American League East

A partial view of the Green Monster at Fenway Park, with the final standings of the AL East at the conclusion of the 2007 season

The American League East (commonly referred to as the AL East) is one of six divisions in Major League Baseball (MLB). MLB consists of an East, Central, and West division for each of its two 15-team leagues, the American League (AL) and National League (NL). This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the American League West division. Before that time, each league consisted of 10 teams without any divisions.

Four of the division's five teams are located in the Eastern United States, with the other team, the Toronto Blue Jays, in Eastern Canada. It is currently the only division that contains a non-American team. At the end of the MLB season, the team with the best record in the division earns one of the AL's five playoff spots.^[a] The most recent team to win this division was the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.

History[]

Baseball writers have long posited that the American League East is the toughest division in MLB;^[1][2] during its 50-year existence, an AL East team has gone on to play in the World Series 27 times, and 16 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 20 of the 31 wild-card teams for the American League (the AL West seven, and the AL Central five).

When MLB split into divisions for the 1969 season, the American League, unlike the National League, split its 12 teams strictly on geography. The six teams located in the Eastern Time Zone were placed in the AL East, and the other six were placed in the AL West.

Realignment of 1972[]

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In September 1971, American League owners approved the move of the second Washington Senators franchise to Arlington, Texas, to become the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers moving to the AL West, the owners then debated whether the Chicago White Sox or Milwaukee Brewers should move to the AL East for 1972. The White Sox requested they be moved to the East, stating they were an original American League franchise and wanted to play more games against other old-line AL teams, five of which were in the East.

The Oakland Athletics objected to moving the White Sox to the East; owner Charlie Finley was a Chicago native who wanted to continue to make three trips per season with his club to Chicago. The Minnesota Twins went a step further and objected to switching either the White Sox or Brewers. The Twins wanted to keep nearby Chicago and Milwaukee as division rivals, citing the National League's lack of geographic accuracy in forming its divisions as a reason why the Rangers should not have been shifted out of the East. The Twins also noted the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys played in the NFC East.

The White Sox' pleas notwithstanding, the Brewers, who began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, were moved to the East.

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Division membership[]

The New York Yankees celebrating their 2009 World Series championship

Current members[]

• Baltimore Orioles (1969–present), founding member
• Boston Red Sox (1969–present), founding member
• New York Yankees (1969–present), founding member
• Tampa Bay Rays (1998–present), known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before 2008
• Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present)

Former members[]

• Cleveland Indians (1969–1993), founding member, moved to the AL Central
• Detroit Tigers (1969–1997), founding member, moved to the AL Central
• Milwaukee Brewers (1972–1993), joined from the AL West, moved to the AL Central (later moved to the NL Central)
• Washington Senators (1969–1971), founding member, moved to the AL West as the Texas Rangers

Timeline[]

^A AL East was formed with six teams due to the 1969 expansion, as the AL grew from 10 teams to 12.

^B Following the 1971 season, the Washington Senators franchise relocated and became the Texas Rangers of the AL West; the Milwaukee Brewers moved to the AL East to maintain an equal number of teams in each division.

^C The Toronto Blue Jays were added in the 1977 expansion, becoming the seventh team of the AL East.

^D As part of the 1994 realignment, Cleveland and Milwaukee were moved to the newly created AL Central, reducing the AL East to five teams.

^E The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were added in the 1998 expansion while Detroit moved to the AL Central, maintaining the AL East at five teams.

^F Entering the 2008 season, Tampa Bay's nicknamed changed from Devil Rays to Rays.

