The American League East is one of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s six divisions (an East, Central, and West division for each of the two leagues). This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the American League West division. Before that time the American League (AL) had existed as a single league of 10 teams.
League | American League |
---|---|
Sport | Major League Baseball |
Founded | 1969 |
Championships | |
Most recent champion(s) | Tampa Bay Rays (3rd title) |
Most titles | New York Yankees (19) |
Four of its five teams are located in the Eastern United States, with the other in Central Canada. It is currently the only division to contain a non-American team. At the end of the MLB season, the team with the best record in the division earns one of the American League's five playoff spots. The most recent team to win this division was the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020.
History
Writers have long posited that the American League East is the toughest division in MLB;[1][2] during its 50-year existence, an East division team has gone on to play in the World Series 27 times, and 16 of those teams have been crowned World Series champions. Since the 1995 season when the wild-card playoff berth was introduced, the AL East has produced 20 of the 31 wild-card teams for the American League (the West division seven, and the Central division five).
When the Major Leagues 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 placed in the East division, and the other six were placed in the West division.
In September 1971, American League owners approved the move of the second Washington Senators franchise to Arlington, Texas to become the Texas Rangers. The owners then debated whether the Chicago White Sox or Milwaukee Brewers should move to the East division for 1972, with the Rangers moving to the West. The White Sox requested they be moved to the East, stating they were an original American League franchise and wanted to play more games against other old-line A.L. teams, five of which were in the East.
The Oakland Athletics objected to moving the White Sox to the East; owner Charlie Finley was a Chicago native who wanted to continue to make three trips per season with his club to the Windy City. The Minnesota Twins went a step farther and objected to switching either the White Sox or Brewers. The Twins wanted to keep nearby Chicago and Milwaukee as division rivals, citing the National League's lack of geographic accuracy in forming its divisions as a reason why the Rangers should not have been shifted out of the East. The Twins also noted the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys played in the NFC East.
The White Sox' pleas fell on deaf ears, and the Brewers, who began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, were moved to the East.
Division membership
Current members
- Baltimore Orioles – Founding member.
- Boston Red Sox – Founding member.
- New York Yankees – Founding member.
- Tampa Bay Rays – Joined in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
- Toronto Blue Jays – Joined in 1977.
Former members
- Cleveland Indians – Founding member; moved in 1994 to the AL Central.
- Detroit Tigers – Founding member, moved in 1998 to the AL Central.
- Milwaukee Brewers – Joined in 1972, moved in 1994 to the American League Central; joined National League Central in 1998.
- Washington Senators – Founding member, relocated to Arlington, Texas in 1972 (becoming the Texas Rangers); moved to the AL West.
Timeline
Years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AL East Division[A] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | ||||||||||||||||||
Baltimore Orioles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boston Red Sox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New York Yankees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Detroit Tigers [E] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cleveland Indians [D] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington Senators [B] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Milwaukee Brewers [B] [D] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toronto Blue Jays [C] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tampa Bay Devil Rays [E] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AL East Division[A] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Baltimore Orioles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boston Red Sox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New York Yankees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Tampa Bay Rays [F] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team not in division Division Won World Series Division Won AL Championship |
- A Creation of six-team division (Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, NY Yankees, Washington Senators) due to 1969 expansion
- B Washington franchise moved to Dallas/Ft. Worth, became Texas Rangers and moved into AL West. Either Milwaukee or the Chicago White Sox would have had to move to the East, eventually it was decided that Milwaukee make the switch. Total teams remains at six.
- C Toronto, the seventh team, is added in 1977 expansion
- D Due to 1994 realignment, Cleveland and Milwaukee were moved to newly created AL Central. Division reduced to five teams.
- E Tampa Bay added in 1998 expansion along with the Detroit Tigers moving to AL Central. Total teams remains at five.
- F Tampa Bay Devil Rays become Tampa Bay Rays.
