AMERICAN LEAGUE

one of the two associations in the United States and Canada of professional baseball teams designated as major leagues. The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs was founded in 1900, and in 1903 it was granted equal status by the older National League. The American League consists of 14 teams (including one Canadian team) aligned in three divisions: the Eastern, comprising the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays; the Central, comprising the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins; and the Western, comprising the Anaheim Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.