Champions by year[]

• Team names link to the season in which each team played

Year	Winner	Record	%	Playoff Results
1969	Baltimore Orioles (1)	109–53	.673	Won ALCS (Twins) 3–0 Lost World Series (Mets) 4–1
1970	Baltimore Orioles (2)	108–54	.667	Won ALCS (Twins) 3–0 Won World Series (Reds) 4–1
1971	Baltimore Orioles (3)	101–57	.639	Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0 Lost World Series (Pirates) 4–3
1972	Detroit Tigers (1)	86–70	.551	Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–2
1973	Baltimore Orioles (4)	97–65	.599	Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–2
1974	Baltimore Orioles (5)	91–71	.562	Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–1
1975	Boston Red Sox (1)	95–65	.594	Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0 Lost World Series (Reds) 4–3
1976	New York Yankees (1)	97–62	.610	Won ALCS (Royals) 3–2 Lost World Series (Reds) 4–0
1977	New York Yankees (2)	100–62	.617	Won ALCS (Royals) 3–2 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
1978	New York Yankees (3)*	100–63	.613	Won ALCS (Royals) 3–1 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
1979	Baltimore Orioles (6)	102–57	.642	Won ALCS (Angels) 3–1 Lost World Series (Pirates) 4–3
1980	New York Yankees (4)	103–59	.636	Lost ALCS (Royals) 3–0
1981	New York Yankees (5)	59–48	.551	Won ALDS (Brewers) 3–2 Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0 Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
1982	Milwaukee Brewers (1)	95–67	.586	Won ALCS (Angels) 3–2 Lost World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
1983	Baltimore Orioles (7)	98–64	.605	Won ALCS (White Sox) 3–1 Won World Series (Phillies) 4–1
1984	Detroit Tigers (2)	104–58	.642	Won ALCS (Royals) 3–0 Won World Series (Padres) 4–1
1985	Toronto Blue Jays (1)	99–62	.615	Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–3
1986	Boston Red Sox (2)	95–66	.590	Won ALCS (Angels) 4–3 Lost World Series (Mets) 4–3
1987	Detroit Tigers (3)	98–64	.605	Lost ALCS (Twins) 4–1
1988	Boston Red Sox (3)	89–73	.549	Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–0
1989	Toronto Blue Jays (2)	89–73	.549	Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–1
1990	Boston Red Sox (4)	88–74	.543	Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–0
1991	Toronto Blue Jays (3)	91–71	.562	Lost ALCS (Twins) 4–1
1992	Toronto Blue Jays (4)	96–66	.593	Won ALCS (Athletics) 4–2 Won World Series (Braves) 4–2
1993	Toronto Blue Jays (5)	95–67	.586	Won ALCS (White Sox) 4–2 Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2
1994	No playoffs due 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995	Boston Red Sox (5)	86–58	.597	Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–0
1996	New York Yankees (6)	92–70	.568	Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–1 Won ALCS (Orioles) 4–1 Won World Series (Braves) 4–2
1997	Baltimore Orioles (8)	98–64	.605	Won ALDS (Mariners) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–2
1998	New York Yankees (7)	114–48	.704	Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0 Won ALCS (Indians) 4–2 Won World Series (Padres) 4–0
1999	New York Yankees (8)	98–64	.605	Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–1 Won World Series (Braves) 4–0
2000	New York Yankees (9)	87–74	.540	Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2 Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–2 Won World Series (Mets) 4–1
2001	New York Yankees (10)	95–65	.594	Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2 Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–1 Lost World Series (Diamondbacks) 4–3
2002	New York Yankees (11)	103–58	.640	Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–1
2003	New York Yankees (12)	101–61	.623	Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3 Lost World Series (Marlins) 4–2
2004	New York Yankees (13)	101–61	.623	Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3
2005	New York Yankees (14)+	95–67	.586	Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–2
2006	New York Yankees (15)	97–65	.599	Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–1
2007	Boston Red Sox (6)	96–66	.593	Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0 Won ALCS (Indians) 4–3 Won World Series (Rockies) 4–0
2008	Tampa Bay Rays (1)	97–65	.599	Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–1 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3 Lost World Series (Phillies) 4–1
2009	New York Yankees (16)	103–59	.636	Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Won ALCS (Angels) 4–2 Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2
2010	Tampa Bay Rays (2)	96–66	.593	Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–2
2011	New York Yankees (17)	97–65	.599	Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
2012	New York Yankees (18)	95–67	.586	Won ALDS (Orioles) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Tigers) 4–0
2013	Boston Red Sox (7)	97–65	.599	Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1 Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–2 Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–2
2014	Baltimore Orioles (9)	96–66	.593	Won ALDS (Tigers) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–0
2015	Toronto Blue Jays (6)	93–69	.574	Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–2
2016	Boston Red Sox (8)	93–69	.574	Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–0
2017	Boston Red Sox (9)	93–69	.574	Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–1
2018	Boston Red Sox (10)	108–54	.667	Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1 Won ALCS (Astros) 4–1 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–1
2019	New York Yankees (19)	103–59	.636	Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–2
2020	Tampa Bay Rays (3)	40–20	.667	Won ALWC (Blue Jays) 2–0 Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 Won ALCS (Astros) 4–3 Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
2021	Tampa Bay Rays (4)	100–62	.617	Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1

