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
Sports History On This Day: July 13
July 13, 1930 – The first-ever football (soccer) World Cup competition begins in Uruguay. When
Sports History On This Day: July 12
July 12, 1931 – Crowd control or crowd in control? It was an odd occurrence
The Incredible Run of the 1966 to 1971 Baltimore Orioles
For nearly twenty years (1966-85), the Baltimore Orioles were a team to be reckoned
How Did Miami Win Super Bowl VII? By Losing Super Bowl VI?
A former running back for the 1972 Undefeated Miami Dolphins spoke to me recently
Sports History On This Day: July 11
July 11, 1950 – In Chicago at good ole Comiskey Park, the 17th All-Star Baseball
Sports History On This Day: July 10
July 10, 1968 – The National League of Major League Baseball announced that it would
Sports History On This Day: July 9
July 9, 1877 – The First-ever Wimbledon tennis championship tournament began. It was truly a
Sports History On This Day: July 8
July 8, 1989 – It was the end of a brutal era in the world