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American League East

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American League East
LeagueAmerican League
SportMajor League Baseball
Founded1969
No. of teams
  • 5 (1994–present)
  • 7 (1977–1993)
  • 6 (1969–1976)
Most recent
champion(s)
New York Yankees
(2024; 21st title)
Most titlesNew York Yankees (21)
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
800km
500miles
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Orioles
Yankees
.
Rays
American League East Teams Location
A partial view of the Green Monster at Fenway Park, with the final standings of the AL East at the conclusion of the 2007 season

The American League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. MLB consists of an East, Central, and West division for each of its two 15-team leagues, the American League (AL) and National League (NL). This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the American League West. Before that time, each league consisted of 10 teams without any divisions.

Four of the division's five teams are located in the Eastern United States, with the other team, the Toronto Blue Jays, in Eastern Canada. It is currently the only division that contains a non-American team. At the end of the Major League Baseball season, the team with the best record in the division earns one of the AL's six playoff spots.[a]

History

[edit]

Baseball writers have long posited that the American League East is the toughest division in MLB;[1][2] during its 50-year existence, an AL East team has gone on to play in the World Series 28 times, and 16 of those teams have been crowned World Series champions. Since the 1995 season, when the wild-card playoff berth was introduced, the AL East has produced 20 of the 32 wild-card teams for the American League, with the AL West sending seven teams, and only five coming from the AL Central.

When MLB split into divisions for the 1969 season, the American League, unlike the National League, split its 12 teams strictly on geography. The six teams then located in the Eastern Time Zone were all placed in the AL East, with the other six teams making up the AL West.

Realignment of 1972

[edit]

In September 1971, American League owners approved the move of the second Washington Senators franchise to Arlington, Texas, to become the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers moving to the AL West, the owners then debated whether the Chicago White Sox or Milwaukee Brewers should move to the AL East for 1972. The White Sox requested they be moved to the East under the argument of being an original AL franchise and playing most of their longtime rival teams, of which five were in the East.

The Oakland Athletics (formerly from Kansas City and Philadelphia) objected to moving the White Sox to the East; owner Charlie Finley was a Chicago native who wanted to continue to make three trips per season with his club to the Second City. The Minnesota Twins went a step further and objected to switching either the White Sox or Brewers out of fear of losing their closest geographic rivals and the Twins, citing the National League's lack of geographic accuracy (which placed the Atlanta Braves in the NL West) in forming its divisions as a reason why the Rangers should not have been shifted out of the East. The Twins also argued that the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys played (and still do play) in the NFC East despite being far from the Northeast.

The White Sox' pleas notwithstanding, the Brewers, who began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and had to endure long divisional road trips to Oakland and Anaheim (and vice-versa) in the AL West, were moved to the AL East.

Division membership

[edit]
The New York Yankees celebrating their 2009 World Series championship

Current members

[edit]

Former members

[edit]
  • Cleveland Indians, founding member, moved to the newly created AL Central in 1994
  • Detroit Tigers, founding member, moved to the AL Central in 1998 to make room for the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays
  • Milwaukee Brewers, joined from the AL West in 1972 to replace the Texas Rangers, moved to the newly created AL Central in 1994
  • Washington Senators, founding member, moved to the AL West as the Texas Rangers in 1972

Timeline

[edit]
Years
AL East 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
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Cleveland Indians[D]  
Detroit Tigers
New York Yankees
Washington
Senators
[B]
 
  Milwaukee Brewers[B][D]  
  Toronto Blue Jays[C]
Years
AL East Division[A]
97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Detroit
Tigers
[E]
 
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
  Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tampa Bay Rays[F]
  Team not in division   Division Won World Series   Division Won AL Championship
A AL East was formed with six teams due to the 1969 expansion, as the AL grew from 10 teams to 12.
B Following the 1971 season, the Washington Senators franchise relocated and became the Texas Rangers of the AL West; the Milwaukee Brewers moved to the AL East to maintain an equal number of teams in each division.
C The Toronto Blue Jays were added in the 1977 expansion, becoming the seventh team of the AL East.
D As part of the 1994 realignment, Cleveland and Milwaukee were moved to the newly created AL Central, reducing the AL East to five teams.
E The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were added in the 1998 expansion while Detroit moved to the AL Central, maintaining the AL East at five teams.
F Entering the 2008 season, Tampa Bay's team name changed from Devil Rays to Rays.

