American League West

The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division has five teams as of the 2013 season, but had four teams from 1994 to 2012, and had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the division has had teams as far east as Chicago. From 1998 (when the NL West expanded to five teams) to 2012, the AL West was the only MLB division with four teams. The current champion of this division is the Oakland Athletics. In 2013, the Houston Astros went from the National League Central to the AL West.[1] That move gives all six MLB divisions an equal five teams and both leagues an equal 15 teams each.

AL West
LeagueAmerican League
SportMajor League Baseball
Founded1969
Teams
No. of teams5
Championships
Most recent champion(s)Oakland Athletics
(17th title)
Most titlesOakland Athletics (17)

Division membership

Current members

Former members

Division members

Place cursor over year for division champion or World Series team.
Years
AL West Division[A]
69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
California Angels Anaheim Angels[F]
Oakland Athletics
Chicago White Sox[E]  
Kansas City Royals[E]  
Minnesota Twins[E]  
Seattle Pilots[B] Milwaukee Brewers[C]  
  Texas Rangers[C]
  Seattle Mariners[D]
AL West Division[A]
05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim[F] Los Angeles Angels[F]
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners
  Houston Astros[G]
  Team not in division   Division Won World Series   Division Won AL Championship
A Creation of division due to 1969 expansion, Kansas City and Seattle added.
B Seattle franchise moved to Milwaukee, becoming the Brewers.
C Washington Senators moved to Dallas–Fort Worth, became Texas Rangers and switched divisions with Milwaukee, which moved to the AL East.
D Seattle added in the 1977 league expansion.
E Chicago, Kansas City, and Minnesota moved into the newly created AL Central due to the 1994 realignment.
F In 1997, California Angels become Anaheim Angels. In 2005, Anaheim Angels become Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2016, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim become Los Angeles Angels.
G Houston switches leagues from the NL Central.

