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
5 Best Places to Buy a Golf Simulator: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
Photo by Mariah Hewines on Unsplash Golf simulators are a serious investment, and there’s
Ontario’s Long History of Betting on Its Own Games
Ontario’s long history of betting on its own games. Long before anyone in Ontario
Chuck Bednarik: The Legacy of NFL’s Last Two-Way Player
Just say the name Chuck Bednarik (bed-nare-ick) and you can be certain you’re not talking
Mark Morthier’s Favorite Sport Cards (1972 – 1989)
Although I was never a big hockey fan, I would consider myself a NY
NFL Over/Under Lines: What Past Scoring Trends Could Mean for 2026
NFL scoring patterns rarely stay the same from one season to the next. Offensive
THE NFL’S WACKY, PECULIAR, AND CONFUSING EARLY SCHEDULING PRACTICES!
In the modern world of today’s National Football League, schedules are carefully constructed to
The Kings of Monday Night Football (1970s)
During the 1970s, there was no better team in the NFL at winning Monday
Best Young Australian Footballers to Watch in 2026/27
Saturday afternoons in Australia have a certain rhythm: footy on, maybe some online pokies