American League West

American League West
League	American League
Sport	Major League Baseball
Founded	1969
Teams
No. of teams	5
Championships
Most recent champion(s)	Houston Astros; (2021; 4th title)
Most titles	Oakland Athletics (17)

The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division has five teams as of the 2013 season, but had four teams from 1994 to 2012, and had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the division has had teams as far east as Chicago. From 1998 (when the NL West expanded to five teams) to 2012, the AL West was the only MLB division with four teams. The current champion of this division is the Oakland Athletics. In 2013, the Houston Astros went from the National League Central to the AL West.^[1] That move gives all six MLB divisions an equal five teams and both leagues an equal 15 teams each.

Division membership[]

Current members[]

Houston Astros - Joined in 2013; formerly from the NL West (1969–1993) and NL Central (1994–2012)
Los Angeles Angels^[2] – Founding member (as the California Angels)
Oakland Athletics – Founding member
Seattle Mariners – Joined in 1977 as an expansion team
Texas Rangers – Joined in 1972; formerly of the AL East (as the 1961–1971 Washington Senators)

Former members[]

Chicago White Sox – Founding member; moved to the AL Central in 1994
Kansas City Royals – Founding member; moved to the AL Central in 1994
Minnesota Twins – Founding member; moved to the AL Central in 1994
Milwaukee Brewers – Founding member (as Seattle Pilots); moved to the AL East in 1972, then to the AL Central in 1994. Eventually moved to the NL Central in 1998.

Division members[]

Place cursor over year for division champion or World Series team.

Years
AL West 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

California Angels																												Anaheim Angels^[F]
Oakland Athletics
Chicago White Sox^[E]
Kansas City Royals^[E]
Minnesota Twins^[E]
Seattle Pilots^[B]	Milwaukee Brewers^[C]
			Texas Rangers^[C]
								Seattle Mariners^[D]
AL West Division^[A]
05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim^[F]											Los Angeles Angels^[F]
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners
								Houston Astros^[G]
Team not in division Division Won World Series Division Won AL Championship

^A Creation of division due to 1969 expansion, Kansas City and Seattle added.

^B Seattle franchise moved to Milwaukee, becoming the Brewers.

^C Washington Senators moved to Dallas–Fort Worth, became Texas Rangers and switched divisions with Milwaukee, which moved to the AL East.

^D Seattle added in the 1977 league expansion.

^E Chicago, Kansas City, and Minnesota moved into the newly created AL Central due to the 1994 realignment.

^F In 1997, California Angels become Anaheim Angels. In 2005, Anaheim Angels become Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2016, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim become Los Angeles Angels.

^G Houston switches leagues from the NL Central.

Champions by year[]