Champions by year

[edit]
  • Team names link to the season in which each team played
Year Winner Record % Playoff Results
1969 Baltimore Orioles (1) 109–53 .673 Won ALCS (Twins) 3–0
Lost World Series (Mets) 4–1
1970 Baltimore Orioles (2) 108–54 .667 Won ALCS (Twins) 3–0
Won World Series (Reds) 4–1
1971 Baltimore Orioles (3) 101–57 .639 Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0
Lost World Series (Pirates) 4–3
1972 Detroit Tigers (1) 86–70 .551 Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–2
1973 Baltimore Orioles (4) 97–65 .599 Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–2
1974 Baltimore Orioles (5) 91–71 .562 Lost ALCS (Athletics) 3–1
1975 Boston Red Sox (1) 95–65 .594 Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0
Lost World Series (Reds) 4–3
1976 New York Yankees (1) 97–62 .610 Won ALCS (Royals) 3–2
Lost World Series (Reds) 4–0
1977 New York Yankees (2) 100–62 .617 Won ALCS (Royals) 3–2
Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
1978 New York Yankees (3)* 100–63 .613 Won ALCS (Royals) 3–1
Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
1979 Baltimore Orioles (6) 102–57 .642 Won ALCS (Angels) 3–1
Lost World Series (Pirates) 4–3
1980 New York Yankees (4) 103–59 .636 Lost ALCS (Royals) 3–0
1981 New York Yankees (5) 59–48 .551 Won ALDS (Brewers) 3–2
Won ALCS (Athletics) 3–0
Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
1982 Milwaukee Brewers (1) 95–67 .586 Won ALCS (Angels) 3–2
Lost World Series (Cardinals) 4–3
1983 Baltimore Orioles (7) 98–64 .605 Won ALCS (White Sox) 3–1
Won World Series (Phillies) 4–1
1984 Detroit Tigers (2) 104–58 .642 Won ALCS (Royals) 3–0
Won World Series (Padres) 4–1
1985 Toronto Blue Jays (1) 99–62 .615 Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–3
1986 Boston Red Sox (2) 95–66 .590 Won ALCS (Angels) 4–3
Lost World Series (Mets) 4–3
1987 Detroit Tigers (3) 98–64 .605 Lost ALCS (Twins) 4–1
1988 Boston Red Sox (3) 89–73 .549 Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–0
1989 Toronto Blue Jays (2) 89–73 .549 Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–1
1990 Boston Red Sox (4) 88–74 .543 Lost ALCS (Athletics) 4–0
1991 Toronto Blue Jays (3) 91–71 .562 Lost ALCS (Twins) 4–1
1992 Toronto Blue Jays (4) 96–66 .593 Won ALCS (Athletics) 4–2
Won World Series (Braves) 4–2
1993 Toronto Blue Jays (5) 95–67 .586 Won ALCS (White Sox) 4–2
Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2
1994†† No playoffs due 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995 Boston Red Sox (5) 86–58 .597 Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–0
1996 New York Yankees (6) 92–70 .568 Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–1
Won ALCS (Orioles) 4–1
Won World Series (Braves) 4–2
1997 Baltimore Orioles (8) 98–64 .605 Won ALDS (Mariners) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–2
1998 New York Yankees (7) 114–48 .704 Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0
Won ALCS (Indians) 4–2
Won World Series (Padres) 4–0
1999 New York Yankees (8) 98–64 .605 Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0
Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–1
Won World Series (Braves) 4–0
2000 New York Yankees (9) 87–74 .540 Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2
Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–2
Won World Series (Mets) 4–1
2001 New York Yankees (10) 95–65 .594 Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2
Won ALCS (Mariners) 4–1
Lost World Series (Diamondbacks) 4–3
2002 New York Yankees (11) 103–58 .640 Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–1
2003 New York Yankees (12) 101–61 .623 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1
Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3
Lost World Series (Marlins) 4–2
2004 New York Yankees (13) 101–61 .623 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3
2005 New York Yankees (14)+ 95–67 .586 Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–2
2006 New York Yankees (15) 97–65 .599 Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–1
2007 Boston Red Sox (6) 96–66 .593 Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0
Won ALCS (Indians) 4–3
Won World Series (Rockies) 4–0
2008 Tampa Bay Rays (1) 97–65 .599 Won ALDS (White Sox) 3–1
Won ALCS (Red Sox) 4–3
Lost World Series (Phillies) 4–1
2009 New York Yankees (16) 103–59 .636 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0
Won ALCS (Angels) 4–2
Won World Series (Phillies) 4–2
2010 Tampa Bay Rays (2) 96–66 .593 Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–2
2011 New York Yankees (17) 97–65 .599 Lost ALDS (Tigers) 3–2
2012 New York Yankees (18) 95–67 .586 Won ALDS (Orioles) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Tigers) 4–0
2013 Boston Red Sox (7) 97–65 .599 Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1
Won ALCS (Tigers) 4–2
Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–2
2014 Baltimore Orioles (9) 96–66 .593 Won ALDS (Tigers) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–0
2015 Toronto Blue Jays (6) 93–69 .574 Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Royals) 4–2
2016 Boston Red Sox (8) 93–69 .574 Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–0
2017 Boston Red Sox (9) 93–69 .574 Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–1
2018 Boston Red Sox (10) 108–54 .667 Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–1
Won ALCS (Astros) 4–1
Won World Series (Dodgers) 4–1
2019 New York Yankees (19) 103–59 .636 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–2
2020††† Tampa Bay Rays (3) 40–20 .667 Won ALWC (Blue Jays) 2–0
Won ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
Won ALCS (Astros) 4–3
Lost World Series (Dodgers) 4–2
2021 Tampa Bay Rays (4) 100–62 .617 Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
2022 New York Yankees (20) 99–63 .611 Won ALDS (Guardians) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–0
2023 Baltimore Orioles (10) 101–61 .623 Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–0
2024 New York Yankees (21) 94–68 .580 Won ALDS (Royals) 3–1
Won ALCS (Guardians) 4–1
World Series (Dodgers)

