American League (AL)

One of the two associations of professional baseball teams in the U.S. and Canada designated as major leagues; the other is the National League (NL). The AL was founded in 1900, and, beginning in 1903, the champions of the AL and NL have engaged in an annual World Series competition. There are now three divisions in the AL: Eastern (comprising the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays), Central (Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins), and Western (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers).