The American League was created in 1901, 25 years after the creation of the National League. To contain the growing number of teams, added a second league. The one noticeable difference between the two leagues is the American League has the designated hitter rule whereas in the National League, a pitcher is forced to hit or be substituted for a pinch hitter. The American League is similar to the National League, because the American League is divided into three-divisions; the East, the Central, and the West.
The American League East consists of 5 teams. The teams include the:
The New York Yankees are obviously the dominant team in the division, winning four of the last six World Series, and winning more World Series (26) in the history of the MLB than any other team.
The American League Central is made up of 5 teams also. The teams are:
The Cleveland Indians won the division in the 2001 season, but the Minnesota Twins will end up being the dominant team in the division. The Detroit Tigers started the 2002 season with an 1-11 record, the worst in the majors.
The American League West is made up of 5 teams. The teams are:
The Seattle Mariners ended the 2001 season with a outstanding 116 wins. The Oakland Athletics had an 100+ season, but settled for a wild-card spot, rather than the division championship. Also in 2002, the Oakland A's won 21 games in a row. The AL West is the toughest division to win, with the Angels, A's and Mariners capable of winning 100 games every year.
The Houston Astros moved to the AL West from the NL Central in 2013.