| League | American League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Major League Baseball |
| Founded | 1969 |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Most recent champions | Seattle Mariners (2025; 4th title) |
| Most titles | Athletics (17) |
TheAmerican League West is one ofMajor League Baseball's six divisions. 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 theWest Coast and inTexas, historically the division has had teams as far east asChicago andMinnesota. From 1998 (when the NL West expanded to five teams) to 2012, the AL West was the only MLB division with four teams.
When MLB split into divisions for the1969 season, the American League, unlike theNational League, split its 12 teams strictly on geography. The six teams located in theEastern Time Zone were all placed in the AL East, and the remaining six were placed in the AL West.
When the second incarnation of the Washington Senators announced their intention to move to theDallas–Fort Worth area for the 1972 season and become theTexas Rangers, American League owners voted to switch the Rangers with theMilwaukee Brewers, who began as theSeattle Pilots in 1969. TheChicago White Sox asked the AL to move from West to East, citing that five of the original eight American League franchises were in the East. TheOakland Athletics andMinnesota Twins objected to the White Sox' request; the Twins also did not want the Brewers to leave the West.
In 2013, theHouston Astros went from theNational 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 Division[A] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 |
| California Angels[F] | Anaheim Angels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago White Sox[E] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas City Royals[E] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota Twins[E] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oakland Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seattle Pilots[B] | Milwaukee Brewers[C] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Rangers[C] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seattle Mariners[D] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AL West Division[A] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17[I] | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Anaheim Angels[F] | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim[F] | Los Angeles Angels[F] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oakland Athletics[H] | Athletics[H] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas Rangers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seattle Mariners | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston Astros[G] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team not in division Division Won World Series Division Won AL Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† – Due to theplayers' strike, the season was split in two. The Athletics won the first half and defeated the second-half winner, the Kansas City Royals, to win the division.
§ – Due to the1994–95 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 theCalifornia Angels in aone-game playoff for the division title, 9–1.
†† – Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of the eight-team postseason format used for that season, division runner-upHouston also qualified for the playoffs.
** – The Astros and Rangers finished tied for first place with identical records. The Astros were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Rangers, and the Rangers received the wild card berth.
| Year | Winner | Record | % | GB | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Seattle Mariners | 91–71 | .562 | .5 | WonALDS (White Sox) 3–0 LostALCS (Yankees) 4–2 |
| 2001 | Oakland Athletics | 102–60 | .630 | 14 | LostALDS (Yankees) 3–2 |
| 2002 | Anaheim Angels | 99–63 | .611 | 4 | WonALDS (Yankees) 3–1 WonALCS (Twins) 4–1 WonWorld Series (Giants) 4–3 |
| 2012 | Texas Rangers* | 93–69 | .574 | 1 | LostALWC (Orioles) |
| 2014 | Oakland Athletics* | 88–74 | .543 | 10 | LostALWC (Royals) |
| 2015 | Houston Astros* | 86–76 | .531 | 2 | WonALWC (Yankees) LostALDS (Royals) 3–2 |
| 2018 | Oakland Athletics* | 97–65 | .599 | 6 | LostALWC (Yankees) |
| 2019 | Oakland Athletics* | 97–65 | .599 | 10 | LostALWC (Rays) |
| 2020 | Houston Astros* | 29–31 | .483 | 7 | WonALWC (Twins) 2–0 WonALDS (Athletics) 3–1 LostALCS (Rays) 4–3 |
| 2022 | Seattle Mariners* | 90–72 | .556 | 16 | WonALWC (Blue Jays) 2–0 LostALDS (Astros) 3–0 |
| 2023 | Texas Rangers* | 90–72 | .556 | 0 | WonALWC (Rays) 2–0 WonALDS (Orioles) 3–0 WonALCS (Astros) 4–3 WonWorld Series (Diamondbacks) 4–1 |
* – From 2012 to 2019, and in 2021, the Wild Card was expanded to two teams. Those teams faced each other in theWild Card Game to determine the final participant in theAmerican 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.