Team names link to the season in which each team played

Year	Winner	Record	%	Playoff Results
1969	Minnesota Twins (1)	97–65	.599	Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–0
1970	Minnesota Twins (2)	98–64	.605	Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–0
1971	Oakland Athletics (1)	101–61	.627	Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–0
1972	Oakland Athletics (2)	93–62	.600	Won ALCS (Tigers) 3–2 Won World Series (Reds) 4–3
1973	Oakland Athletics (3)	94–68	.580	Won ALCS (Orioles) 3–2 Won World Series (Mets) 4–3
1974	Oakland Athletics (4)	90–72	.556	Won ALCS (Orioles) 3–1 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–1
1975	Oakland Athletics (5)	98–64	.605	Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 3–0
1976	Kansas City Royals (1)	90–72	.556	Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–2
1977	Kansas City Royals (2)	102–60	.630	Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–2
1978	Kansas City Royals (3)	92–70	.568	Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–1
1979	California Angels (1)	88–74	.543	Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–1
1980	Kansas City Royals (4)	97–65	.599	Won ALCS (Yankees) 3–0 Lost World Series (Phillies) 4–2
1981	Oakland Athletics (6)†	64–45	.587	Won ALDS (Royals) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–0
1982	California Angels (2)	93–69	.574	Lost ALCS (Brewers) 3–2
1983	Chicago White Sox (1)	99–63	.611	Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–1
1984	Kansas City Royals (5)	84–78	.519	Lost ALCS (Tigers) 3–0
1985	Kansas City Royals (6)	91–71	.562	Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–3 Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
1986	California Angels (3)	92–70	.568	Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3
1987	Minnesota Twins (3)	85–77	.525	Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–1 Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
1988	Oakland Athletics (7)	104–58	.642	Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–0 Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–1
1989	Oakland Athletics (8)	99–63	.611	Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1 Won World Series (Giants) 4–0
1990	Oakland Athletics (9)	103–59	.636	Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–0 Lost World Series (Reds) 4–0
1991	Minnesota Twins (4)	95–67	.586	Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1 Won World Series (Braves) 4–3
1992	Oakland Athletics (10)	96–66	.593	Lost ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–2
1993	Chicago White Sox (2)	94–68	.580	Lost ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–2
1994§	No playoffs due to 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995	Seattle Mariners (1)*	79–66	.545	Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–2
1996	Texas Rangers (1)	90–72	.556	Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–1
1997	Seattle Mariners (2)	90–72	.556	Lost ALDS (Orioles) 3–1
1998	Texas Rangers (2)	88–74	.543	Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–0
1999	Texas Rangers (3)	95–67	.586	Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–0
2000	Oakland Athletics (11)	91–70	.565	Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
2001	Seattle Mariners (3)	116–46	.716	Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1
2002	Oakland Athletics (12)	103–59	.636	Lost ALDS (Twins) 3–2
2003	Oakland Athletics (13)	96–66	.593	Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–2
2004	Anaheim Angels (4)	92–70	.568	Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
2005	Los Angeles Angels (5)	95–67	.586	Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 Lost ALCS (White Sox) 4–1
2006	Oakland Athletics (14)	93–69	.574	Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Tigers) 4–0
2007	Los Angeles Angels (6)	94–68	.580	Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
2008	Los Angeles Angels (7)	100–62	.617	Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
2009	Los Angeles Angels (8)	97–65	.599	Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
2010	Texas Rangers (4)	90–72	.556	Won ALDS (Rays) 3–2 Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–2 Lost World Series (Giants) 4–1
2011	Texas Rangers (5)	96–66	.593	Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1 Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–2 Lost World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
2012	Oakland Athletics (15)	94–68	.580	Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
2013	Oakland Athletics (16)	96–66	.593	Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
2014	Los Angeles Angels (9)	98–64	.605	Lost ALDS (Royals) 3–0
2015	Texas Rangers (6)	88–74	.543	Lost ALDS (Blue Jays) 3–2
2016	Texas Rangers (7)	95–67	.586	Lost ALDS (Blue Jays) 3–0
2017	Houston Astros (1)	101–61	.623	Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1 Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–3 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–3
2018	Houston Astros (2)	103–59	.636	Won ALDS (Indians) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–1
2019	Houston Astros (3)	107–55	.660	Won ALDS (Rays) 3–2 Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–2 Lost World Series (Nationals) 4–3
2020††	Oakland Athletics (17)	36–24	.600	Won ALWC (White Sox) 2–1 Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–1
2021	Houston Astros (4)	95–67	.586	Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–1 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–2 Lost World Series (Braves) 4–2

† – Due to the players' strike, the season was split in two. The Athletics won the first half and defeated the second-half winner, the Kansas City Royals (50 – 53 overall record) to win the division.
§ – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, starting on August 12, no official winner was declared. The Texas Rangers were leading in winning percentage at time of the strike.
* – Seattle defeated the California Angels in a one-game playoff for the division title, 9 – 1.
†† – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of the eight-team postseason format used for that season, division runner-up Houston (29–31, .483) also qualified for the playoffs. The Houston Astros Won ALWC (Twins) 2–0, Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–1, Lost ALCS (Rays) 4–3.