Champions by year
- Team names link to the season in which each team played
Year | Winner | Record | % | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Baltimore Orioles (1) | 109–53 | .673 | Won ALCS (Twins) 3–0 Lost World Series (Mets) 4–1 |
1970 | Baltimore Orioles (2) | 108–54 | .667 | Won ALCS (Twins) 3–0 Won World Series (Reds) 4–1 |
1971 | Baltimore Orioles (3) | 101–57 | .639 | Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0 Lost World Series (Pirates) 4–3 |
1972 | Detroit Tigers (1) | 86–70 | .551 | Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–2 |
1973 | Baltimore Orioles (4) | 97–65 | .599 | Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–2 |
1974 | Baltimore Orioles (5) | 91–71 | .562 | Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–1 |
1975 | Boston Red Sox (1) | 95–65 | .594 | Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0 Lost World Series (Reds) 4–3 |
1976 | New York Yankees (1) | 97–62 | .610 | Won ALCS (Royals) 3–2 Lost World Series (Reds) 4–0 |
1977 | New York Yankees (2) | 100–62 | .617 | Won ALCS (Royals) 3–2 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–2 |
1978 | New York Yankees (3)‡ | 100–63 | .613 | Won ALCS (Royals) 3–1 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–2 |
1979 | Baltimore Orioles (6) | 102–57 | .642 | Won ALCS (Angels) 3–1 Lost World Series (Pirates) 4–3 |
1980 | New York Yankees (4) | 103–59 | .636 | Lost ALCS (Royals) 3–0 |
1981 | New York Yankees (5)* | 59–48 | .551 | Won ALDS (Brewers) 3–2 Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0 Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2 |
1982 | Milwaukee Brewers (1) | 95–67 | .586 | Won ALCS (Angels) 3–2 Lost World Series (Cardinals) 4–3 |
1983 | Baltimore Orioles (7) | 98–64 | .605 | Won ALCS (White Sox) 3–1 Won World Series (Phillies) 4–1 |
1984 | Detroit Tigers (2) | 104–58 | .642 | Won ALCS (Royals) 3–0 Won World Series (Padres) 4–1 |
1985 | Toronto Blue Jays (1) | 99–62 | .615 | Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–3 |
1986 | Boston Red Sox (2) | 95–66 | .590 | Won ALCS (Angels) 4–3 Lost World Series (Mets) 4–3 |
1987 | Detroit Tigers (3) | 98–64 | .605 | Lost ALCS (Twins) 4–1 |
1988 | Boston Red Sox (3) | 89–73 | .549 | Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–0 |
1989 | Toronto Blue Jays (2) | 89–73 | .549 | Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–1 |
1990 | Boston Red Sox (4) | 88–74 | .543 | Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–0 |
1991 | Toronto Blue Jays (3) | 91–71 | .562 | Lost ALCS (Twins) 4–1 |
1992 | Toronto Blue Jays (4) | 96–66 | .593 | Won ALCS (Athletics) 4–2 Won World Series (Braves) 4–2 |
1993 | Toronto Blue Jays (5) | 95–67 | .586 | Won ALCS (White Sox) 4–2 Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2 |
1994§ | No playoffs due 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike | |||
1995 | Boston Red Sox (5) | 86–58 | .597 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–0 |
1996 | New York Yankees (6) | 92–70 | .568 | Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–1 Won ALCS (Orioles) 4–1 Won World Series (Braves) 4–2 |
1997 | Baltimore Orioles (8) | 98–64 | .605 | Won ALDS (Mariners) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–2 |
1998 | New York Yankees (7) | 114–48 | .704 | Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0 Won ALCS (Indians) 4–2 Won World Series (Padres) 4–0 |
1999 | New York Yankees (8) | 98–64 | .605 | Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–1 Won World Series (Braves) 4–0 |
2000 | New York Yankees (9) | 87–74 | .540 | Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2 Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–2 Won World Series (Mets) 4–1 |
2001 | New York Yankees (10) | 95–65 | .594 | Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2 Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–1 Lost World Series (Diamondbacks) 4–3 |
2002 | New York Yankees (11) | 103–58 | .640 | Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–1 |
2003 | New York Yankees (12) | 101–61 | .623 | Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3 Lost World Series (Marlins) 4–2 |
