July 10, 1968 – The National League of Major League Baseball announced that it would split into 2 divisions of six teams each for the 1969 season. The decision came after the American League separated its teams into divisions in a similar fashion. Warren Giles, President of the NL stated that New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St Louis, and the expansion team from Montreal would comprise one group. At the same time, San Francisco, LA, San Diego, Cincinnati, Houston, and Atlanta would round out group 2.
As a compromise, the American League increased their scheduled games to 162 from 156 to match the NL so that consistency would be between the two opposing Leagues. The NL would move to three geographical divisions in 1994 as the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins had been recently added and the Milwaukee Brewers moved over from the AL.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Great NFL Linebackers Who Are Not in the Hall of Fame
There are many great pro linebackers who are enshrined in the Pro Football
From Longshots to Legends: Underdogs That Shaped NFL History
There’s a reason football fans can’t stop talking about the long shots. The teams
1970 New York Yankees: New Hope?
Every dedicated baseball fan knows that the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball
From 0–26 to NFC Contender: The Buccaneers’ Epic 1979 Rebirth
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began as an expansion team in the NFL in 1976.
New Life With A New Team (1970s Players Switching Teams)
There were several prominent NFL players during the 1970s who were traded or waived
Dropping Back: Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh’s Man of Steel
Chuck Noll agreed to do one ad during his 23 years as head coach
1981 Cincinnati Bengals – From Underdogs to AFC Champions
The Cincinnati Bengals joined the AFL in 1968 and were the last expansion team
Why 1973 Minnesota Vikings Were Best Team of Decade
The common opinions that I have read regarding the best Minnesota Vikings team of