American League West

The American League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The division has five teams as of the 2013 season, but had four teams from 1994 to 2012, and had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the division has had teams as far east as Chicago and Minnesota. From 1998 (when the NL West expanded to five teams) to 2012, the AL West was the only MLB division with four teams.

American League West
LeagueAmerican League
SportMajor League Baseball
Founded1969
No. of teams5
Most recent
champion(s)
Houston Astros
(2023; 6th title)
Most titlesOakland Athletics (17)

History

When MLB split into divisions for the 1969 season, the American League, unlike the National League, split its 12 teams strictly on geography. The six teams located in the Eastern Time Zone were all placed in the AL East, and the remaining six were placed in the new AL West.

When the second incarnation of the Washington Senators announced their intention to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the 1972 season and become the Texas Rangers, American League owners voted to switch the Rangers with the Milwaukee Brewers, who began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969. The Chicago White Sox asked the AL to move from West to East, citing that five of the original eight American League franchises were in the East. The Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins objected to the White Sox' request; the Twins also did not want the Brewers to leave the West.

In 2013, the Houston Astros went from the National League Central to the AL West.[1] That move gives all six MLB divisions an equal five teams and both leagues an equal 15 teams each.

Division membership

Current members

Former members

Division members

Place cursor over year for division champion or World Series team.
AL West Division[A]
Years
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
California Angels[F]
Chicago White Sox[E]  
Oakland Athletics
Kansas City Royals[E]  
Minnesota Twins[E]  
Seattle
Pilots
[B]
Milwaukee
Brewers
[C]
 
  Texas Rangers[C]
  Seattle Mariners[D]
AL West Division[A]
Years
97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23  
Anaheim Angels[F] Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim[F] Los Angeles Angels[F]
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners
  Houston Astros[G]
  Team not in division   Division Won World Series   Division Won AL Championship
A Creation of division due to 1969 expansion, Kansas City and Seattle added.
B Seattle franchise moved to Milwaukee, becoming the Brewers.
C Washington Senators moved to Dallas–Fort Worth, became Texas Rangers and switched divisions with Milwaukee, which moved to the AL East.
D Seattle added in the 1977 league expansion.
E Chicago, Kansas City, and Minnesota moved into the newly created AL Central due to the 1994 realignment.
F In 1997, California Angels become Anaheim Angels. In 2005, Anaheim Angels become Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2016, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim become Los Angeles Angels.
G Houston switches leagues from the NL Central.