| (#) | Denotes team that won theWorld Series |
| (#) | Denotes team that won theAmerican League pennant, but lost World Series |
| (#) | Denotes team that qualified for theMLB postseason |
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | |
| |||||||
| 1969 | Minnesota (97–65) | Oakland (88–74) | California (71–91) | Kansas City (69–93) | Chicago White Sox (68–94) | Seattle (64–98) | |
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| 1970 | Minnesota (98–64) | Oakland (89–73) | California (86–76) | Kansas City (65–97) | Milwaukee (65–97) | Chicago White Sox (56–106) | |
| 1971 | Oakland (101–60) | Kansas City (85–76) | Chicago White Sox (79–83) | California (76–86) | Minnesota (74–86) | Milwaukee (69–92) | |
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| 1972 | Oakland (93–62) | Chicago White Sox (87–67) | Minnesota (77–77) | Kansas City (76–78) | California (75–80) | Texas (54–100) | |
| 1973 | Oakland (94–68) | Kansas City (88–74) | Minnesota (81–81) | California (79–83) | Chicago White Sox (77–85) | Texas (57–105) | |
| 1974 | Oakland (90–72) | Texas (84–76) | Minnesota (82–80) | Chicago White Sox (80–80) | Kansas City (77–85) | California (68–94) | |
| 1975 | Oakland (98–64) | Kansas City (91–71) | Texas (79–83) | Minnesota (76–83) | Chicago White Sox (75–86) | California (72–89) | |
| 1976 | Kansas City (90–72) | Oakland (87–74) | Minnesota (85–77) | Texas (76–86) | California (76–86) | Chicago White Sox (64–97) | |
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| 1977 | Kansas City (102–60) | Texas (94–68) | Chicago White Sox (90–72) | Minnesota (84–77) | California (74–88) | Seattle (64–98) | Oakland (63–98) |
| 1978 | Kansas City (92–70) | Texas (87–75) | California (87–75) | Minnesota (73–89) | Chicago White Sox (71–90) | Oakland (69–93) | Seattle (56–104) |
| 1979 | California (88–74) | Kansas City (85–77) | Texas (83–79) | Minnesota (82–80) | Chicago White Sox (73–87) | Seattle (67–95) | Oakland (54–108) |
| 1980 | Kansas City (97–65) | Oakland (83–79) | Minnesota (77–84) | Texas (76–85) | Chicago White Sox (70–90) | California (65–95) | Seattle (59–103) |
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| 1981 | Oakland (64–45) | Texas (57–48) | Chicago White Sox (54–52) | Kansas City (50–53) | California (51–59) | Seattle (44–65) | Minnesota (41–68) |
| 1982 | California (93–69) | Kansas City (90–72) | Chicago White Sox (87–75) | Seattle (76–86) | Oakland (68–94) | Texas (64–98) | Minnesota (60–102) |
| 1983 | Chicago White Sox (99–63) | Kansas City (79–83) | Texas (77–85) | Oakland (74–88) | California (70–92) | Minnesota (70–92) | Seattle (60–102) |
| 1984 | Kansas City (84–78) | California (81–81) | Minnesota (81–81) | Oakland (77–85) | Chicago White Sox (74–88) | Seattle (74–88) | Texas (69–92) |
| 1985 | Kansas City (91–71) | California (90–72) | Chicago White Sox (85–77) | Minnesota (77–85) | Oakland (77–85) | Seattle (74–88) | Texas (62–99) |
| 1986 | California (92–70) | Texas (87–75) | Kansas City (76–86) | Oakland (76–86) | Chicago White Sox (72–90) | Minnesota (71–91) | Seattle (67–95) |
| 1987 | Minnesota (85–77) | Kansas City (83–79) | Oakland (81–81) | Seattle (78–84) | Chicago White Sox (77–85) | Texas (75–87) | California (75–87) |
| 1988 | Oakland (104–58) | Minnesota (91–71) | Kansas City (84–77) | California (75–87) | Chicago White Sox (71–90) | Texas (70–91) | Seattle (68–93) |
| 1989 | Oakland (99–63) | Kansas City (92–70) | California (91–71) | Texas (83–79) | Minnesota (80–82) | Seattle (73–89) | Chicago White Sox (69–92) |
