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
The Best Wins at Cheltenham Ever
The famous Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner and excitement has been building
Legends, Lines, and Luck: How Gambling Wove Into the Fabric of Aussie Sport
Australians don’t just love sport — they live it. From backyard cricket games to
Fast Bets and Faster Payments: The Evolution of Sports Gambling and PayID Pokies
There’s no denying that sports and betting have been intertwined for decades. Whether it’s
Ray Guy and the Pro Bowl Gondola
To complete the 1975 NFL season, the annual Pro Bowl game pitted the best
“Munich Air Disaster” of 1958 – Busby Babes Tragedy
What would become known as the “Munich Air Disaster,” a plane crashed after trying
From Fantasy Leagues to Real Wagers: How USA Online Casinos Fuel Fan Engagement
In the dynamic world of sports fandom, the way we engage with our favorite
How Sportsbooks Mostly Got It Right About the NFL Playoffs
When you look at things statistically, there is some wisdom in the statement that
Celebrating 25 Years Since One of the Greatest – And Most Unexpected – Super Bowl Games In History
The Super Bowl is an occasion never shy of razzmatazz anyway, but the 2000