* – The Yankees and Red Sox finished with exact records, tied for the division championship; the Yankees won a one-game tie-breaker.

– Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the season was split. The Yankees won the first half and defeated the second-half champion Brewers (62–45) in the postseason.

– Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike starting August 12, the season was not played to completion. The Yankees were leading at the time of the strike.

+ – The Red Sox and Yankees finished tied for first place with identical records. The Yankees were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Red Sox, and the Red Sox received the wild card berth.^[b]

– Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of an expanded eight-team postseason format, the division runner-up Yankees also qualified for the playoffs.

AL East statistics[]

Team	Division championships			Postseason records[c]
	Number	Year(s)	Most recent	Wild Card[d]	ALDS	ALCS	World Series
New York Yankees	19	1976–1978, 1980–1981, 1996, 1998–2006, 2009, 2011–2012, 2019	2019	7	11–9	11–3	7–4
Boston Red Sox	10	1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2013, 2016–2018	2018	7	7–6	6–5	4–2
Baltimore Orioles	9	1969–1971, 1973–1974, 1979, 1983, 1997, 2014	2014	3	3–1	5–5	2–3
Toronto Blue Jays	6	1985, 1989, 1991–1993, 2015	2015	1	2–0	2–5	2–0
Tampa Bay Rays	4	2008, 2010, 2020–2021	2021	3	3– 3	2–0	0–2
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
Washington Senators	0	—	—	—	0–0	0–0	0–0
Total	51	1969–1993, 1995–present	2020	21	26–20	28–20	16–12

Former division members

Totals updated through conclusion of the 2020 postseason.

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)

* – Starting with the 2012 season, there are two Wild Card winners in each league. The qualifiers 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.

*** In 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles finished the season with the identical records of 89–73. However, the Blue Jays won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Orioles.

**** Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games.

***** In 2021, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees finished the season with the identical records of 92–70. However, the Red Sox won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Yankees.

Season results[]

Notes and Tiebreakers

• ^a New York and Boston were tied for the division championship and played in a tie-breaker game. The Yankees won 5–4 to claim the division crown.
• ^b New York and Boston were tied for the division championship and wild-card berth but the Yankees claimed the division crown by winning the season series 10–9, relegating Boston to the wild-card spot. New York and Los Angeles of the American League West were also tied for the second and third seed but the Yankees were relegated to the third seed by losing the season series 6–4.
• ^c Boston and Cleveland of the American League Central were tied for the first and second seed but the Red Sox claimed the top overall seed by winning the season series 5–2, relegating Cleveland to the second seed.
• ^d Tampa Bay and Texas of the American League West were tied for the second wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Rays won 5–2 to claim the second wild-card spot.
• ^e Toronto and Baltimore were tied for both wild-card berths but the Blue Jays claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 10–9, relegating Baltimore to the second wild-card spot.
• ^f Boston and New York both finished with identical 92-70 records but the Red Sox claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 10–9, relegating the Yankees to the second wild-card spot.

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• AL East Division at baseball-reference.com
• MLB Final Standings By Year at shrpsports.com