National League East

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National League East
LeagueNational League
SportMajor League Baseball
Founded1969
Teams
No. of teams5
Championships
Most recent champion(s)Atlanta Braves
(2021; 16th title)
Most titlesAtlanta Braves (16)

The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title.

The division was created when the National League (along with the American League) added two expansion teams and divided into two divisions, East and West effective for the 1969 season. The National League's geographical alignment was rather peculiar as its partitioning was really more north and south instead of east and west. Two teams in the Eastern Time Zone, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, were in the same division as teams on the Pacific coast. This was due to the demands of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, who refused to support expansion unless they were promised they would be kept together in the newly created East division.

During the two-division era, from 1969 to 1993, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates together owned more than half of the division titles, having won a combined 15 of 25 championships during that span.[1] They were also the only teams in the division to have won consecutive titles during that span.[2][3][4]

When the National League realigned into three divisions in 1994, the Pittsburgh Pirates were originally supposed to stay in the East while the Braves were to be moved to the newly created National League Central. However, the Braves, wanting to form a natural rivalry with the expansion Florida Marlins, elected to be placed in the East. Despite the Marlins offering to go to the Central, the Pirates instead gave up their spot in the East to the Braves.[5] Since then, the Pirates have tried several times unsuccessfully to be placed back in the East.[6]

Division membership[]

Current members[]

  • Atlanta Braves – Joined in 1994; formerly of the NL West
  • Miami Marlins – Joined in 1993 as an expansion team (originally as the Florida Marlins)
  • New York Mets – Founding member
  • Philadelphia Phillies – Founding member
  • Washington Nationals – Founding member (originally as the Montreal Expos in 1969)

Former members[]

  • Chicago Cubs – Founding member, moved to the NL Central in 1994.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates – Founding member, moved to the NL Central in 1994.
  • St. Louis Cardinals – Founding member, moved to the NL Central in 1994.

Division members[]

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

Years
NL 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
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Montreal Expos
Pittsburgh Pirates[C]  
St. Louis Cardinals[C]  
Chicago Cubs[C]  
  Florida Marlins[B]
  Atlanta Braves[C]
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
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals[D]
Florida Marlins Miami Marlins[E]
Atlanta Braves
  Team not in division   Division Won World Series   Division Won NL Championship
A The creation of the division with the expansion of the league – with the Expos added.
B Florida Marlins added in the 1993 expansion
C The Atlanta Braves moved in from the NL West, and the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals moved into newly created National League Central Division
D The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C., becoming the Washington Nationals
E The Florida Marlins relocated from Miami Gardens, Florida to Miami and changed their name to the Miami Marlins

Champions by year[]

