American League v. National League
A Battle for Supremacy Between Baseball's Junior and Senior Circuits
When the American League was founded in 1901 to challenge the National League's monopoly on professional baseball, a fierce rivalry was born that continues to this day.
Here's a statistical comparison of the two rival leagues and the players and managers who have bridged the gap. All records are from post-1900 unless otheriwse indicated.
World Series Records - American League vs. National League
There have been 102 World Series played between 1903 and 2006. (The Series was cancelled in 1904 and 1994). In those 102 Series, the American League has won 61 times while the National League has won just 41 times.
- Among American League teams, the New York Yankees have won 26 World Series, which is the most in baseball.
- Among National League teams, the St. Louis Cardinals have taken the most titles with 10 World Series trophies.
All-Star Games - American League vs. National League
The American League and National League have played 76 All-Star games since 1933. The National League has won 38 of those games, while the American league has won 36.
There also have been two ties in All-Star game history. The first occurred in the 1961 game when the contest was called on account of rain with the score tied at 1-1 in the ninth inning.
The second tie occurred in the 2002 All-Star Game when, in the 11th inning with the score tied, the managers of each League told umpires and Commissioner Bud Selig that they had no more players available, and that they did not want to further exhaust the All-Stars who were already on the field.
Feeling that neither the players nor the fans were taking the game seriously, after the 2002 debacle, Commissioner Bud Selig established a rule that the home team in the World Series would be determined by the winner of the All Star game. If the National League won the midsummer classic, then the National League team would have home field advantage in the Series. This has been a very controversial rule since it was put into place.
Inter-League Games: American League v. National League Record
From the beginning of inter-league play in 1997 through the end of the 2006 baseball season, there have been a total of 2,451 inter-league baseball games played. The American League has a slight edge over the National League, winning 1,249 games to 1,202 games.
The Two Managers Who Captained AL and NL teams to a World Series Championships
Sparky Anderson. He won with the Big Red Machine in 1975 and 1976, and then guided the Detroit Tigers to World Series glory in 1984.
Tony LaRussa. LaRussa first took home the World Series trophy in 1989 as manager of the Oakland A's. Then, after spending 11 seasons with the Cardinals of the National League, he won a second World Series in 2006 by leading his team past the Detroit Tigers, four games to one.
MVP in Each League
Frank Robinson won the National League Most Valuable Player in 1961 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. After the 1965 season, the Reds believed that Robinson was on the down side of his career and traded him to the Baltimore Orioles. In 1966, Robinson hit .316 with 49 HR and 122 RBI. he won the American League Triple Crown and MVP awards, making him the first player to capture the MVP in both circuits.
Cy Young Awards in Both Leagues
Roger Clemens. The Rocket won six Cy Young Awards in the American League. He won three with the Red Sox (1986, '87 and '91), two with the Toronto Blue Jays (1997 and '98), and one with the New York Yankees (2001). Clemens moved to the Houston Astros of the National League before the 2004 season, and won his seventh Cy Young award by going 18-4 with a 2.37 ERA.
Pedro Martinez. Pedro took home his first Cy Young Award in 1997 while pitching in the National League for the Montreal Expos. Prior to the next season, the Boston Red Sox signed Martinez as a free agent. Pedro rewarded the Sox by winning the top pitching award again in 1999 and 2000.
Randy Johnson. The Big Unit won his first Cy Young in 1997 when he was pitching in the American League for the Seattle Mariners. Later, while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL, Johnson won four consecutive Cy Youngs from 1999 though 2002.
Gaylord Perry. Perry was the first pitcher to capture a Cy Young Award in each league. His first came in the American League. While pitching for the Cleveland Indians, Perry went 24-16 with a 1.92 ERA and 238 strikeouts. Six years later, while hurling his (alleged) spitball for the Atlanta Braves of the National League, Perry made history by winning the National League award.
Seasonal Records - American League vs. National League
Home Run Record:
- American League - Roger Maris, Yankees (61)
- National League - Barry Bonds, Giants (73)
RBI Record:
- American League - Lou Gehrig, Yankees (184)
- National League - Hack Wilson, Cubs (191)
Batting Average:
- American League: Napoleon Lajoie, Athletics (.426)
- National League: Rogers Hornsby, Cardinals (.424)
Most Victories:
- American League: Jack Chesbro, Yankees (41)
- National League: Christy Mathewson, Giants (37)
Strikeout Record:
- American League - Nolan Ryan, Angels (383)
- National League - Sandy Koufax, Dodgers (382)
If you liked this article, then check out the Five Best World Series Since 1950, Baseball World Series Records, and MLB Career Postseason Records.