2004 | New York Yankees (13) | 101–61 | .623 | Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3 |
2005 | New York Yankees (14)†† | 95–67 | .586 | Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–2 |
2006 | New York Yankees (15) | 97–65 | .599 | Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–1 |
2007 | Boston Red Sox (6) | 96–66 | .593 | Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0 Won ALCS (Indians) 4–3 Won World Series (Rockies) 4–0 |
2008 | Tampa Bay Rays (1) | 97–65 | .599 | Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–1 Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3 Lost World Series (Phillies) 4–1 |
2009 | New York Yankees (16) | 103–59 | .636 | Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Won ALCS (Angels) 4–2 Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2 |
2010 | Tampa Bay Rays (2) | 96–66 | .593 | Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–2 |
2011 | New York Yankees (17) | 97–65 | .599 | Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2 |
2012 | New York Yankees (18) | 95–67 | .586 | Won ALDS (Orioles) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Tigers) 4–0 |
2013 | Boston Red Sox (7) | 97–65 | .599 | Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1 Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–2 Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–2 |
2014 | Baltimore Orioles (9) | 96–66 | .593 | Won ALDS (Tigers) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–0 |
2015 | Toronto Blue Jays (6) | 93–69 | .574 | Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–2 |
2016 | Boston Red Sox (8) | 93–69 | .574 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–0 |
2017 | Boston Red Sox (9) | 93–69 | .574 | Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–1 |
2018 | Boston Red Sox (10) | 108–54 | .667 | Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1 Won ALCS (Astros) 4–1 Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–1 |
2019 | New York Yankees (19) | 103–59 | .636 | Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–2 |
2020††† | Tampa Bay Rays (3) | 40–20 | .667 | Won ALWC (Blue Jays) 2–0 Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 Won ALCS (Astros) 4–3 Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2 |
‡ – In 1978, the New York Yankees ended up in a tie with the Boston Red Sox for the division championship, and won a 1-game playoff against Boston.
* – Due to the players' strike, the season was split. New York won the first half and defeated second-half champion Milwaukee (62–45) in the postseason.
§ – Due to the 1994 baseball strike starting August 12, no official winner was awarded. New York was leading at the strike.
†† – The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees finished the 2005 season tied for first place with identical records. New York won the season series against Boston and was awarded the tie-breaker; Boston was awarded the wild card berth. Had a team from another division won the wild card, a one-game playoff would have decided the division champion.
††† – 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 New York Yankees (33–27, .550) also qualified for the playoffs. The Yankees won the ALWC (Indians) 2–0, but lost the ALDS (Rays) 3–2.
The Cleveland Indians were the only team to not win the AL East before the 1994 division realignment.
AL East statistics
Team | Division Championships | Year (s) | Last Year Won | Wild Card Appearances | Division Series Record | AL Championship Series Record | World Series Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current Teams in Division: | |||||||
New York Yankees | |||||||
Boston Red Sox | |||||||
Baltimore Orioles | |||||||
Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||
Tampa Bay Rays | |||||||
Former Teams in Division: | |||||||
Detroit Tigers | |||||||
Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||
Cleveland Indians | |||||||
TOTAL |
Wild Card winners produced
Since the advent of the Wild Card, AL East teams have faced each other in the ALCS 5 times and the ALDS twice.