  • Team names link to the season in which each team played
Year Winner Record % Playoff Results
1969 New York Mets (1) 100–62 .617 Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–1
1970 Pittsburgh Pirates (1) 89–73 .549 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates (2) 97–65 .599 Won NLCS (Giants) 3–1
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3
1972 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) 96–59 .619 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–2
1973 New York Mets (2) 82–79 .509 Won NLCS (Reds) 3–2
Lost World Series (Athletics) 4–3
1974 Pittsburgh Pirates (4) 88–74 .543 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1975 Pittsburgh Pirates (5) 92–69 .571 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1976 Philadelphia Phillies (1) 101–61 .623 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1977 Philadelphia Phillies (2) 101–61 .623 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1978 Philadelphia Phillies (3) 90–72 .556 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates (6) 98–64 .605 Won NLCS (Reds) 3–0
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3
1980 Philadelphia Phillies (4) 91–71 .562 Won NLCS (Astros) 3–2
Won World Series (Royals) 4–2
1981 Montreal Expos (1)† 60–48 .556 Won NLDS (Phillies) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–2
1982 St. Louis Cardinals (1) 92–70 .570 Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Brewers) 4–3
1983 Philadelphia Phillies (5) 90–72 .556 Won NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
Lost World Series (Orioles) 4–1
1984 Chicago Cubs (1) 96–65 .596 Lost NLCS (Padres) 3–2
1985 St. Louis Cardinals (2) 101–61 .623 Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–3
1986 New York Mets (3) 108–54 .667 Won NLCS (Astros) 4–2
Won World Series (Red Sox) 4–3
1987 St. Louis Cardinals (3) 95–67 .586 Won NLCS (Giants) 4–3
Lost World Series (Twins) 4–3
1988 New York Mets (4) 100–60 .625 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–3
1989 Chicago Cubs (2) 93–69 .574 Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–1
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates (7) 95–67 .586 Lost NLCS (Reds) 4–2
1991 Pittsburgh Pirates (8) 98–64 .605 Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
1992 Pittsburgh Pirates (9) 96–66 .593 Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
1993 Philadelphia Phillies (6) 97–65 .599 Won NLCS (Braves) 4–2
Lost World Series (Blue Jays) 4–2
1994§ No playoffs due to 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995 Atlanta Braves (1) 90–54 .625 Won NLDS (Rockies) 3–1
Won NLCS (Reds) 4–0
Won World Series (Indians) 4–2
1996 Atlanta Braves (2) 96–66 .593 Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–3
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–2
1997 Atlanta Braves (3) 101–61 .623 Won NLDS (Astros) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Marlins) 4–2
1998 Atlanta Braves (4) 106–56 .654 Won NLDS (Cubs) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Padres) 4–2
1999 Atlanta Braves (5) 103–59 .636 Won NLDS (Astros) 3–1
Won NLCS (Mets) 4–2
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0
2000 Atlanta Braves (6) 95–67 .586 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–0
2001 Atlanta Braves (7) 88–74 .543 Won NLDS (Astros) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Diamondbacks) 4–1
2002 Atlanta Braves (8) 101–59 .631 Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–2
2003 Atlanta Braves (9) 101–61 .623 Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–2
2004 Atlanta Braves (10) 96–66 .593 Lost NLDS (Astros) 3–2
2005 Atlanta Braves (11) 90–72 .556 Lost NLDS (Astros) 3–1
2006 New York Mets (5) 97–65 .599 Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Cardinals) 4–3
2007 Philadelphia Phillies (7) 89–73 .549 Lost NLDS (Rockies) 3–0
2008 Philadelphia Phillies (8) 92–70 .568 Won NLDS (Brewers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
Won World Series (Rays) 4–1
2009 Philadelphia Phillies (9) 93–69 .574 Won NLDS (Rockies) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–2
2010 Philadelphia Phillies (10) 97–65 .599 Won NLDS (Reds) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–2
2011 Philadelphia Phillies (11) 102–60 .630 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2012 Washington Nationals (2) 98–64 .605 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2013 Atlanta Braves (12) 96–66 .593 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
2014 Washington Nationals (3) 96–66 .593 Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–1
2015 New York Mets (6) 90–72 .556 Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
Won NLCS (Cubs) 4–0
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–1
2016 Washington Nationals (4) 95–67 .586 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
2017 Washington Nationals (5) 97–65 .599 Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–2
2018 Atlanta Braves (13) 90–72 .556 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
2019 Atlanta Braves (14) 97–65 .599 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2020†† Atlanta Braves (15) 35–25 .583 Won NLWC (Reds) 2–0
Won NLDS (Marlins) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–3
2021 Atlanta Braves (16) 88–73 .547 Won NLDS (Brewers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Won World Series (Astros) 4–2

† – Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the season was split. Montreal won the second half and defeated first-half champion Philadelphia (59–48) in the postseason.
§ – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike starting August 12, no official winner was awarded. Montreal was leading at the strike.
†† – 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 Miami (30–29, .508) also qualified for the playoffs. The Miami Marlins Won NLWC (Cubs) 2–0, Lost NLDS (Braves) 3–0.

