Major League Baseball: Expansion Era and Westward Move (1961–1998)

1. Continental League proposal pushes MLB to expand

   Jan 1, 1959Labels: Continental League, Major League

   • SABR
   • Britannica

2. American League awards new teams to Los Angeles and Washington

   Dec 6, 1960Labels: Los Angeles, Washington Senators

   • MLB Expansion
   • Nats Timeline

3. Angels and Senators stocked by American League expansion draft

   Dec 14, 1960Labels: Expansion draft, American League

   • BR Bullpen
   • Angels 1961

4. Twins move to Minnesota; new Senators begin play

   Apr 11, 1961Labels: Minnesota Twins, Washington Senators

   • MLB Expansion
   • Senators 1961

5. National League adds Mets and Houston Colt .45s

   Jan 1, 1962Labels: New York, Houston Colt

   • 1962 Expansion
   • 1961 NL Draft

6. Houston’s Astrodome era begins with new Astros name

   Apr 9, 1965Labels: Houston Astros, Astrodome

   • MLB Video
   • Astrodome

7. Braves relocate from Milwaukee to Atlanta

   Apr 1, 1966Labels: Atlanta Braves

   • Braves 1966
   • MLB Braves

8. Athletics move to Oakland, opening path to Kansas City expansion

   Apr 10, 1968Labels: Oakland Athletics, Kansas City

   • A s 1968
   • 1969 Expansion

9. Four new teams launch 1969 expansion and divisional play

   Apr 8, 1969Labels: Montreal Expos, Seattle Pilots, Kansas City

   • 1969 Season
   • 1969 Expansion

10. Seattle Pilots collapse and move to Milwaukee as Brewers

    Apr 1, 1970Labels: Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers

    • 1969 Season
    • Brewers History

11. Mariners and Blue Jays join AL after 1977 expansion

    Apr 7, 1977Labels: Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue

    • 1977 Expansion
    • Mariners Timeline

12. Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins begin play in 1993

    Apr 5, 1993Labels: Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins

    • 1993 Expansion
    • MLB Video

13. 1994 strike cancels postseason during planned realignment era

    Sep 15, 1994Labels: 1994 strike, MLB realignment

    • NYT
    • 1994 Series

14. Diamondbacks and Devil Rays awarded franchises for 1998 start

    Mar 9, 1995Labels: Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay

    • 1998 Expansion
    • Rays Timeline

15. 1998 expansion begins; Brewers switch leagues to balance MLB

    Mar 31, 1998Labels: Milwaukee Brewers, MLB expansion

    • 1998 Expansion
    • Brewers History