* – The Yankees and Red Sox finished with exact records, tied for the division championship; the Yankees won a one-game tie-breaker.

† – Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the season was split. The Yankees won the first half and defeated the second-half champion Brewers (62–45) in the postseason.

†† – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike starting August 12, the season was not played to completion. The Yankees were leading at the time of the strike.

+ – The Red Sox and Yankees finished tied for first place with identical records. The Yankees were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Red Sox, and the Red Sox received the wild card berth.[b]

††† – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of an expanded eight-team postseason format, the division runner-up Yankees also qualified for the playoffs.

AL East statistics

[edit]
Team Division championships Postseason records[c]
Number Year(s) Most recent Wild Card[d] ALDS ALCS World Series
New York Yankees 21 1976–1978, 1980–1981, 1996, 1998–2006, 2009, 2011–2012, 2019, 2022, 2024 2024 8 14–9 12–7 7–4
Baltimore Orioles 10 1969–1971, 1973–1974, 1979, 1983, 1997, 2014, 2023 2023 3 3–2 5–5 2–3
Boston Red Sox 10 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2013, 2016–2018 2018 8 8–6 6–6 4–2
Toronto Blue Jays 6 1985, 1989, 1991–1993, 2015 2015 4 2–0 2–5 2–0
Tampa Bay Rays 4 2008, 2010, 2020–2021 2021 5 2–5 2–0 0–2
Detroit Tigers 3 1972, 1984, 1987 1987† 0–0 1–2 1–0
Milwaukee Brewers 1 1982 1982† 0–1 1–0 0–1
Cleveland Indians 0 —† 0–0 0–0 0–0
Washington Senators 0 —† 0–0 0–0 0–0
Total 53 1969–1993, 1995–present 2022 28 29–23 28–25 16–12
Former division members
Totals updated through conclusion of the 2022 postseason.