Most Division titles[]

Team Titles Year(s)
Atlanta Braves 16 1995–2005, 2013, 2018–2021
Philadelphia Phillies 11 1976–1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2007–2011
Pittsburgh Pirates 9 1970-1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1990–1992
New York Mets 6 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 2006, 2015
Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos 5 1981, 2012, 2014, 2016–2017
St. Louis Cardinals 3 1982, 1985, 1987
Chicago Cubs 2 1984, 1989
Miami/Florida Marlins 0
—
  • Italics indicate teams no longer in the division.
  • Note that because of the wild card postseason berth, the Miami Marlins have two World Series wins (1997, 2003) without ever winning the division.

Wildcard winners produced[]

Further information: List of National League Wild Card winners
Year Winner Record % GB Playoff Results
1997 Florida Marlins 92–70 .568 9 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–0
Won NLCS (Braves) 4–2
Won World Series (Indians) 4–3
1999 New York Mets* 97–66 .595 6.5 Won NLDS (Diamondbacks) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–2
2000 New York Mets 94–68 .580 1 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–1
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–1
2003 Florida Marlins 91–71 .562 10 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Cubs) 4–3
Won World Series (Yankees) 4–2
2010 Atlanta Braves 91–71 .562 6 Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–1
2012 Atlanta Braves** 94–68 .580 4 Lost NLWC (Cardinals)
2016 New York Mets** 87–75 .537 8 Lost NLWC (Giants)
2019 Washington Nationals** 93–69 .574 4 Won NLWC (Brewers)
Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–0
Won World Series (Astros) 4–3

* – Defeated the Cincinnati Reds in a one-game playoff for the Wild Card, 5–0.

** – 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 National League Division Series.

Season results[]