Champions by year

  • Team names link to the season in which each team played
Year Winner Record % Playoff Results
1969 Minnesota Twins (1) 97–65 .599 Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–0
1970 Minnesota Twins (2) 98–64 .605 Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–0
1971 Oakland Athletics (1) 101–61 .627 Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–0
1972 Oakland Athletics (2) 93–62 .600 Won ALCS (Tigers) 3–2
Won World Series (Reds) 4–3
1973 Oakland Athletics (3) 94–68 .580 Won ALCS (Orioles) 3–2
Won World Series (Mets) 4–3
1974 Oakland Athletics (4) 90–72 .556 Won ALCS (Orioles) 3–1
Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–1
1975 Oakland Athletics (5) 98–64 .605 Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 3–0
1976 Kansas City Royals (1) 90–72 .556 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–2
1977 Kansas City Royals (2) 102–60 .630 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–2
1978 Kansas City Royals (3) 92–70 .568 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–1
1979 California Angels (1) 88–74 .543 Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–1
1980 Kansas City Royals (4) 97–65 .599 Won ALCS (Yankees) 3–0
Lost World Series (Phillies) 4–2
1981 Oakland Athletics (6)† 64–45 .587 Won ALDS (Royals) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 3–0
1982 California Angels (2) 93–69 .574 Lost ALCS (Brewers) 3–2
1983 Chicago White Sox (1) 99–63 .611 Lost ALCS (Orioles) 3–1
1984 Kansas City Royals (5) 84–78 .519 Lost ALCS (Tigers) 3–0
1985 Kansas City Royals (6) 91–71 .562 Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–3
Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
1986 California Angels (3) 92–70 .568 Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3
1987 Minnesota Twins (3) 85–77 .525 Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–1
Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
1988 Oakland Athletics (7) 104–58 .642 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–0
Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–1
1989 Oakland Athletics (8) 99–63 .611 Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1
Won World Series (Giants) 4–0
1990 Oakland Athletics (9) 103–59 .636 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–0
Lost World Series (Reds) 4–0
1991 Minnesota Twins (4) 95–67 .586 Won ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–1
Won World Series (Braves) 4–3
1992 Oakland Athletics (10) 96–66 .593 Lost ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–2
1993 Chicago White Sox (2) 94–68 .580 Lost ALCS (Blue Jays) 4–2
1994§ No playoffs due to 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995 Seattle Mariners (1)* 79–66 .545 Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–2
1996 Texas Rangers (1) 90–72 .556 Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–1
1997 Seattle Mariners (2) 90–72 .556 Lost ALDS (Orioles) 3–1
1998 Texas Rangers (2) 88–74 .543 Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–0
1999 Texas Rangers (3) 95–67 .586 Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–0
2000 Oakland Athletics (11) 91–70 .565 Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
2001 Seattle Mariners (3) 116–46 .716 Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1
2002 Oakland Athletics (12) 103–59 .636 Lost ALDS (Twins) 3–2
2003 Oakland Athletics (13) 96–66 .593 Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–2
2004 Anaheim Angels (4) 92–70 .568 Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
2005 Los Angeles Angels (5) 95–67 .586 Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
Lost ALCS (White Sox) 4–1
2006 Oakland Athletics (14) 93–69 .574 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Tigers) 4–0
2007 Los Angeles Angels (6) 94–68 .580 Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
2008 Los Angeles Angels (7) 100–62 .617 Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
2009 Los Angeles Angels (8) 97–65 .599 Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
2010 Texas Rangers (4) 90–72 .556 Won ALDS (Rays) 3–2
Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
Lost World Series (Giants) 4–1
2011 Texas Rangers (5) 96–66 .593 Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1
Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–2
Lost World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
2012 Oakland Athletics (15) 94–68 .580 Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
2013 Oakland Athletics (16) 96–66 .593 Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
2014 Los Angeles Angels (9) 98–64 .605 Lost ALDS (Royals) 3–0
2015 Texas Rangers (6) 88–74 .543 Lost ALDS (Blue Jays) 3–2
2016 Texas Rangers (7) 95–67 .586 Lost ALDS (Blue Jays) 3–0
2017 Houston Astros (1) 101–61 .623 Won ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–3
Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–3
2018 Houston Astros (2) 103–59 .636 Won ALDS (Indians) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–1
2019 Houston Astros (3) 107–55 .660 Won ALDS (Rays) 3–2
Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
Lost World Series (Nationals) 4–3
2020†† Oakland Athletics (17) 36–24 .600 Won ALWC (White Sox) 2–1
Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–1
2021 Houston Astros (4) 95–67 .586 Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–1
Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–2
Lost World Series (Braves) 4–2
2022 Houston Astros (5) 106–56 .654 Won ALDS (Mariners) 3–0
Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–0
Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2
2023 Houston Astros (6)** 90–72 .556 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Rangers) 4–3

† – Due to the players' strike, the season was split in two. The Athletics won the first half and defeated the second-half winner, the Kansas City Royals, to win the division.
§ – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, starting on August 12, no official winner was declared. The Texas Rangers were leading in winning percentage at time of the strike.
* – Seattle defeated the California Angels in a one-game playoff for the division title, 9–1.
†† – 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 Houston also qualified for the playoffs.
** – The Astros and Rangers finished tied for first place with identical records. The Astros were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Rangers, and the Rangers received the wild card berth.

Other postseason teams

See List of American League Wild Card winners (since 1994)
Year Winner Record % GB Playoff Results
2000 Seattle Mariners 91–71 .562 .5 Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–2
2001 Oakland Athletics 102–60 .630 14 Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
2002 Anaheim Angels 99–63 .611 4 Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1
Won ALCS (Twins) 4–1
Won World Series (Giants) 4–3
2012 Texas Rangers* 93–69 .574 1 Lost ALWC (Orioles)
2014 Oakland Athletics* 88–74 .543 10 Lost ALWC (Royals)
2015 Houston Astros* 86–76 .531 2 Won ALWC (Yankees)
Lost ALDS (Royals) 3–2
2018 Oakland Athletics* 97–65 .599 6 Lost ALWC (Yankees)
2019 Oakland Athletics* 97–65 .599 10 Lost ALWC (Rays)
2020 Houston Astros* 29–31 .483 7 Won ALWC (Twins) 2–0
Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Rays) 4–3
2022 Seattle Mariners* 90–72 .556 16 Won ALWC (Blue Jays) 2–0
Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–0
2023 Texas Rangers* 90–72 .556 0 Won ALWC (Rays) 2–0
Won ALDS (Orioles) 3–0
Won ALCS (Astros) 4–3
World Series (Diamondbacks)

* – From 2012 to 2019, and in 2021, the Wild Card was expanded to two teams. Those teams faced each other in the Wild Card Game to determine the final participant in the American League Division Series. In 2020 only, eight teams, including the three division winners, played in a best-of-three Wild Card Series, with the winners advancing to the Division Series. Starting in 2022, the Wild Card field was increased to three teams, and along with the lowest-ranked division winner, qualified for the best-of-three Wild Card Series to determine the remaining two slots in the Division Series.

