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
Red Bull: Assessing the Impact of the Multi-Club Model
Red Bull are one of the most popular multi-club franchises in European and world
Remembering Two Great NFL Playoff Games of the 1970s
There were a couple of very competitive playoff games in the NFL during the
The Birth of the NFL: Revisiting Sports History’s Most Iconic Moments
The National Football League’s journey began modestly in an Ohio car dealership. A group
Are Lakers the Best NBA Franchise of the 21st Century?
Believe it or not, the 21st century isn’t that young anymore. We’re nearly a
Bill Walton’s Feet: A Legacy of Pain and Progress
How does a player who spent 14 seasons in the NBA with only two
History of NBA Team Nicknames: Atlantic Division
I love the history of sports team nicknames. Today I am sharing some of
Charlotte Hornets’ Arena History: From the Charlotte Coliseum to the Spectrum Center
The journey of the Charlotte Hornets’ arenas is a fascinating tale of evolution, innovation,
1964 Buffalo Bills (Best Team in AFL History?)
I began watching Pro Football in 1969, probably sooner, since my father and older