The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, commonly known as the National League (NL), is the focus of this category.
The NL is the older of the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. Founded on February 2, 1876, the NL is the world's oldest active professional sports league.
The NL was formed to replace the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, which operated from 1871 to 1875. Charter clubs included the Boston Red Stockings, the Chicago White Stockings, the Cincinnati Reds, the Hartford Dark Blues, the Louisville Grays, the Philadelphia Athletics, the Brooklyn Mutuals, and the St. Louis Brown Stockings.
Organized in 1871, the Boston Red Stockings later became the Boston Red Caps, the Boston Beaneaters, the Boston Doves, the Boston Rustlers, and the Boston Braves. When they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they became the Milwaukee Braves and, relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, they are now the Atlanta Braves.
The Chicago White Stockings played their first game in 1870. They became the Chicago Colts in the mid-1890s. While it's tempting to believe that the Chicago White Stockings became the Chicago White Sox, that wouldn't be true. The original Chicago White Stockings are now the Chicago Cubs. Their old name was adopted by a neighboring team, which later shortened it to the White Sox.
The Cincinnati Reds disbanded after the 1879 season, and the Hartford Dark Blues and the Louisville Grays folded after the 1877 season.
Formed in 1860, the Philadelphia Athletics were expelled from the NL in 1877 due to poor performance and financial difficulties. Another team played under that name in the American League from 1901 to 1954. Established in 1857, the Brooklyn Mutuals (New York Mutuals) were expelled from the NL in 1876 for refusing to complete its playing obligations, also due to financial troubles.
Founded in 1875, the St. Louis Brown Stockings resigned from the NL after the 1877 season following a game-fixing scandal involving two players, then folded. However, several of its members continued to play the following year. Although not bound to any league, they still managed to draw crowds and make a profit. In 1881, they were organized into a new league, the American Association, resurrecting the Brown Stockings, later shortened to the St. Louis Browns, which joined the NL following the 1891 season, folding in 1919.
Over the years the National League has implemented several significant rule changes. In 1884, the NL allowed overhand pitching, increasing the speed and variety of pitches and introducing the 1901 rule of counting foul balls as strikes, further refining the game. In 2022, the NL adopted the AL's designated hitter rule.
In 1900, the NL contracted back to eight teams, eliminating its teams in Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville, and Washington, and three of those cities received franchises in the newly created American League. The NL remained an eight-team league for over sixty years, with the same eight teams competing from 1900 to 1962. The Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals were these teams. This is remembered as the "Classic Eight" era of the National League.
In 1962, the NL expanded by adding the New York Mets and the Houston Colts, adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos in 1969. The NL was reorganized into two divisions of six teams, with the division champions meeting in the National League Championship Series.
Throughout its history, the NL has seen several franchises come and go. Notable examples include the Louisville Colonels, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Spiders, and Washington Senators.
Today, the NL consists of fifteen teams, divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West. The NL East consists of the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals. The NL Central includes the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals. The NL West comprises the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants.
Online resources for the National League, its divisions, any of its teams, and other content focusing on the National League are appropriate topics for this part of our guide.
Recommended Resources
The Diamondbacks, formed in 1995, are a member club of the National League's West Division of Major League Baseball. Their website, available in English and Spanish, features information about ticket options, Advantage Memberships, photographs, and videos. Other resources include game and training schedules and locations, scores, standings, statistics, rosters, an online fan store carrying branded apparel and other items, and an introduction to Chase Field, where their home games are played.
https://www.mlb.com/dbacks
The Braves compete in the National League East Division of Major League Baseball. They are one of the two remaining National League charter franchises that debuted in 1876 and are the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchises in North America. Hosted on the MLB website, its schedules, scores, standings, statistics, rosters, and ticket packages and information are featured on the site, which includes photographs, videos, and an online fan shopping page.
https://www.mlb.com/braves
One of two Major League Baseball teams based in Chicago, the Cubs compete in the National League's Central Division, playing its home games at Wrigley Field, on the city's North Side. Originally known as the Chicago White Stockings, the team was a founding member of the National League in 1876, taking its current name in 1903. Schedules, ticket sales, scores, stats, rosters, videos, MLB news, and an introduction to the iconic Wrigley Field are set forth, along with the team's community programs.
