Major League Baseball Team Names

From "A Game With No Rules"

(For other sports, go to Professional Sports Team Names)

The following lists give the years and the franchise names that each team played under.  Although the American League became a major league in 1901, this list includes histories that extend before that time when it was a minor league and called the Western Association.  The source of this information is primarily from Sportsline.  See also Professional Baseball Franchises.

American League(1)

1997- now, Anaheim Angels (2)

1965-1996, California Angels

1961-1964, Los Angeles Angels

———

1954- now, Baltimore Orioles

1902-1953, St. Louis Browns

1894-1901, Milwaukee Brewers

———

1907- now, Boston Red Sox

1905-1906, Boston Puritans

1903-1904, Boston Pilgrims

1901-1902, Boston Stworsets

1900-1900, Boston Plymouth Rocks (3)

———

1904- now, Chicago White Sox

1900-1903, Chicago White Stockings

———

1915- now, Cleveland Indians

1904-1914, Cleveland Naps

1902-1903, Cleveland Broncos

1901-1901, Cleveland Bluebirds

1901-1901, Cleveland Blues

1900-1900, Cleveland Lake Shores

1894-1899, Grand Rapids Rustlers

———

1901- now, Detroit Tigers

1895-1901, Detroit Wolverines

———

1968- now, Kansas City Royals

———

1999- now, (moved to National League)

1970-1998, Milwaukee Brewers

1969-1969, Seattle Pilots

———

1961- now, Minnesota Twins

1956-1960, Washington Senators

1905-1955, Washington Nationals (4)

1901-1904, Washington Senators

———

1913- now, New York Yankees

1903-1912, New York Highlanders

1901-1902, Baltimore Orioles

———

1968- now, Oakland Athletics

1962-1967, Kansas City A's

1955-1961, Kansas City Athletics

1901-1954, Philadelphia Athletics

———

1977- now, Seattle Mariners

———

2008- now, Tampa Bay Rays

1998- 2007, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

———

1972- now, Texas Rangers

1961-1972, Washington Senators

———

1977- now, Toronto Blue Jays

——

(1) Western Association before 1901.

(2) In 2006, the name was changed to “Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim.”

(3) In 1900, also known as the “Americans” and “Buffalo Pan Ams.”

(4) Known by fans as “Senators” also.

National League

1998- now, Arizona Diamond Backs

———

1966- now, Atlanta Braves

1953-1965, Milwaukee Braves

1941-1952, Boston Braves

1936-1940, Boston Bees

1912-1935, Boston Braves

1911-1911, Boston Rustlers

1907-1910, Boston Doves

1883-1906, Boston Beaneaters

1876-1882, Boston Red Caps

1871-1875, Boston Red Stockings

———

1903- now, Chicago Cubs

1898-1902, Chicago Orphans

1890-1897, Chicago Colts

1876-1889, Chicago White Stockings

———

1959- now, Cincinnati Reds

1953-1958, Cincinnati Redlegs

1934-1952, Cincinnati Reds

1869-1933, Cincinnati Red Stockings

———

1991- now, Colorado Rockies

———

1993- now, Florida Marlins

———

1965- now, Houston Astros

1962-1964, Houston Colt .45s

———

1958- now, Los Angeles Dodgers

1931-1957, Brooklyn Dodgers

1914-1930, Brooklyn Robins

1913-1913, Brooklyn Dodgers

1899-1912, Brooklyn Superbas

1884-1898, Brooklyn Bridegrooms (5)

———

1999- now, Milwaukee Brewers

1970-1998, (in the American League)

———

1962- now, New York Mets

———

1883- now, Philadelphia Phillies (6)

1944-1945, Philadelphia Blue Jays (unofficial)

1883-1889, Philadelphia Quakers (unofficial)

———

1891- now, Pittsburgh Pirates

1882-1890, Allegheny Innocents

———

1900- now, St. Louis Cardinals

1899-1899, St. Louis Perfectos

1881-1898, St. Louis Brown Stockings

———

1969- now, San Diego Padres

———

1958- now, San Francisco Giants

1885-1957, New York Giants

1882-1884, New York Gothams

———

2005- now, Washington Nationals

1969-2004, Montreal Expos

———

(5) Prior history is convoluted, evolving from the “ through the “Brooklyn Atlantics” and “Brooklyn Grays.”

(6) “Phillies” is the oldest continuous team nickname in American sports.

See also Football Team Names, Basketball Team Names, and Hockey Team Names.

See also Major Professional Teams Sorted by Locale and Major ProfessionalTeams Sorted by Nickame.