Champions by year

  • Team names link to the season in which each team played
Year Winner Record % Playoff Results Notes
1969 Minnesota Twins (1) 97–65 .599 Lost ALCS to Baltimore, 3–0 First AL West Division Champions
1970 Minnesota Twins (2) 98–64 .605 Lost ALCS to Baltimore, 3–0
1971 Oakland Athletics (1) 101–61 .627 Lost ALCS to Baltimore, 3–0
1972 Oakland Athletics (2) 93–62 .600 Won ALCS over Detroit, 3–2
Won World Series over Cincinnati, 4–3
First AL West team to win World Series
1973 Oakland Athletics (3) 94–68 .580 Won ALCS over Baltimore, 3–2
Won World Series over New York (NL), 4–3
First AL West team to win back to back World Series.
1974 Oakland Athletics (4) 90–72 .556 Won ALCS over Baltimore, 3–1
Won World Series over Los Angeles (NL), 4–1
First AL West team to win 3 World Series in a row.
1975 Oakland Athletics (5) 98–64 .605 Lost ALCS to Boston, 3–0
1976 Kansas City Royals (1) 90–72 .556 Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 3–2
1977 Kansas City Royals (2) 102–60 .630 Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 3–2
1978 Kansas City Royals (3) 92–70 .568 Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 3–1
1979 California Angels (1) 88–74 .543 Lost ALCS to Baltimore, 3–1
1980 Kansas City Royals (4) 97–65 .599 Won ALCS over New York (AL), 3–0
Lost World Series to Philadelphia, 4–2
1981 Oakland Athletics (6)† 64–45 .587 Won ALDS over Kansas City, 3–0
Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 3–0
1982 California Angels (2) 93–69 .574 Lost ALCS to Milwaukee, 3–2
1983 Chicago White Sox (1) 99–63 .611 Lost ALCS to Baltimore, 3–1
1984 Kansas City Royals (5) 84–78 .519 Lost ALCS to Detroit, 3–0
1985 Kansas City Royals (6) 91–71 .562 Won ALCS over Toronto, 4–3
Won World Series over St. Louis, 4–3
1986 California Angels (3) 92–70 .568 Lost ALCS to Boston, 4–3
1987 Minnesota Twins (3) 85–77 .525 Won ALCS over Detroit, 4–1
Won World Series over St. Louis, 4–3
1988 Oakland Athletics (7) 104–58 .642 Won ALCS over Boston, 4–0
Lost World Series to Los Angeles (NL), 4–1
1989 Oakland Athletics (8) 99–63 .611 Won ALCS over Toronto, 4–1
Won World Series over San Francisco, 4–0
1990 Oakland Athletics (9) 103–59 .636 Won ALCS over Boston, 4–0
Lost World Series to Cincinnati, 4–0
1991 Minnesota Twins (4) 95–67 .586 Won ALCS over Toronto, 4–1
Won World Series over Atlanta, 4–3
1992 Oakland Athletics (10) 96–66 .593 Lost ALCS to Toronto, 4–2
1993 Chicago White Sox (2) 94–68 .580 Lost ALCS to Toronto, 4–2
1994§ No playoffs due to 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995 Seattle Mariners (1)* 79–66 .545 Won ALDS over New York (AL), 3–2
Lost ALCS to Cleveland, 4–2
1996 Texas Rangers (1) 90–72 .556 Lost ALDS to New York (AL), 3–1
1997 Seattle Mariners (2) 90–72 .556 Lost ALDS to Baltimore, 3–1
1998 Texas Rangers (2) 88–74 .543 Lost ALDS to New York (AL), 3–0
1999 Texas Rangers (3) 95–67 .586 Lost ALDS to New York (AL), 3–0
2000 Oakland Athletics (11) 91–70 .565 Lost ALDS to New York (AL), 3–2
2001 Seattle Mariners (3) 116–46 .716 Won ALDS over Cleveland, 3–2
Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 4–1
2002 Oakland Athletics (12) 103–59 .636 Lost ALDS to Minnesota, 3–2
2003 Oakland Athletics (13) 96–66 .593 Lost ALDS to Boston, 3–2
2004 Anaheim Angels (4) 92–70 .568 Lost ALDS to Boston, 3–0
2005 Los Angeles Angels (5) 95–67 .586 Won ALDS over New York (AL), 3–2
Lost ALCS to Chicago (AL), 4–1
2006 Oakland Athletics (14) 93–69 .574 Won ALDS over Minnesota, 3–0
Lost ALCS to Detroit, 4–0
2007 Los Angeles Angels (6) 94–68 .580 Lost ALDS to Boston, 3–0
2008 Los Angeles Angels (7) 100–62 .617 Lost ALDS to Boston, 3–1
2009 Los Angeles Angels (8) 97–65 .599 Won ALDS over Boston, 3–0
Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 4–2
2010 Texas Rangers (4) 90–72 .556 Won ALDS over Tampa Bay, 3–2
Won ALCS over New York (AL), 4–2
Lost World Series to San Francisco, 4–1
2011 Texas Rangers (5) 96–66 .593 Won ALDS over Tampa Bay, 3–1
Won ALCS over Detroit, 4–2
Lost World Series to St. Louis, 4–3
First AL West team to lose back to back World Series.
2012 Oakland Athletics (15) 94–68 .580 Lost ALDS to Detroit, 3–2
2013 Oakland Athletics (16) 96–66 .593 Lost ALDS to Detroit, 3–2
2014 Los Angeles Angels (9) 98–64 .605 Lost ALDS to Kansas City, 3–0
2015 Texas Rangers (6) 88–74 .543 Lost ALDS to Toronto, 3–2
2016 Texas Rangers (7) 95–67 .586 Lost ALDS to Toronto, 3–0
2017 Houston Astros (1) 101–61 .623 Won ALDS over Boston, 3–1
Won ALCS over New York (AL), 4–3
Won World Series over Los Angeles (NL), 4–3
First AL West team to win World Series with their first AL West Championship
2018 Houston Astros (2) 103–59 .636 Won ALDS over Cleveland, 3–0
Lost ALCS to Boston, 4–1
2019 Houston Astros (3) 107–55 .660 Won ALDS over Tampa Bay, 3–2
Won ALCS over New York (AL), 4–2
Lost World Series to Washington, 4–3
2020†† Oakland Athletics (17) 36–24 .600 Won ALWC over Chicago (AL), 2–1
Lost ALDS to Houston, 3–1

† – Due to the players' strike, the season was split in two. The Athletics won the first half and defeated the second-half winner, the Kansas City Royals (50 – 53 overall record) to win the division.
§ – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, starting on August 12, no official winner was declared. The Texas Rangers were leading in winning percentage at time of the strike.
* – Seattle defeated the California Angels in a one-game playoff for the division title, 9 – 1.
†† – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of the eight-team postseason format used for that season, division runner-up Houston (29–31, .483) also qualified for the playoffs. The Houston Astros Won ALWC over Minnesota 2–0, Won ALDS over Oakland 3–1, Lost ALCS to Tampa Bay, 4–3.