Other postseason teams

[edit]

Since the advent of the Wild Card, AL East teams have faced each other in the ALCS 5 times, the ALDS 4 times, and the Wild Card twice.

See List of American League Wild Card winners (since 1994)
Year Winner Record % GB Playoff Results
1995 New York Yankees 79–65 .549 7 Lost ALDS (Mariners) 3–2
1996 Baltimore Orioles 88–74 .543 4 Won ALDS (Indians) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1
1997 New York Yankees 96–66 .593 2 Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–2
1998 Boston Red Sox 92–70 .568 22 Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–1
1999 Boston Red Sox 94–68 .580 4 Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1
2003 Boston Red Sox 95–67 .586 6 Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–3
2004 Boston Red Sox 98–64 .605 3 Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0
Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–3
Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–0
2005 Boston Red Sox 95–67 .586 0 Lost ALDS (White Sox) 3–0
2007 New York Yankees 94–68 .580 2 Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–1
2008 Boston Red Sox 95–67 .586 2 Won ALDS (Angels) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Rays) 4–3
2009 Boston Red Sox 95–67 .586 8 Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–0
2010 New York Yankees 95–67 .586 1 Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Rangers) 4–2
2011 Tampa Bay Rays 91–71 .562 6 Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–1
2012* Baltimore Orioles 93–69 .574 2 Won ALWC (Rangers)
Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2
2013 Tampa Bay Rays** 92–71 .564 Won ALWC (Indians)
Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
2015 New York Yankees 87–75 .537 6 Lost ALWC (Astros)
2016 Toronto Blue Jays*** 89–73 .549 4 Won ALWC (Orioles)
Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0
Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–1
Baltimore Orioles*** 89–73 .549 4 Lost ALWC (Blue Jays)
2017 New York Yankees 91–71 .562 2 Won ALWC (Twins)
Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2
Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–3
2018 New York Yankees 100–62 .617 8 Won ALWC (Athletics)
Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1
2019 Tampa Bay Rays 96–66 .593 7 Won ALWC (Athletics)
Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–2
2020**** New York Yankees 33–27 .550 7 Won ALWC (Indians) 2–0
Lost ALDS (Rays) 3–2
Toronto Blue Jays 32–28 .533 8 Lost ALWC (Rays) 2–0
2021 Boston Red Sox***** 92–70 .568 12 Won ALWC (Yankees)
Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1
Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–2
New York Yankees***** 92–70 .568 12 Lost ALWC (Red Sox)
2022 Toronto Blue Jays 92–70 .568 7 Lost ALWC (Mariners) 2–0
Tampa Bay Rays 86–76 .531 13 Lost ALWC (Guardians) 2–0
2023 Tampa Bay Rays 99–63 .611 2 Lost ALWC (Rangers) 2–0
Toronto Blue Jays 89–73 .549 12 Lost ALWC (Twins) 2–0
2024 Baltimore Orioles 91–71 .562 3 Lost ALWC (Royals) 2–0

* – From 2012 to 2019, and in 2021, the Wild Card was expanded to two teams. Those teams faced each other in the Wild Card Game to determine the final participant in the American League Division Series. In 2020 only, eight teams, including the three division winners, played in a best-of-three Wild Card Series, with the winners advancing to the Division Series. Starting in 2022, the Wild Card field was increased to three teams, and along with the lowest-ranked division winner, qualified for the best-of-three Wild Card Series to determine the remaining two slots in the Division Series.