- See List of American League Wild Card winners (since 1994)
Year | Winner | Record | % | GB | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | New York Yankees | 79–65 | .549 | 7 | Lost ALDS (Mariners) 3–2 |
1996 | Baltimore Orioles | 88–74 | .543 | 4 | Won ALDS (Indians) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1 |
1997 | New York Yankees | 96–66 | .593 | 2 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–2 |
1998 | Boston Red Sox | 92–70 | .568 | 22 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–1 |
1999 | Boston Red Sox | 94–68 | .580 | 4 | Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1 |
2003 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 6 | Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–3 |
2004 | Boston Red Sox | 98–64 | .605 | 3 | Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0 Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–3 Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–0 |
2005 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 0 | Lost ALDS (White Sox) 3–0 |
2007 | New York Yankees | 94–68 | .580 | 2 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–1 |
2008 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 2 | Won ALDS (Angels) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Rays) 4–3 |
2009 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 8 | Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–0 |
2010 | New York Yankees | 95–67 | .586 | 1 | Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Rangers) 4–2 |
2011 | Tampa Bay Rays | 91–71 | .562 | 6 | Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–1 |
2012* | Baltimore Orioles | 93–69 | .574 | 2 | Won ALWC (Rangers) Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 |
2013 | Tampa Bay Rays** | 92–71 | .564 | 5½ | Won ALWC (Indians) Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1 |
2015 | New York Yankees | 87–75 | .537 | 6 | Lost ALWC (Astros) |
2016 | Toronto Blue Jays*** | 89–73 | .549 | 4 | Won ALWC (Orioles) Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–1 |
Baltimore Orioles*** | 89–73 | .549 | 4 | Lost ALWC (Blue Jays) | |
2017 | New York Yankees | 91–71 | .562 | 2 | Won ALWC (Twins) Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–3 |
2018 | New York Yankees | 100–62 | .617 | 8 | Won ALWC (Athletics) Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1 |
2019 | Tampa Bay Rays | 96–66 | .593 | 7 | Won ALWC (Athletics) Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–2 |
2020**** | Toronto Blue Jays | 32–28 | .533 | 8 | Lost ALWC (Rays) 2–0 |
* – Starting with the 2012 season, there are two Wild Card winners in each league. The qualifiers play a single-game playoff to determine who will face the top-seeded team in the American League Division Series.
** In 2013, the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with the identical records of 91–71. A one-game playoff was held and the Rays won it 5–2 over the Rangers to capture the second Wild Card berth.
*** In 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles finished the season with the identical records of 89–73. However, the Blue Jays won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Orioles.
**** Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games.
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 |
Season | Team (record) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | |
| |||||||
1969 | Baltimore (109–53) | Detroit (90–72) | Boston (87–75) | Washington (86–76) | N.Y. Yankees (80–81) | Cleveland (62–99) | |
1970 | Baltimore (108–54) | N.Y. Yankees (93–69) | Boston (87–75) | Detroit (79–83) | Cleveland (76–86) | Washington (70–92) | |
1971 | Baltimore (101–57) | Detroit (91–71) | Boston (85–77) | N.Y. Yankees (82–80) | Washington (63–96) | Cleveland (60–102) | |
| |||||||
1972 | Detroit (86–70) | Boston (85–70) | Baltimore (80–74) | N.Y. Yankees (79–76) | Cleveland (72–84) | Milwaukee (65–91) | |
1973 | Baltimore (97–65) | Boston (89–73) | Detroit (85–77) | N.Y. Yankees (80–82) | Milwaukee (74–88) | Cleveland (71–91) | |
1974 | Baltimore (91–71) | N.Y. Yankees (89–73) | Boston (84–78) | Cleveland (77–85) | Milwaukee (76–86) | Detroit (72–90) | |
