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.