https://www.mlb.com/cubs
Before joining the National League in 1890, the Reds were a charter member of the American Association in 1881. Originally known as the Red Stockings, then the Redlegs, the team took its current name in 1890. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the NL's Central Division, playing its home games at Great American Ball Park, which opened in 2003. Ticket options and sales, schedules, scores, statistics, rosters, standings, videos, and MLB news are provided.
https://www.mlb.com/reds
As a member club of the National League's West Division, the Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team that plays its home games at Coors Field in the Lower Downtown area of Denver. The Rockies began as an expansion team for the 1993 season, playing its first two seasons at Mile High Stadium. Ticket options and sales are featured on the team's website, which includes schedules, scores, statistics, rosters, videos, photographs, and an online store offering branded merchandise.
https://www.mlb.com/rockies
Formed in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays, the team was based in Brooklyn until 1958, when it moved to Los Angeles, playing under various names before taking on the name "Dodgers" in 1932. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League West Division. A team roster, stats, scores, schedules, season ticket memberships, and other ticket options are featured, along with videos and an online fan store. The site is viewable in English or Spanish.
https://www.mlb.com/dodgers
The professional baseball team began as an expansion team in the 1993 season as the Florida Marlins, and it became the Miami Marlins in 2012. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball, part of the National League's East Division, and play their home games at LoanDepot Park. Membership programs are defined on its website, along with ticket options, schedules, scores, stats, rosters, videos, and MLB news and information. An online fan store offers branded merchandise.
https://www.mlb.com/marlins
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, the team played in the American League for one season before moving to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers in 1970. It continued in the AL until 1997, when they moved to the National League's Central Division. Ticket options and sales, training and season schedules and locations, scores, standings, stats, rosters, videos, and an introduction to the team is presented.
https://www.mlb.com/brewers
Based in Queens, New York City, New York, the Mets are a member club of the National League East Division of Major League Baseball. The Twins were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed NL teams, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. The team plays its home games at Citi Field Ballpark, which is introduced here, as well as ticket options, training and season schedules, stats, rosters, videos, and an online fan store offering branded apparel and gifts.
https://www.mlb.com/mets
Since 2004, the Phillies have played their home games at Citizens Bank Park in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Founded in 1883, the Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in American professional sports. Formed in 1883, the team competes in Major League Baseball as a member club of the National League's East Division. Its spring training locations and schedules, game schedules, ticket options, scores, stats, rosters, and videos are featured on the site.
https://www.mlb.com/phillies
Established in 1881, the Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League Central Division. Founded as part of the American Association under the name Pittsburgh Alleghenys, the club joined the National League in 1887, taking its current name in 1891. Often referred to as the "Bucs" or the "Buccos," the team has played its home games at PNC Park since 2001. Ticket options are defined on its website, along with schedules, scores, stats, rosters, and videos.
https://www.mlb.com/pirates
Formed in 1969, the Padres are an American professional baseball team competing in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League's West Division. The team plays its home games at Petco Park in downtown San Diego, California. Ticket options, downloadable training and game schedules, scores, statistics, rosters, videos, and news about the team are set forth, along with its community outreach, youth camps, and other programs. An online fan shopping area is also available.
https://www.mlb.com/padres
The Giants originated in New York City as the New York Gothams in 1883 and were known as the New York Giants from 1885 to 1957 when they relocated to San Francisco. The franchise is one of the oldest and most successful in professional baseball. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League's West Division, playing their home games at Oracle Park. Ticket memberships and other ticket options are featured, along with spring training and game schedules.
https://www.mlb.com/giants
Formed in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings, becoming the Cardinals in 1900, the professional baseball team competes in the National League Central Division of Major League Baseball. Ticket policies and options are featured on the team's website, along with its training, game, and other schedules, scores, statistics, standings, rosters, and videos. Other resources include the history of the team, a media guide, news releases, photos, and an online fan shopping site.
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals
The Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in Major League Baseball as part of the National League's East Division, playing home games at Nationals Park. The team was founded as the Montreal Expos in 1969 as part of a four-team expansion, moving to the District of Columbia in 2004. Season plans, ticket options, schedules, scores, statistics, and an introduction to Nationals Park are featured on the website, and an online store is available.
https://www.mlb.com/nationals