Wild-card winners produced

See List of American League Wild Card winners (since 1994)
Year Winner Record % GB Playoff Results Notes
2000 Seattle Mariners 91–71 .562 .5 Won ALDS over Chicago (AL), 3–0
Lost ALCS to New York (AL), 4–2
2001 Oakland Athletics 102–60 .630 14 Lost ALDS to New York (AL), 3–2
2002 Anaheim Angels 99–63 .611 4 Won ALDS over New York (AL), 3–1
Won ALCS over Minnesota, 4–1
Won World Series over San Francisco, 4–3
First AL West team to Win World Series as a Wild Card
2012 Texas Rangers* 93–69 .574 1 Lost ALWC to Baltimore
2014 Oakland Athletics* 88–74 .543 10 Lost ALWC to Kansas City
2015 Houston Astros* 86–76 .531 2 Won ALWC over New York (AL)
Lost ALDS to Kansas City, 3–2
2018 Oakland Athletics* 97–65 .599 6 Lost ALWC to New York (AL)
2019 Oakland Athletics* 97–65 .599 10 Lost ALWC to Tampa Bay

* – Since the 2012 season, each league has had two Wild Card winners. The qualifiers play a single-game playoff to determine who will face the top-seeded team in the American League Division Series.

Season results

(#) Denotes team that won the World Series
(#) Denotes team that won the American League pennant, but lost World Series
(#) Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th
1969Minnesota (97–65)Oakland (88–74)California (71–91)Kansas City (69–93)Chicago White Sox (68–94)Seattle (64–98)
1970Minnesota (98–64)Oakland (89–73)California (86–76)Kansas City (65–97)Milwaukee (65–97)Chicago White Sox (56–106)
1971Oakland (101–60)Kansas City (85–76)Chicago White Sox (79–83)California (76–86)Minnesota (74–86)Milwaukee (69–92)
1972Oakland (93–62)Chicago White Sox (87–67)Minnesota (77–77)Kansas City (76–78)California (75–80)Texas (54–100)
1973Oakland (94–68)Kansas City (88–74)Minnesota (81–81)California (79–83)Chicago White Sox (77–85)Texas (57–105)
1974Oakland (90–72)Texas (84–76)Minnesota (82–80)Chicago White Sox (80–80)Kansas City (77–85)California (68–94)
1975Oakland (98–64)Kansas City (91–71)Texas (79–83)Minnesota (76–83)Chicago White Sox (75–86)California (72–89)
1976Kansas City (90–72)Oakland (87–74)Minnesota (85–77)Texas (76–86)California (76–86)Chicago White Sox (64–97)
1977Kansas City (102–60)Texas (94–68)Chicago White Sox (90–72)Minnesota (84–77)California (74–88)Seattle (64–98)Oakland (63–98)
1978Kansas City (92–70)Texas (87–75)California (87–75)Minnesota (73–89)Chicago White Sox (71–90)Oakland (69–93)Seattle (56–104)
1979California (88–74)Kansas City (85–77)Texas (83–79)Minnesota (82–80)Chicago White Sox (73–87)Seattle (67–95)Oakland (54–108)
1980Kansas City (97–65)Oakland (83–79)Minnesota (77–84)Texas (76–85)Chicago White Sox (70–90)California (65–95)Seattle (59–103)
1981Oakland (64–45)Texas (57–48)Chicago White Sox (54–52)Kansas City (50–53)California (51–59)Seattle (44–65)Minnesota (41–68)
1982California (93–69)Kansas City (90–72)Chicago White Sox (87–75)Seattle (76–86)Oakland (68–94)Texas (64–98)Minnesota (60–102)
1983Chicago White Sox (99–63)Kansas City (79–83)Texas (77–85)Oakland (74–88)California (70–92)Minnesota (70–92)Seattle (60–102)
1984Kansas City (84–78)California (81–81)Minnesota (81–81)Oakland (77–85)Chicago White Sox (74–88)Seattle (74–88)Texas (69–92)
1985Kansas City (91–71)California (90–72)Chicago White Sox (85–77)Minnesota (77–85)Oakland (77–85)Seattle (74–88)Texas (62–99)
1986California (92–70)Texas (87–75)Kansas City (76–86)Oakland (76–86)Chicago White Sox (72–90)Minnesota (71–91)Seattle (67–95)
1987Minnesota (85–77)Kansas City (83–79)Oakland (81–81)Seattle (78–84)Chicago White Sox (77–85)Texas (75–87)California (75–87)
1988Oakland (104–58)Minnesota (91–71)Kansas City (84–77)California (75–87)Chicago White Sox (71–90)Texas (70–91)Seattle (68–93)
1989Oakland (99–63)Kansas City (92–70)California (91–71)Texas (83–79)Minnesota (80–82)Seattle (73–89)Chicago White Sox (69–92)
1990Oakland (103–59)Chicago White Sox (94–68)Texas (83–79)California (80–82)Seattle (77–85)Kansas City (75–86)Minnesota (74–88)
1991Minnesota (95–67)Chicago White Sox (87–75)Texas (85–77)Oakland (84–78)Seattle (83–79)Kansas City (82–80)California (81–81)
