NATIONAL LEAGUE

the oldest existing major-league professional baseball organization in the United States. The league began play in 1876 as the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, replacing the failed National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. The league's supremacy was challenged by several rival organizations over the years, beginning with the American Association in 188291. Of these, only the American League, formed in 1900, survived. Since 1903, the champions of the National and American leagues have engaged in an annual World Series contest to decide the championship of major American professional baseball. The National League consists of 16 teams (including one Canadian team) aligned in three divisions. In the Eastern Division are the Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins (Miami), Montreal Expos, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies. In the Central Division are the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals. In the Western Division are the Arizona Diamondbacks (Phoenix), Colorado Rockies (Denver), Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants.