-game playoff would have decided the division champion.

The Cleveland Indians were the only team to not win the AL East before the 1994 division realignment.

AL East statistics

Team	Division Championships	Year (s)	Last Year Won	Wild Card Appearances	Division Series Record	AL Championship Series Record	World Series Record
Current Teams in Division:
New York Yankees	18	1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012	2012	4	11 – 6	11 – 3	7 – 4
Baltimore Orioles	9	1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1983, 1997, 2014	2014	2	2 – 1	5 – 4	2 – 3
Boston Red Sox	7	1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2013	2013	7	5 – 4	4 – 5	3 – 1
Toronto Blue Jays	6	1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2015	2015	—	1 – 0	2 – 4	2 – 0
Tampa Bay Rays	2	2008, 2010	2010	2	1 – 2	1 – 0	0 – 1
Former Teams in Division:
Detroit Tigers	3	1972, 1984, 1987	1987	—	0 – 0	1 – 2	1 – 0
Milwaukee Brewers	1	1982	1982	—	0 – 1	1 – 0	0 – 1
Cleveland Indians	0	—	—	—	0 – 0	0 – 0	0 – 0
TOTAL	45	—	—	15	18 – 13	25 – 17	15 – 10

Wild Card winners produced

Since the advent of the Wild Card, AL East teams have faced each other in the ALCS 5 times and the ALDS twice.

See List of American League Wild Card winners (since 1994)

Year	Winner	Record	%	GB	Playoffs
1995	New York Yankees	79–65	.549	7	Lost ALDS to Seattle, 3–2
1996	Baltimore Orioles	88–74	.543	4	Lost ALCS to New York, 4–1
1997	New York Yankees	96–66	.593	2	Lost ALDS to Cleveland, 3–2
1998	Boston Red Sox	92–70	.568	22	Lost ALDS to Cleveland, 3–1
1999	Boston Red Sox	94–68	.580	4	Lost ALCS to New York, 4–1
2003	Boston Red Sox	95–67	.586	6	Lost ALCS to New York, 4–3
2004	Boston Red Sox	98–64	.605	3	Won World Series over St. Louis, 4–0
2005	Boston Red Sox	95–67	.586	0	Lost ALDS to Chicago, 3–0
2007	New York Yankees	94–68	.580	2	Lost ALDS to Cleveland, 3–1
2008	Boston Red Sox	95–67	.586	2	Lost ALCS to Tampa Bay, 4–3
2009	Boston Red Sox	95–67	.586	8	Lost ALDS to Los Angeles, 3–0
2010	New York Yankees	95–67	.586	1	Lost ALCS to Texas, 4–2
2011	Tampa Bay Rays	91–71	.562	6	Lost ALDS to Texas, 3–1
2012	Baltimore Orioles	93–69	.574	2	Lost ALDS to New York, 3–2
2013	Tampa Bay Rays**	92–71	.564	5.5	Lost ALDS to Boston, 3–1
2015	New York Yankees	87–75	.537	6	Lost ALWC to Houston

* – Starting with the 2012 season, there will be two Wild Card winners in each league. The qualifiers will play a single-game playoff to determine who will face the top-seeded team in the American League Division Series.

** In 2013, the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with the identical records of 91–71. A one-game playoff was held and the Rays won it 5–2 over the Rangers to capture the second Wild Card berth.

References

MLB Final Standings By Year

Major League Baseball (2016)

American League

East	Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays

Central	Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins

West	Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers

National League

East	Atlanta Braves Miami Marlins New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Washington Nationals

Central	Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals

West	Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies Los Angeles Dodgers San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants

Postseason	World Series Champions NL NL Champions NLCS NLDS NLWC AL AL Champions ALCS ALDS ALWC Appearances Streaks Droughts

Steroid usage	Drug policy Doping Pittsburgh drug trials Mitchell Report MLB players named MLB players suspended for doping Biogenesis baseball scandal Jose Canseco books Juiced Vindicated Barry Bonds-related articles BALCO scandal Game of Shadows perjury case

Miscellaneous	All-Star Game World Baseball Classic International games Records Awards Retired numbers Hall of Fame Executive Management Winter Meetings Hot stove league Transactions MLB Draft First year player Rule 5 MLBPA TV contracts Highest paid players Instant replay MLB logo MLB team uniforms Minor leagues History AL Seasons Tie-breakers Tie-breaking procedures Rivalries Interleague play Schedule Stadiums Civil Rights Game Jackie Robinson Day Spring training (Cactus League, Grapefruit League) Opening Day Lockouts Mascots MLB.com

Timeline	Timeline of Major League Baseball Current teams History of team nicknames Dead-ball era Live-ball era Relocation of the 1950s–60s Expansion 1961 1962 1969 1977 1993 1998

Commissioner: Rob Manfred League Presidents NL AL

American League

Organization

Current teams

East	Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays

Central	Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins

West	Houston Astros Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers

Former and
relocated teams

Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902)
Kansas City Athletics (1955–1967)
Milwaukee Brewers I (1901)
Milwaukee Brewers II (1970–1997)
Philadelphia Athletics (1901–1954)
Seattle Pilots (1969)
St. Louis Browns (1902–1953)
Washington Senators I (1901–1960)
Washington Senators II (1961–1971)

Championship play

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