1992Oakland (96–66)Minnesota (90–72)Chicago White Sox (86–76)Texas (77–85)California (72–90)Kansas City (72–90)Seattle (64–98)
1993Chicago White Sox (94–68)Texas (86–76)Kansas City (84–78)Seattle (82–80)California (71–91)Minnesota (71–91)Oakland (68–94)
1994Texas (52–62)Oakland (51–63)Seattle (49–63)California (47–68)
1995(3) Seattle[a] (79–66)California (78–67)Texas (74–70)Oakland (67–77)
1996(3) Texas (90–72)Seattle (85–76)Oakland (78–84)California (70–91)
1997(2) Seattle (90–72)Anaheim (84–78)Texas (77–85)Oakland (65–97)
1998(3) Texas (88–74)Anaheim (85–77)Seattle (76–85)Oakland (74–88)
1999(3) Texas (95–67)Oakland (87–75)Seattle (79–83)Anaheim (70–92)
2000(2) Oakland (91–70)(4) Seattle (91–71)Anaheim (82–80)Texas (71–91)
2001(1) Seattle (116–46)(4) Oakland (102–60)Anaheim (75–87)Texas (73–89)
2002(2) Oakland (103–59)(4) Anaheim (99–63)Seattle (93–69)Texas (72–90)
2003(2) Oakland (96–66)Seattle (93–69)Anaheim (77–85)Texas (71–91)
2004(2) Anaheim[b] (92–70)Oakland (91–71)Texas (89–73)Seattle (63–99)
2005(2) L.A. Angels[c] (95–67)Oakland (88–74)Texas (79–83)Seattle (69–93)
2006(3) Oakland (93–69)L.A. Angels (89–73)Texas (80–82)Seattle (78–84)
2007(3) L.A. Angels (94–68)Seattle (88–74)Oakland (76–86)Texas (75–87)
2008(1) L.A. Angels (100–62)Texas (79–83)Oakland (75–86)Seattle (61–101)
2009(2) L.A. Angels (97–65)Texas (87–75)Seattle (85–77)Oakland (75–87)
2010(3) Texas (90–72)Oakland (81–81)L.A. Angels (80–82)Seattle (61–101)
2011(2) Texas (96–66)L.A. Angels (86–76)Oakland (74–88)Seattle (67–95)
2012(2) Oakland (94–68)(4) Texas (93–69)L.A. Angels (89–73)Seattle (75–87)
2013(2) Oakland (96–66)Texas[d] (91–72)L.A. Angels (78–84)Seattle (71–91)Houston (51–111)
2014(1) L.A. Angels (98–64)(5) Oakland (88–74)Seattle (87–75)Houston (70–92)Texas (67–95)
2015(3) Texas (88–74)(5) Houston (86–76)L.A. Angels (85–77)Seattle (76–86)Oakland (68–94)
2016(1) Texas (95–67)Seattle (86–76)Houston (84–78)L.A. Angels (74–88)Oakland (69–93)
2017(2) Houston (101–61)L.A. Angels (80–82)Seattle (78–84)Texas (78–84)Oakland (75–87)
2018(2) Houston (103–59)(5) Oakland (97–65)Seattle (89–73)L.A. Angels (80–82)Texas (67–95)
2019(2) Houston (107–55)(4) Oakland (97–65)Texas (78–84)L.A. Angels (72–90)Seattle (68–94)
  • 2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. The postseason field was expanded to eight teams and the wild-card round became a best-of-three series.
2020(2) Oakland (36–24)(6) Houston (29–31)Seattle (27–33)L.A. Angels (26–34)Texas (22–38)
Notes and Tiebreakers
  • a Seattle and California were tied for the division championship and played in a tie-breaker game. The Mariners won 9–1 to claim the division crown.
  • b Anaheim and Minnesota of the American League Central were tied for the second and third seed but the Angels claimed the second seed by winning the season series 5–4.
  • c Los Angeles and New York of the American League East were tied for the second and third seed but the Angels claimed the second seed by winning the season series 6–4.
  • d Texas and Tampa Bay of the American League East were tied for the second wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Rangers lost 5–2 and were eliminated from postseason contention.

AL West statistics

Team Division
Championships
Last Year Won Year (s)
Current Teams in Division:
Oakland Athletics
17
2020
1971-1975, 1981, 1988–1990, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2020
Los Angeles Angels
9
2014
1979, 1982, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2007–2009, 2014
Texas Rangers
7
2016
1996, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016
Seattle Mariners
3
2001
1995, 1997, 2001
Houston Astros
3
2019
2017-2019
Former Teams in Division:
Kansas City Royals
6
1985
1976-1978 1980, 1984, 1985
Minnesota Twins
4
1991
1969, 1970, 1987, 1991
Chicago White Sox
2
1993
1983, 1993
Milwaukee Brewers 0

See also

References

  1. "Houston Astros' sale approved by MLB". Associated Press. November 17, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  2. The Angels were formerly known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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