** In 2013, the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with the identical records of 91–71. A one-game playoff was held and the Rays won it 5–2 over the Rangers to capture the second Wild Card berth.

*** In 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles finished the season with the identical records of 89–73. However, the Blue Jays won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Orioles.

**** Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games.

***** In 2021, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees finished the season with the identical records of 92–70. However, the Red Sox won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Yankees.

Beginning in 2022, the postseason has expanded to three division leaders and three wild cards per league.

Season results

[edit]
(#) 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
Season Team (record)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
1969 Baltimore (109–53) Detroit (90–72) Boston (87–75) Washington (86–76) N.Y. Yankees (80–81) Cleveland (62–99)
1970 Baltimore (108–54) N.Y. Yankees (93–69) Boston (87–75) Detroit (79–83) Cleveland (76–86) Washington (70–92)
1971 Baltimore (101–57) Detroit (91–71) Boston (85–77) N.Y. Yankees (82–80) Washington (63–96) Cleveland (60–102)
1972 Detroit (86–70) Boston (85–70) Baltimore (80–74) N.Y. Yankees (79–76) Cleveland (72–84) Milwaukee (65–91)
1973 Baltimore (97–65) Boston (89–73) Detroit (85–77) N.Y. Yankees (80–82) Milwaukee (74–88) Cleveland (71–91)
1974 Baltimore (91–71) N.Y. Yankees (89–73) Boston (84–78) Cleveland (77–85) Milwaukee (76–86) Detroit (72–90)
1975 Boston (95–65) Baltimore (90–69) N.Y. Yankees (83–77) Cleveland (79–80) Milwaukee (68–94) Detroit (57–102)
1976 N.Y. Yankees (97–62) Baltimore (88–74) Boston (83–79) Cleveland (81–78) Detroit (74–87) Milwaukee (66–95)
1977 N.Y. Yankees (100–62) Baltimore (97–64) Boston (97–64) Detroit (74–88) Cleveland (71–90) Milwaukee (67–95) Toronto (54–107)
1978 N.Y. Yankees[a] (100–63) Boston (99–64) Milwaukee (93–69) Baltimore (90–71) Detroit (86–76) Cleveland (69–90) Toronto (59–102)
1979 Baltimore (102–57) Milwaukee (95–66) Boston (91–69) N.Y. Yankees (89–71) Detroit (85–76) Cleveland (81–80) Toronto (53–109)
1980 N.Y. Yankees (103–59) Baltimore (100–62) Milwaukee (86–76) Detroit (84–78) Boston (83–77) Cleveland (79–81) Toronto (67–95)
1981 Milwaukee (62–47) Baltimore (59–46) N.Y. Yankees (59–48) Detroit (60–49) Boston (59–49) Cleveland (52–51) Toronto (37–69)
1982 Milwaukee (95–67) Baltimore (94–68) Boston (89–73) Detroit (83–79) N.Y. Yankees (79–83) Cleveland (78–84) Toronto (78–84)
1983 Baltimore (98–64) Detroit (92–70) N.Y. Yankees (91–71) Toronto (89–73) Milwaukee (87–75) Boston (78–84) Cleveland (70–92)
1984 Detroit (104–58) Toronto (89–73) N.Y. Yankees (87–75) Boston (86–76) Baltimore (85–77) Cleveland (75–87) Milwaukee (67–94)
1985 Toronto (99–62) N.Y. Yankees (97–64) Detroit (84–77) Baltimore (83–78) Boston (81–81) Milwaukee (71–90) Cleveland (60–102)
1986 Boston (95–66) N.Y. Yankees (90–72) Detroit (87–75) Toronto (86–76) Cleveland (84–78) Milwaukee (77–84) Baltimore (73–89)