Wild-card winners produced[]

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

Year	Winner	Record	%	GB	Playoff Results
2000	Seattle Mariners	91–71	.562	.5	Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
2001	Oakland Athletics	102–60	.630	14	Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
2002	Anaheim Angels	99–63	.611	4	Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1 Won ALCS (Twins) 4–1 Won World Series (Giants) 4–3
2012	Texas Rangers*	93–69	.574	1	Lost ALWC (Orioles)
2014	Oakland Athletics*	88–74	.543	10	Lost ALWC (Royals)
2015	Houston Astros*	86–76	.531	2	Won ALWC (Yankees) Lost ALDS (Royals) 3–2
2018	Oakland Athletics*	97–65	.599	6	Lost ALWC (Yankees)
2019	Oakland Athletics*	97–65	.599	10	Lost ALWC (Rays)

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

Season results[]

^(#)	Denotes team that won the World Series
^(#)	Denotes team that won the American League pennant, but lost World Series
^(#)	Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th
1969: The American League West was formed with six inaugural members: the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Pilots.
1969	Minnesota (97–65)	Oakland (88–74)	California (71–91)	Kansas City (69–93)	Chicago White Sox (68–94)	Seattle (64–98)
1970: The Seattle Pilots relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Brewers.
1970	Minnesota (98–64)	Oakland (89–73)	California (86–76)	Kansas City (65–97)	Milwaukee (65–97)	Chicago White Sox (56–106)
1971	Oakland (101–60)	Kansas City (85–76)	Chicago White Sox (79–83)	California (76–86)	Minnesota (74–86)	Milwaukee (69–92)
1972: The Washington Senators relocated to Arlington, Texas as the Texas Rangers and joined the American League West. The Milwaukee Brewers left to join the American League East.
1972	Oakland (93–62)	Chicago White Sox (87–67)	Minnesota (77–77)	Kansas City (76–78)	California (75–80)	Texas (54–100)
1973	Oakland (94–68)	Kansas City (88–74)	Minnesota (81–81)	California (79–83)	Chicago White Sox (77–85)	Texas (57–105)
1974	Oakland (90–72)	Texas (84–76)	Minnesota (82–80)	Chicago White Sox (80–80)	Kansas City (77–85)	California (68–94)
1975	Oakland (98–64)	Kansas City (91–71)	Texas (79–83)	Minnesota (76–83)	Chicago White Sox (75–86)	California (72–89)
1976	Kansas City (90–72)	Oakland (87–74)	Minnesota (85–77)	Texas (76–86)	California (76–86)	Chicago White Sox (64–97)
1977: An expansion team, Seattle Mariners, joined the division.
1977	Kansas City (102–60)	Texas (94–68)	Chicago White Sox (90–72)	Minnesota (84–77)	California (74–88)	Seattle (64–98)	Oakland (63–98)
1978	Kansas City (92–70)	Texas (87–75)	California (87–75)	Minnesota (73–89)	Chicago White Sox (71–90)	Oakland (69–93)	Seattle (56–104)
1979	California (88–74)	Kansas City (85–77)	Texas (83–79)	Minnesota (82–80)	Chicago White Sox (73–87)	Seattle (67–95)	Oakland (54–108)
1980	Kansas City (97–65)	Oakland (83–79)	Minnesota (77–84)	Texas (76–85)	Chicago White Sox (70–90)	California (65–95)	Seattle (59–103)
1981: Due to the player's strike, the season was split and a Division Series was created to pit the first and second half champions from each division. The Oakland Athletics won the first half and the Kansas City Royals won the second half. The Athletics won the ALDS 3–0 to claim the American League East championship.
1981	Oakland (64–45)	Texas (57–48)	Chicago White Sox (54–52)	Kansas City (50–53)	California (51–59)	Seattle (44–65)	Minnesota (41–68)
1982	California (93–69)	Kansas City (90–72)	Chicago White Sox (87–75)	Seattle (76–86)	Oakland (68–94)	Texas (64–98)	Minnesota (60–102)
1983	Chicago White Sox (99–63)	Kansas City (79–83)	Texas (77–85)	Oakland (74–88)	California (70–92)	Minnesota (70–92)	Seattle (60–102)
1984	Kansas City (84–78)	California (81–81)	Minnesota (81–81)	Oakland (77–85)	Chicago White Sox (74–88)	Seattle (74–88)	Texas (69–92)
1985	Kansas City (91–71)	California (90–72)	Chicago White Sox (85–77)	Minnesota (77–85)	Oakland (77–85)	Seattle (74–88)	Texas (62–99)