Season results

(#) Denotes team that won the World Series
(#) Denotes team that won the American League pennant, but lost World Series
(#) Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th
1969Minnesota (97–65)Oakland (88–74)California (71–91)Kansas City (69–93)Chicago White Sox (68–94)Seattle (64–98)
1970Minnesota (98–64)Oakland (89–73)California (86–76)Kansas City (65–97)Milwaukee (65–97)Chicago White Sox (56–106)
1971Oakland (101–60)Kansas City (85–76)Chicago White Sox (79–83)California (76–86)Minnesota (74–86)Milwaukee (69–92)
1972Oakland (93–62)Chicago White Sox (87–67)Minnesota (77–77)Kansas City (76–78)California (75–80)Texas (54–100)
1973Oakland (94–68)Kansas City (88–74)Minnesota (81–81)California (79–83)Chicago White Sox (77–85)Texas (57–105)
1974Oakland (90–72)Texas (84–76)Minnesota (82–80)Chicago White Sox (80–80)Kansas City (77–85)California (68–94)
1975Oakland (98–64)Kansas City (91–71)Texas (79–83)Minnesota (76–83)Chicago White Sox (75–86)California (72–89)
1976Kansas City (90–72)Oakland (87–74)Minnesota (85–77)Texas (76–86)California (76–86)Chicago White Sox (64–97)
1977Kansas City (102–60)Texas (94–68)Chicago White Sox (90–72)Minnesota (84–77)California (74–88)Seattle (64–98)Oakland (63–98)
1978Kansas City (92–70)Texas (87–75)California (87–75)Minnesota (73–89)Chicago White Sox (71–90)Oakland (69–93)Seattle (56–104)
1979California (88–74)Kansas City (85–77)Texas (83–79)Minnesota (82–80)Chicago White Sox (73–87)Seattle (67–95)Oakland (54–108)
1980Kansas City (97–65)Oakland (83–79)Minnesota (77–84)Texas (76–85)Chicago White Sox (70–90)California (65–95)Seattle (59–103)
1981Oakland (64–45)Texas (57–48)Chicago White Sox (54–52)Kansas City (50–53)California (51–59)Seattle (44–65)Minnesota (41–68)
1982California (93–69)Kansas City (90–72)Chicago White Sox (87–75)Seattle (76–86)Oakland (68–94)Texas (64–98)Minnesota (60–102)
1983Chicago White Sox (99–63)Kansas City (79–83)Texas (77–85)Oakland (74–88)California (70–92)Minnesota (70–92)Seattle (60–102)
1984Kansas City (84–78)California (81–81)Minnesota (81–81)Oakland (77–85)Chicago White Sox (74–88)Seattle (74–88)Texas (69–92)
1985Kansas City (91–71)California (90–72)Chicago White Sox (85–77)Minnesota (77–85)Oakland (77–85)Seattle (74–88)Texas (62–99)
1986California (92–70)Texas (87–75)Kansas City (76–86)Oakland (76–86)Chicago White Sox (72–90)Minnesota (71–91)Seattle (67–95)
1987Minnesota (85–77)Kansas City (83–79)Oakland (81–81)Seattle (78–84)Chicago White Sox (77–85)Texas (75–87)California (75–87)
1988Oakland (104–58)Minnesota (91–71)Kansas City (84–77)California (75–87)Chicago White Sox (71–90)Texas (70–91)Seattle (68–93)
1989Oakland (99–63)Kansas City (92–70)California (91–71)Texas (83–79)Minnesota (80–82)Seattle (73–89)Chicago White Sox (69–92)
1990Oakland (103–59)Chicago White Sox (94–68)Texas (83–79)California (80–82)Seattle (77–85)Kansas City (75–86)Minnesota (74–88)
1991Minnesota (95–67)Chicago White Sox (87–75)Texas (85–77)Oakland (84–78)Seattle (83–79)Kansas City (82–80)California (81–81)
1992Oakland (96–66)Minnesota (90–72)Chicago White Sox (86–76)Texas (77–85)California (72–90)Kansas City (72–90)Seattle (64–98)
1993Chicago White Sox (94–68)Texas (86–76)Kansas City (84–78)Seattle (82–80)California (71–91)Minnesota (71–91)Oakland (68–94)
1994Texas (52–62)Oakland (51–63)Seattle (49–63)California (47–68)
1995(3) Seattle[a] (79–66)California (78–67)Texas (74–70)Oakland (67–77)
1996(3) Texas (90–72)Seattle (85–76)Oakland (78–84)California (70–91)
1997(2) Seattle (90–72)Anaheim (84–78)Texas (77–85)Oakland (65–97)
1998(3) Texas (88–74)Anaheim (85–77)Seattle (76–85)Oakland (74–88)
1999(3) Texas (95–67)Oakland (87–75)Seattle (79–83)Anaheim (70–92)
2000(2) Oakland (91–70)(4) Seattle (91–71)Anaheim (82–80)Texas (71–91)