1987 Detroit (98–64) Toronto (96–66) Milwaukee (91–71) N.Y. Yankees (89–73) Boston (78–84) Baltimore (67–95) Cleveland (61–101)
1988 Boston (89–73) Detroit (88–74) Milwaukee (87–75) Toronto (87–75) N.Y. Yankees (85–76) Cleveland (78–84) Baltimore (54–107)
1989 Toronto (89–73) Baltimore (87–75) Boston (83–79) Milwaukee (81–81) N.Y. Yankees (74–87) Cleveland (73–89) Detroit (59–103)
1990 Boston (88–74) Toronto (86–76) Detroit (79–83) Cleveland (77–85) Baltimore (76–85) Milwaukee (74–88) N.Y. Yankees (67–95)
1991 Toronto (91–71) Boston (84–78) Detroit (84–78) Milwaukee (83–79) N.Y. Yankees (71–91) Baltimore (67–95) Cleveland (57–105)
1992 Toronto (96–66) Milwaukee (92–70) Baltimore (89–73) Cleveland (76–86) N.Y. Yankees (76–86) Detroit (75–87) Boston (73–89)
1993 Toronto (95–67) N.Y. Yankees (88–74) Baltimore (85–77) Detroit (85–77) Boston (80–82) Cleveland (76–86) Milwaukee (69–93)
1994 N.Y. Yankees (70–43) Baltimore (63–49) Toronto (55–60) Boston (54–61) Detroit (53–62)
1995 (2) Boston (86–58) (4) N.Y. Yankees (79–65) Baltimore (71–73) Detroit (60–84) Toronto (56–88)
1996 (2) N.Y. Yankees (92–70) (4) Baltimore (88–74) Boston (85–77) Toronto (74–88) Detroit (53–109)
1997 (1) Baltimore (98–64) (4) N.Y. Yankees (96–66) Detroit (79–83) Boston (78–84) Toronto (76–86)
1998 (1) N.Y. Yankees (114–48) (4) Boston (92–70) Toronto (88–74) Baltimore (79–83) Tampa Bay (63–99)
1999 (1) N.Y. Yankees (98–64) (4) Boston (94–68) Toronto (84–78) Baltimore (78–84) Tampa Bay (69–93)
2000 (3) N.Y. Yankees (87–74) Boston (85–77) Toronto (83–79) Baltimore (74–88) Tampa Bay (69–92)
2001 (2) N.Y. Yankees (95–65) Boston (82–79) Toronto (80–82) Baltimore (63–98) Tampa Bay (62–100)
2002 (1) N.Y. Yankees (103–58) Boston (93–69) Toronto (78–84) Baltimore (67–95) Tampa Bay (55–106)
2003 (1) N.Y. Yankees (101–61) (4) Boston (95–67) Toronto (86–76) Baltimore (71–91) Tampa Bay (63–99)
2004 (1) N.Y. Yankees (101–61) (4) Boston (98–64) Baltimore (78–84) Tampa Bay (70–91) Toronto (67–94)
2005 (3) N.Y. Yankees[b] (95–67) (4) Boston (95–67) Toronto (80–82) Baltimore (74–88) Tampa Bay (67–95)
2006 (1) N.Y. Yankees (97–65) Toronto (87–75) Boston (86–76) Baltimore (70–92) Tampa Bay (61–101)
2007 (1) Boston[c] (96–66) (4) N.Y. Yankees (94–68) Toronto (83–79) Baltimore (69–93) Tampa Bay (66–96)
2008 (2) Tampa Bay (97–65) (4) Boston (95–67) N.Y. Yankees (89–73) Toronto (86–76) Baltimore (68–93)
2009 (1) N.Y. Yankees (103–59) (4) Boston (95–67) Tampa Bay (84–78) Toronto (75–87) Baltimore (64–98)
2010 (1) Tampa Bay (96–66) (4) N.Y. Yankees (95–67) Boston (89–73) Toronto (85–77) Baltimore (66–96)
2011 (1) N.Y. Yankees (97–65) (4) Tampa Bay (91–71) Boston (90–72) Toronto (81–81) Baltimore (69–93)
2012 (1) N.Y. Yankees (95–67) (5) Baltimore (93–69) Tampa Bay (90–72) Toronto (73–89) Boston (69–93)
2013 (1) Boston (97–65) (5) Tampa Bay[d] (92–71) N.Y. Yankees (85–77) Baltimore (85–77) Toronto (74–88)
2014 (2) Baltimore (96–66) N.Y. Yankees (84–78) Toronto (83–79) Tampa Bay (77–85) Boston (71–91)
2015 (2) Toronto (93–69) (4) N.Y. Yankees (87–75) Baltimore (81–81) Tampa Bay (80–82) Boston (78–84)