1986	California (92–70)	Texas (87–75)	Kansas City (76–86)	Oakland (76–86)	Chicago White Sox (72–90)	Minnesota (71–91)	Seattle (67–95)
1987	Minnesota (85–77)	Kansas City (83–79)	Oakland (81–81)	Seattle (78–84)	Chicago White Sox (77–85)	Texas (75–87)	California (75–87)
1988	Oakland (104–58)	Minnesota (91–71)	Kansas City (84–77)	California (75–87)	Chicago White Sox (71–90)	Texas (70–91)	Seattle (68–93)
1989	Oakland (99–63)	Kansas City (92–70)	California (91–71)	Texas (83–79)	Minnesota (80–82)	Seattle (73–89)	Chicago White Sox (69–92)
1990	Oakland (103–59)	Chicago White Sox (94–68)	Texas (83–79)	California (80–82)	Seattle (77–85)	Kansas City (75–86)	Minnesota (74–88)
1991	Minnesota (95–67)	Chicago White Sox (87–75)	Texas (85–77)	Oakland (84–78)	Seattle (83–79)	Kansas City (82–80)	California (81–81)
1992	Oakland (96–66)	Minnesota (90–72)	Chicago White Sox (86–76)	Texas (77–85)	California (72–90)	Kansas City (72–90)	Seattle (64–98)
1993	Chicago White Sox (94–68)	Texas (86–76)	Kansas City (84–78)	Seattle (82–80)	California (71–91)	Minnesota (71–91)	Oakland (68–94)
1994: The Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins left to join the American League Central. Due to the player's strike, the remainder of the season was cancelled on August 12. The postseason and World Series was also cancelled.
1994	Texas (52–62)	Oakland (51–63)	Seattle (49–63)	California (47–68)
1995	⁽³⁾ Seattle^[a] (79–66)	California (78–67)	Texas (74–70)	Oakland (67–77)
1996	⁽³⁾ Texas (90–72)	Seattle (85–76)	Oakland (78–84)	California (70–91)
1997: The California Angels rebranded as the Anaheim Angels.
1997	⁽²⁾ Seattle (90–72)	Anaheim (84–78)	Texas (77–85)	Oakland (65–97)
1998	⁽³⁾ Texas (88–74)	Anaheim (85–77)	Seattle (76–85)	Oakland (74–88)
1999	⁽³⁾ Texas (95–67)	Oakland (87–75)	Seattle (79–83)	Anaheim (70–92)
2000	⁽²⁾ Oakland (91–70)	⁽⁴⁾ Seattle (91–71)	Anaheim (82–80)	Texas (71–91)
2001	⁽¹⁾ Seattle (116–46)	⁽⁴⁾ Oakland (102–60)	Anaheim (75–87)	Texas (73–89)
2002	⁽²⁾ Oakland (103–59)	⁽⁴⁾ Anaheim (99–63)	Seattle (93–69)	Texas (72–90)
2003	⁽²⁾ Oakland (96–66)	Seattle (93–69)	Anaheim (77–85)	Texas (71–91)
2004	⁽²⁾ Anaheim^[b] (92–70)	Oakland (91–71)	Texas (89–73)	Seattle (63–99)
2005: The Anaheim Angels rebranded as the Los Angeles Angels.
2005	⁽²⁾ L.A. Angels^[c] (95–67)	Oakland (88–74)	Texas (79–83)	Seattle (69–93)
2006	⁽³⁾ Oakland (93–69)	L.A. Angels (89–73)	Texas (80–82)	Seattle (78–84)
2007	⁽³⁾ L.A. Angels (94–68)	Seattle (88–74)	Oakland (76–86)	Texas (75–87)
2008	⁽¹⁾ L.A. Angels (100–62)	Texas (79–83)	Oakland (75–86)	Seattle (61–101)
2009	⁽²⁾ L.A. Angels (97–65)	Texas (87–75)	Seattle (85–77)	Oakland (75–87)
2010	⁽³⁾ Texas (90–72)	Oakland (81–81)	L.A. Angels (80–82)	Seattle (61–101)
2011	⁽²⁾ Texas (96–66)	L.A. Angels (86–76)	Oakland (74–88)	Seattle (67–95)
2012	⁽²⁾ Oakland (94–68)	⁽⁴⁾ Texas (93–69)	L.A. Angels (89–73)	Seattle (75–87)
2013: The Houston Astros joined from the National League Central.
2013	⁽²⁾ Oakland (96–66)	Texas^[d] (91–72)	L.A. Angels (78–84)	Seattle (71–91)	Houston (51–111)
2014	⁽¹⁾ L.A. Angels (98–64)	⁽⁵⁾ Oakland (88–74)	Seattle (87–75)	Houston (70–92)	Texas (67–95)
2015	⁽³⁾ Texas (88–74)	⁽⁵⁾ Houston (86–76)	L.A. Angels (85–77)	Seattle (76–86)	Oakland (68–94)
2016	⁽¹⁾ Texas (95–67)	Seattle (86–76)	Houston (84–78)	L.A. Angels (74–88)	Oakland (69–93)
2017	⁽²⁾ Houston (101–61)	L.A. Angels (80–82)	Seattle (78–84)	Texas (78–84)	Oakland (75–87)
2018	⁽²⁾ Houston (103–59)	⁽⁵⁾ Oakland (97–65)	Seattle (89–73)	L.A. Angels (80–82)	Texas (67–95)
2019	⁽²⁾ Houston (107–55)	⁽⁴⁾ Oakland (97–65)	Texas (78–84)	L.A. Angels (72–90)	Seattle (68–94)
2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. The postseason field was expanded to eight teams and the wild-card round became a best-of-three series.
2020	⁽²⁾ Oakland (36–24)	⁽⁶⁾ Houston (29–31)	Seattle (27–33)	L.A. Angels (26–34)	Texas (22–38)
2021	⁽²⁾ Houston (95–67)	Seattle (90–72)	Oakland (86–76)	L.A. Angels (77–85)	Texas (60–102)