1975 | Boston (95–65) | Baltimore (90–69) | N.Y. Yankees (83–77) | Cleveland (79–80) | Milwaukee (68–94) | Detroit (57–102) | |
1976 | N.Y. Yankees (97–62) | Baltimore (88–74) | Boston (83–79) | Cleveland (81–78) | Detroit (74–87) | Milwaukee (66–95) | |
| |||||||
1977 | N.Y. Yankees (100–62) | Baltimore (97–64) | Boston (97–64) | Detroit (74–88) | Cleveland (71–90) | Milwaukee (67–95) | Toronto (54–107) |
1978 | N.Y. Yankees[a] (100–63) | Boston (99–64) | Milwaukee (93–69) | Baltimore (90–71) | Detroit (86–76) | Cleveland (69–90) | Toronto (59–102) |
1979 | Baltimore (102–57) | Milwaukee (95–66) | Boston (91–69) | N.Y. Yankees (89–71) | Detroit (85–76) | Cleveland (81–80) | Toronto (53–109) |
1980 | N.Y. Yankees (103–59) | Baltimore (100–62) | Milwaukee (86–76) | Detroit (84–78) | Boston (83–77) | Cleveland (79–81) | Toronto (67–95) |
| |||||||
1981 | Milwaukee (62–47) | Baltimore (59–46) | N.Y. Yankees (59–48) | Detroit (60–49) | Boston (59–49) | Cleveland (52–51) | Toronto (37–69) |
1982 | Milwaukee (95–67) | Baltimore (94–68) | Boston (89–73) | Detroit (83–79) | N.Y. Yankees (79–83) | Cleveland (78–84) | Toronto (78–84) |
1983 | Baltimore (98–64) | Detroit (92–70) | N.Y. Yankees (91–71) | Toronto (89–73) | Milwaukee (87–75) | Boston (78–84) | Cleveland (70–92) |
1984 | Detroit (104–58) | Toronto (89–73) | N.Y. Yankees (87–75) | Boston (86–76) | Baltimore (85–77) | Cleveland (75–87) | Milwaukee (67–94) |
1985 | Toronto (99–62) | N.Y. Yankees (97–64) | Detroit (84–77) | Baltimore (83–78) | Boston (81–81) | Milwaukee (71–90) | Cleveland (60–102) |
1986 | Boston (95–66) | N.Y. Yankees (90–72) | Detroit (87–75) | Toronto (86–76) | Cleveland (84–78) | Milwaukee (77–84) | Baltimore (73–89) |
1987 | Detroit (98–64) | Toronto (96–66) | Milwaukee (91–71) | N.Y. Yankees (89–73) | Boston (78–84) | Baltimore (67–95) | Cleveland (61–101) |
1988 | Boston (89–73) | Detroit (88–74) | Milwaukee (87–75) | Toronto (87–75) | N.Y. Yankees (85–76) | Cleveland (78–84) | Baltimore (54–107) |
1989 | Toronto (89–73) | Baltimore (87–75) | Boston (83–79) | Milwaukee (81–81) | N.Y. Yankees (74–87) | Cleveland (73–89) | Detroit (59–103) |
1990 | Boston (88–74) | Toronto (86–76) | Detroit (79–83) | Cleveland (77–85) | Baltimore (76–85) | Milwaukee (74–88) | N.Y. Yankees (67–95) |
1991 | Toronto (91–71) | Boston (84–78) | Detroit (84–78) | Milwaukee (83–79) | N.Y. Yankees (71–91) | Baltimore (67–95) | Cleveland (57–105) |
1992 | Toronto (96–66) | Milwaukee (92–70) | Baltimore (89–73) | Cleveland (76–86) | N.Y. Yankees (76–86) | Detroit (75–87) | Boston (73–89) |
1993 | Toronto (95–67) | N.Y. Yankees (88–74) | Baltimore (85–77) | Detroit (85–77) | Boston (80–82) | Cleveland (76–86) | Milwaukee (69–93) |
| |||||||
1994 | N.Y. Yankees (70–43) | Baltimore (63–49) | Toronto (55–60) | Boston (54–61) | Detroit (53–62) | ||
1995 | (2) Boston (86–58) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (79–65) | Baltimore (71–73) | Detroit (60–84) | Toronto (56–88) | ||
1996 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (92–70) | (4) Baltimore (88–74) | Boston (85–77) | Toronto (74–88) | Detroit (53–109) | ||
1997 | (1) Baltimore (98–64) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (96–66) | Detroit (79–83) | Boston (78–84) | Toronto (76–86) | ||
| |||||||
1998 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (114–48) | (4) Boston (92–70) | Toronto (88–74) | Baltimore (79–83) | Tampa Bay (63–99) | ||
1999 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (98–64) | (4) Boston (94–68) | Toronto (84–78) | Baltimore (78–84) | Tampa Bay (69–93) | ||
2000 | (3) N.Y. Yankees (87–74) | Boston (85–77) | Toronto (83–79) | Baltimore (74–88) | Tampa Bay (69–92) | ||
2001 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (95–65) | Boston (82–79) | Toronto (80–82) | Baltimore (63–98) | Tampa Bay (62–100) | ||
2002 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (103–58) | Boston (93–69) | Toronto (78–84) | Baltimore (67–95) | Tampa Bay (55–106) | ||
2003 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (101–61) | (4) Boston (95–67) | Toronto (86–76) | Baltimore (71–91) | Tampa Bay (63–99) | ||