(#) Denotes team that won the World Series
(#) Denotes team that won the National League pennant, but lost World Series
(#) Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason
Season Team (record)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
  • 1969: The National League East was formed with six inaugural members: the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.
1969 N.Y. Mets (100–62) Chicago Cubs (92–70) Pittsburgh (88–74) St. Louis (87–75) Philadelphia (63–99) Montreal (52–110)
1970 Pittsburgh (89–73) Chicago Cubs (84–78) N.Y. Mets (83–79) St. Louis (76–86) Philadelphia (73–88) Montreal (73–89)
1971 Pittsburgh (97–65) St. Louis (90–72) Chicago Cubs (83–79) N.Y. Mets (83–79) Montreal (71–90) Philadelphia (67–95)
1972 Pittsburgh (96–59) Chicago Cubs (85–70) N.Y. Mets (83–73) St. Louis (75–81) Montreal (70–86) Philadelphia (59–97)
1973 N.Y. Mets (82–79) St. Louis (81–81) Pittsburgh (80–82) Montreal (79–83) Chicago Cubs (77–84) Philadelphia (71–91)
1974 Pittsburgh (88–74) St. Louis (86–75) Philadelphia (80–82) Montreal (79–82) N.Y. Mets (71–91) Chicago Cubs (66–96)
1975 Pittsburgh (92–69) Philadelphia (86–76) N.Y. Mets (82–80) St. Louis (82–80) Chicago Cubs (75–87) Montreal (75–87)
1976 Philadelphia (101–61) Pittsburgh (92–70) N.Y. Mets (86–76) Chicago Cubs (75–87) St. Louis (72–90) Montreal (55–107)
1977 Philadelphia (101–61) Pittsburgh (96–66) St. Louis (83–79) Chicago Cubs (81–81) Montreal (75–87) N.Y. Mets (64–98)
1978 Philadelphia (90–72) Pittsburgh (88–73) Chicago Cubs (79–83) Montreal (76–86) St. Louis (69–93) N.Y. Mets (66–96)
1979 Pittsburgh (98–64) Montreal (95–65) St. Louis (86–76) Philadelphia (84–78) Chicago Cubs (80–82) N.Y. Mets (63–99)
1980 Philadelphia (91–71) Montreal (90–72) Pittsburgh (83–79) St. Louis (74–88) N.Y. Mets (67–95) Chicago Cubs (64–98)
  • 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 Philadelphia Phillies won the first half and the Montreal Expos won the second half. The Expos won the NLDS 3–2 to claim the National League East championship.
1981 St. Louis (59–43) Montreal (60–48) Philadelphia (59–48) Pittsburgh (46–56) N.Y. Mets (41–62) Chicago Cubs (38–65)
1982 St. Louis (92–70) Philadelphia (89–73) Montreal (86–76) Pittsburgh (84–78) Chicago Cubs (73–89) N.Y. Mets (65–97)
1983 Philadelphia (90–72) Pittsburgh (84–78) Montreal (82–80) St. Louis (79–83) Chicago Cubs (71–91) N.Y. Mets (68–94)
1984 Chicago Cubs (96–65) N.Y. Mets (90–72) St. Louis (84–78) Philadelphia (81–81) Montreal (78–83) Pittsburgh (75–87)
1985 St. Louis (101–61) N.Y. Mets (98–64) Montreal (84–77) Chicago Cubs (77–84) Philadelphia (75–87) Pittsburgh (57–104)
1986 N.Y. Mets (108–54) Philadelphia (86–75) St. Louis (79–82) Montreal (78–83) Chicago Cubs (70–90) Pittsburgh (64–98)
1987 St. Louis (95–67) N.Y. Mets (92–70) Montreal (91–71) Philadelphia (80–82) Pittsburgh (80–82) Chicago Cubs (76–85)
1988 N.Y. Mets (100–60) Pittsburgh (85–75) Montreal (81–81) Chicago Cubs (77–85) St. Louis (76–86) Philadelphia (65–96)
1989 Chicago Cubs (93–69) N.Y. Mets (87–75) St. Louis (86–76) Montreal (81–81) Pittsburgh (74–88) Philadelphia (67–95)
1990 Pittsburgh (95–67) N.Y. Mets (91–71) Montreal (85–77) Chicago Cubs (77–85) Philadelphia (77–85) St. Louis (70–92)
1991 Pittsburgh (98–64) St. Louis (84–78) Philadelphia (78–84) Chicago Cubs (77–83) N.Y. Mets (77–84) Montreal (71–90)
1992 Pittsburgh (96–66) Montreal (87–75) St. Louis (83–79) Chicago Cubs (78–84) N.Y. Mets (72–90) Philadelphia (70–92)
  • 1993: An expansion team, Florida Marlins, joined the division.
1993 Philadelphia (97–65) Montreal (94–68) St. Louis (87–75) Chicago Cubs (84–78) Pittsburgh (75–87) Florida (64–98) N.Y. Mets (59–103)
  • 1994: The Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals left to join the National League Central. The Atlanta Braves joined from the National League West. 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 Montreal (74–40) Atlanta (68–46) N.Y. Mets (55–58) Philadelphia (54–61) Florida (51–64)
1995 (1) Atlanta (90–54) N.Y. Mets (69–75) Philadelphia (69–75) Florida (67–76) Montreal (66–78)
1996 (1) Atlanta (96–66) Montreal (88–74) Florida (80–82) N.Y. Mets (71–91) Philadelphia (67–95)
