OCTOBER 11, 1899 | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS • In the late 1800’s the National League was the only “major league.” It began play in 1876, hence the description “senior circuit.” Two executives of the Western League, a minor league, Ban Johnson and Charles Comiskey, thought there was room for one more major league. So on this date in 1899 they gathered their fellow Western League owners in Chicago’s Great Northern Hotel to discuss a plan which would allow them to affiliate with the National League, but remain a minor league.
It was like letting the fox into the chicken coup. As part of the deal, Johnson and Comiskey got the National League to allow the St. Paul, Minnesota franchise of the Western League to relocate to Chicago. It did, and became the Chicago White Stockings – today’s White Sox. It was also decided at that October 11, 1899 meeting to change the name of the Western League to the American League of Professional Ball Clubs. It was later simplified to the American League.
The American League didn’t last long as a farm system for the National League. By the 1901 season, less than two years later, the American League officially became a second major league.
Contributing sources: Total White Sox: The definitive encyclopedia of the World Champion franchise, by Richard Lindberg, 2006 More on the American League More on the National League
Tag: American League
April 24-AL’s FIRST OFFICIAL GAME
APRIL 24, 1901 | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – The Chicago White Sox won the first official “major league” game of the American League on this date in 1901. The White Sox defeated the Cleveland Blues (today’s Cleveland Indians) 8-2.
The driving force behind the American League was Ban Johnson. He took the existing Western League – a minor league – changed its named to the American League. They played a minor league schedule for one more year, 1900. Then began playing as a major league in 1901. The rest is history.
Contributing sources:
SABR’s Retro sheet