2001(1) Seattle (116–46)(4) Oakland (102–60)Anaheim (75–87)Texas (73–89)
2002(2) Oakland (103–59)(4) Anaheim (99–63)Seattle (93–69)Texas (72–90)
2003(2) Oakland (96–66)Seattle (93–69)Anaheim (77–85)Texas (71–91)
2004(2) Anaheim[b] (92–70)Oakland (91–71)Texas (89–73)Seattle (63–99)
2005(2) L.A. Angels[c] (95–67)Oakland (88–74)Texas (79–83)Seattle (69–93)
2006(3) Oakland (93–69)L.A. Angels (89–73)Texas (80–82)Seattle (78–84)
2007(3) L.A. Angels (94–68)Seattle (88–74)Oakland (76–86)Texas (75–87)
2008(1) L.A. Angels (100–62)Texas (79–83)Oakland (75–86)Seattle (61–101)
2009(2) L.A. Angels (97–65)Texas (87–75)Seattle (85–77)Oakland (75–87)
2010(3) Texas (90–72)Oakland (81–81)L.A. Angels (80–82)Seattle (61–101)
2011(2) Texas (96–66)L.A. Angels (86–76)Oakland (74–88)Seattle (67–95)
2012(2) Oakland (94–68)(4) Texas (93–69)L.A. Angels (89–73)Seattle (75–87)
2013(2) Oakland (96–66)Texas[d] (91–72)L.A. Angels (78–84)Seattle (71–91)Houston (51–111)
2014(1) L.A. Angels (98–64)(5) Oakland (88–74)Seattle (87–75)Houston (70–92)Texas (67–95)
2015(3) Texas (88–74)(5) Houston (86–76)L.A. Angels (85–77)Seattle (76–86)Oakland (68–94)
2016(1) Texas (95–67)Seattle (86–76)Houston (84–78)L.A. Angels (74–88)Oakland (69–93)
2017(2) Houston (101–61)L.A. Angels (80–82)Seattle (78–84)Texas (78–84)Oakland (75–87)
2018(2) Houston (103–59)(5) Oakland (97–65)Seattle (89–73)L.A. Angels (80–82)Texas (67–95)
2019(1) Houston (107–55)(4) Oakland (97–65)Texas (78–84)L.A. Angels (72–90)Seattle (68–94)
  • 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) Oakland (36–24)(6) Houston (29–31)Seattle (27–33)L.A. Angels (26–34)Texas (22–38)
2021(2) Houston (95–67)Seattle (90–72)Oakland (86–76)L.A. Angels (77–85)Texas (60–102)
2022(1) Houston (106–56)(5) Seattle (90–72)L.A. Angels (73–89)Texas (68–94)Oakland (60–102)
2023(2) Houston (90–72)(5) Texas[e] (90–72)Seattle (88–74)L.A. Angels (73–89)Oakland (50–112)
Notes and Tiebreakers
  • a Seattle and California were tied for the division championship and played in a tie-breaker game. The Mariners won 9–1 to claim the division crown.
  • b Anaheim and Minnesota of the American League Central were tied for the second and third seed, but the Angels claimed the second seed by winning the season series 5–4.
  • c Los Angeles and New York Yankees of the American League East were tied for the second and third seed, but the Angels claimed the second seed by winning the season series 6–4.
  • d Texas and Tampa Bay of the American League East were tied for the second wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Rangers lost 5–2 and were eliminated from postseason contention.
  • e Texas and Houston were tied for the division lead, but the Astros claimed the division by winning the season series 9-4.

AL West statistics

Team Division
Championships
Last Year Won Year (s)
Current Teams in Division:
Oakland Athletics
17
2020
1971–1975, 1981, 1988–1990, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2020
Los Angeles Angels
9
2014
1979, 1982, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2007–2009, 2014
Texas Rangers
7
2016
1996, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016
Houston Astros
6
2023
2017–2019, 2021-2023
Seattle Mariners
3
2001
1995, 1997, 2001
Former Teams in Division:
Kansas City Royals
6
1985
1976–1978 1980, 1984, 1985
Minnesota Twins
4
1991
1969, 1970, 1987, 1991
Chicago White Sox
2
1993
1983, 1993
Milwaukee Brewers 0

See also

References

  1. "Astros' sale finalized, 2 more for playoffs". Associated Press. November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  2. The Angels were formerly known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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