2004 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (101–61) | (4) Boston (98–64) | Baltimore (78–84) | Tampa Bay (70–91) | Toronto (67–94) | ||
2005 | (3) N.Y. Yankees[b] (95–67) | (4) Boston (95–67) | Toronto (80–82) | Baltimore (74–88) | Tampa Bay (67–95) | ||
2006 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (97–65) | Toronto (87–75) | Boston (86–76) | Baltimore (70–92) | Tampa Bay (61–101) | ||
2007 | (1) Boston[c] (96–66) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (94–68) | Toronto (83–79) | Baltimore (69–93) | Tampa Bay (66–96) | ||
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2008 | (2) Tampa Bay (97–65) | (4) Boston (95–67) | N.Y. Yankees (89–73) | Toronto (86–76) | Baltimore (68–93) | ||
2009 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (103–59) | (4) Boston (95–67) | Tampa Bay (84–78) | Toronto (75–87) | Baltimore (64–98) | ||
2010 | (1) Tampa Bay (96–66) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (95–67) | Boston (89–73) | Toronto (85–77) | Baltimore (66–96) | ||
2011 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (97–65) | (4) Tampa Bay (91–71) | Boston (90–72) | Toronto (81–81) | Baltimore (69–93) | ||
2012 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (95–67) | (5) Baltimore (93–69) | Tampa Bay (90–72) | Toronto (73–89) | Boston (69–93) | ||
2013 | (1) Boston (97–65) | (5) Tampa Bay[d] (92–71) | N.Y. Yankees (85–77) | Baltimore (85–77) | Toronto (74–88) | ||
2014 | (2) Baltimore (96–66) | N.Y. Yankees (84–78) | Toronto (83–79) | Tampa Bay (77–85) | Boston (71–91) | ||
2015 | (2) Toronto (93–69) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (87–75) | Baltimore (81–81) | Tampa Bay (80–82) | Boston (78–84) | ||
2016 | (3) Boston (93–69) | (4) Toronto[e] (89–73) | (5) Baltimore (89–73) | N.Y. Yankees (84–78) | Tampa Bay (68–94) | ||
2017 | (3) Boston (93–69) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (91–71) | Tampa Bay (80–82) | Toronto (76–86) | Baltimore (75–87) | ||
2018 | (1) Boston (108–54) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (100–62) | Tampa Bay (90–72) | Toronto (73–89) | Baltimore (47–115) | ||
2019 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (103–59) | (4) Tampa Bay (96–66) | Boston (84–78) | Toronto (67–95) | Baltimore (54–108) | ||
| |||||||
2020 | (1) Tampa Bay (40–20) | (5) N.Y. Yankees (33–27) | (8) Toronto (32–28) | Baltimore (25–35) | Boston (24–36) |
- Notes and Tiebreakers
- a New York and Boston were tied for the division championship and played in a tie-breaker game. The Yankees won 5–4 to claim the division crown.
- b New York and Boston were tied for the division championship and wild-card berth but the Yankees claimed the division crown by winning the season series 10–9, relegating Boston to the wild-card spot. New York and Los Angeles of the American League West were also tied for the second and third seed but the Yankees were relegated to the third seed by losing the season series 6–4.
- c Boston and Cleveland of the American League Central were tied for the first and second seed but the Red Sox claimed the top overall seed by winning the season series 5–2, relegating Cleveland to the second seed.
- d Tampa Bay and Texas of the American League West were tied for the second wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Rays won 5–2 to claim the second wild-card spot.
- e Toronto and Baltimore were tied for both wild-card berths but the Blue Jays claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 10–9, relegating Baltimore to the second wild-card spot.
See also
- American League Central
- American League West
- National League East
- National League Central
- National League West
References
- ^ Leitch, Will. "MLB Preview: American League East". Sports on Earth. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ Stark, Jayson. "Ranking MLB's six divisions". ESPN. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- MLB Final Standings By Year
- MLB PREVIEW: AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
- Ranking MLB's six divisions