1997 (1) Atlanta (101–61) (4) Florida (92–70) N.Y. Mets (88–74) Montreal (78–84) Philadelphia (68–94)
1998 (1) Atlanta (106–56) N.Y. Mets (88–74) Philadelphia (75–87) Montreal (65–97) Florida (54–108)
1999 (1) Atlanta (103–59) (4) N.Y. Mets[a] (97–66) Philadelphia (77–85) Montreal (68–94) Florida (64–98)
2000 (3) Atlanta[b] (95–67) (4) N.Y. Mets (94–68) Florida (79–82) Montreal (67–95) Philadelphia (65–97)
2001 (3) Atlanta (88–74) Philadelphia (86–76) N.Y. Mets (82–80) Florida (76–86) Montreal (68–94)
2002 (1) Atlanta (101–59) Montreal (83–79) Philadelphia (80–81) Florida (79–83) N.Y. Mets (75–86)
2003 (1) Atlanta (101–61) (4) Florida (91–71) Philadelphia (86–76) Montreal (83–79) N.Y. Mets (66–95)
2004 (2) Atlanta (96–66) Philadelphia (86–76) Florida (83–79) N.Y. Mets (71–91) Montreal (67–95)
  • 2005: The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C. as the Washington Nationals.
2005 (2) Atlanta (90–72) Philadelphia (88–74) Florida (83–79) N.Y. Mets (83–79) Washington (81–81)
2006 (1) N.Y. Mets (97–65) Philadelphia (85–77) Atlanta (79–83) Florida (78–84) Washington (71–91)
2007 (2) Philadelphia (89–73) N.Y. Mets (88–74) Atlanta (84–78) Washington (73–89) Florida (71–91)
2008 (2) Philadelphia (92–70) N.Y. Mets (89–73) Florida (84–77) Atlanta (72–90) Washington (59–102)
2009 (2) Philadelphia (93–69) Florida (87–75) Atlanta (86–76) N.Y. Mets (70–92) Washington (59–103)
2010 (1) Philadelphia (97–65) (4) Atlanta (91–71) Florida (80–82) N.Y. Mets (79–83) Washington (69–93)
2011 (1) Philadelphia (102–60) Atlanta (89–73) Washington (80–81) N.Y. Mets (77–85) Florida (72–90)
  • 2012: The Florida Marlins rebranded as the Miami Marlins.
2012 (1) Washington (98–64) (4) Atlanta (94–68) Philadelphia (81–81) N.Y. Mets (74–88) Miami (69–93)
2013 (2) Atlanta (96–66) Washington (86–76) N.Y. Mets (74–88) Philadelphia (73–89) Miami (62–100)
2014 (1) Washington (96–66) Atlanta (79–83) N.Y. Mets (79–83) Miami (77–85) Philadelphia (73–89)
2015 (3) N.Y. Mets (90–72) Washington (83–79) Miami (71–91) Atlanta (67–95) Philadelphia (63–99)
2016 (2) Washington (95–67) (4) N.Y. Mets[c] (87–75) Miami (79–82) Philadelphia (71–91) Atlanta (68–93)
2017 (2) Washington (97–65) Miami (77–85) Atlanta (72–90) N.Y. Mets (70–92) Philadelphia (66–96)
2018 (3) Atlanta (90–72) Washington (82–80) Philadelphia (80–82) N.Y. Mets (77–85) Miami (63–98)
2019 (2) Atlanta (97–65) (4) Washington (93–69) N.Y. Mets (86–76) Philadelphia (81–81) Miami (57–105)
  • 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) Atlanta (35–25) (6) Miami (31–29) Philadelphia (28–32) N.Y. Mets (26–34) Washington (26–34)
2021 (3) Atlanta (88–73) Philadelphia (82–80) N.Y. Mets (77–85) Miami (67–95) Washington (65–97)
Notes and Tiebreakers
  • a New York and Cincinnati of the National League Central were tied for the wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Mets won 5–0 to claim the wild-card spot.
  • b Atlanta and St. Louis of the National League Central were tied for the second and third seed but the Braves were relegated to the third seed by losing the season series 4–3.
  • c New York and San Francisco of the National League West were tied for both wild-card berths but the Mets claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 4–3.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Collier, Gene (September 27, 1993). "Pirates, Phillies Have Owned the Outgoing NL East Division". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1.
  2. ^ Collier, Gene (July 4, 2005). "Pirates—Phillies: A Rivalry Lost and Missed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1.
  3. ^ Von Benko, George (July 7, 2005). "Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading". Philadelphia Phillies. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pirates perform rare three-peat feat 4-2". USA Today. September 28, 1992. p. 5C.
  5. ^ Chass, Murray (16 September 1993). "BASEBALL; Pirates Relent on New Alignment". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Starkey: Pirates in American League' Yes!". TribLIVE.com. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
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