| 1990 | Oakland (103–59) | Chicago White Sox (94–68) | Texas (83–79) | California (80–82) | Seattle (77–85) | Kansas City (75–86) | Minnesota (74–88) |
| 1991 | Minnesota (95–67) | Chicago White Sox (87–75) | Texas (85–77) | Oakland (84–78) | Seattle (83–79) | Kansas City (82–80) | California (81–81) |
| 1992 | Oakland (96–66) | Minnesota (90–72) | Chicago White Sox (86–76) | Texas (77–85) | California (72–90) | Kansas City (72–90) | Seattle (64–98) |
| 1993 | Chicago White Sox (94–68) | Texas (86–76) | Kansas City (84–78) | Seattle (82–80) | California (71–91) | Minnesota (71–91) | Oakland (68–94) |
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| 1994 | Texas (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) | |||
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| 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) | |||
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| 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) | |||
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| 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 | (1)Houston (107–55) | (4)Oakland (97–65) | Texas (78–84) | L.A. Angels (72–90) | Seattle (68–94) | ||
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| 2020 | (2)Oakland (36–24) | (6)Houston (29–31) | Seattle (27–33) | L.A. Angels (26–34) | Texas (22–38) | ||
| 2021 | (2)Houston (95–67) | Seattle (90–72) | Oakland (86–76) | L.A. Angels (77–85) | Texas (60–102) | ||
| 2022 | (1)Houston (106–56) | (5)Seattle (90–72) | L.A. Angels (73–89) | Texas (68–94) | Oakland (60–102) | ||
| 2023 | (2)Houston (90–72) | (5)Texas[e] (90–72) | Seattle (88–74) | L.A. Angels (73–89) | Oakland (50–112) | ||
| 2024 | (3)Houston (88–73) | Seattle (85–77) | Texas (78–84) | Oakland (69–93) | L.A. Angels (63–99) | ||
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| 2025 | (2)Seattle (90–72) | Houston[f] (87–75) | Texas (81–81) | Athletics (76–86) | L.A. Angels (72–90) | ||
| Team | Division championships | Postseason records[a] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Year(s) | Most recent | Wild Card[b] | ALWC | ALDS | ALCS | World Series | |
| Current Teams in Division | ||||||||
| Athletics[c] | 17 | 1971–1975, 1981, 1988–1990, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2020 | 2020 | 4 | 1–3 | 2–7 | 6–5 | 4–2 |
| Los Angeles Angels[d] | 9 | 1979, 1982, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2007–2009, 2014 | 2014 | 1 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 1–0 |
| Houston Astros | 7 | 2017–2019, 2021-2024 | 2024 | 2 | 2–1 | 7–1 | 4–3 | 2–2 |
| Texas Rangers | 7 | 1996, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016 | 2016 | 2 | 1–1 | 3–5 | 3–0 | 1–2 |
| Seattle Mariners | 4 | 1995*, 1997, 2001, 2025 | 2025 | 2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 |
| Former Teams in Division | ||||||||
| Kansas City Royals† | 6 | 1976–1978, 1980, 1984, 1985 | 1985 | — | — | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Minnesota Twins† | 4 | 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991 | 1991 | — | — | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Chicago White Sox† | 2 | 1983, 1993 | 1993 | — | — | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers /Seattle Pilots§ | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Total | 55 | 1969–1993, 1995–present | 2024 | 11 | 5–5 | 19–20 | 18–24 | 11–7 |
* – Won division via tiebreaker
§ indicates no longer in division since 1972, and no longer part of AL since 1998
† indicates no longer in division since 1994