2016 (3) Boston (93–69) (4) Toronto[e] (89–73) (5) Baltimore (89–73) N.Y. Yankees (84–78) Tampa Bay (68–94)
2017 (3) Boston (93–69) (4) N.Y. Yankees (91–71) Tampa Bay (80–82) Toronto (76–86) Baltimore (75–87)
2018 (1) Boston (108–54) (4) N.Y. Yankees (100–62) Tampa Bay (90–72) Toronto (73–89) Baltimore (47–115)
2019 (2) N.Y. Yankees (103–59) (4) Tampa Bay (96–66) Boston (84–78) Toronto (67–95) Baltimore (54–108)
  • 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 (1) Tampa Bay (40–20) (5) N.Y. Yankees (33–27) (8) Toronto (32–28) Baltimore (25–35) Boston (24–36)
2021 (1) Tampa Bay (100–62) (4) Boston (92–70) [f] (5) N.Y. Yankees (92–70) Toronto (91–71) Baltimore (52–110)
2022 (2) N.Y. Yankees (99–63) (4) Toronto (92–70) (6) Tampa Bay (86–76) Baltimore (83–79) Boston (78–84)
2023 (1) Baltimore (101–61) (4) Tampa Bay (99–63) (6) Toronto (89–73) N.Y. Yankees (82–80) Boston (78–84)
2024 (1) N.Y. Yankees (94–68) (4) Baltimore (91–71) Boston (81–81) Tampa Bay (80–82) Toronto (74–88)
Notes and Tiebreakers
  • a New York and Boston were tied for the division championship and played in a tie-breaker game. The Yankees won 5–4 to claim the division crown.
  • b New York and Boston were tied for the division championship and wild-card berth, but the Yankees claimed the division crown by winning the season series 10–9, relegating Boston to the wild-card spot. New York and Los Angeles Angels of the American League West were also tied for the second and third seed, but the Yankees were relegated to the third seed by losing the season series 6–4.
  • c Boston and Cleveland of the American League Central were tied for the first and second seed, but the Red Sox claimed the top overall seed by winning the season series 5–2, relegating Cleveland to the second seed.
  • d Tampa Bay and Texas of the American League West were tied for the second wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Rays won 5–2 to claim the second wild-card spot.
  • e Toronto and Baltimore were tied for both wild-card berths, but the Blue Jays claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 10–9, relegating Baltimore to the second wild-card spot.
  • f Boston and New York both finished with identical records, but the Red Sox claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 10–9, relegating the Yankees to the second wild-card spot.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The three division winners, plus three wild card teams, advance to the postseason.
  2. ^ Had a team from another division been the wild card, a one-game tie-breaker would have been played between the Yankees and Red Sox to decide the division champion.
  3. ^ Reflects postseason record of each team only during the team's time as a member of the AL East
  4. ^ Number of times qualifying as a wild card team

References

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  1. ^ Leitch, Will. "MLB Preview: American League East". Sports on Earth. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  2. ^ Stark, Jayson (February 5, 2013). "Ranking MLB's six divisions". ESPN. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
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