Notes and Tiebreakers

^a Seattle and California were tied for the division championship and played in a tie-breaker game. The Mariners won 9–1 to claim the division crown.
^b Anaheim and Minnesota of the American League Central were tied for the second and third seed but the Angels claimed the second seed by winning the season series 5–4.
^c Los Angeles and New York of the American League East were tied for the second and third seed but the Angels claimed the second seed by winning the season series 6–4.
^d Texas and Tampa Bay of the American League East were tied for the second wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Rangers lost 5–2 and were eliminated from postseason contention.

AL West statistics[]

Team	Division Championships	Last Year Won	Year (s)
Current Teams in Division:
Oakland Athletics	17	2020	1971-1975, 1981, 1988–1990, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2020
Los Angeles Angels	9	2014	1979, 1982, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2007–2009, 2014
Texas Rangers	7	2016	1996, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016
Houston Astros	4	2021	2017–2019, 2021
Seattle Mariners	3	2001	1995, 1997, 2001
Former Teams in Division:
Kansas City Royals	6	1985	1976-1978 1980, 1984, 1985
Minnesota Twins	4	1991	1969, 1970, 1987, 1991
Chicago White Sox	2	1993	1983, 1993
Milwaukee Brewers	0	—

References[]

^ "Houston Astros' sale approved by MLB". Associated Press. November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
^ The Angels were formerly known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

External links[]

MLB Final Standings By Year

[ESPN_111711-1] "Houston Astros' sale approved by MLB". Associated Press. November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.

[2] The Angels were formerly known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

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