Strange question: number of teams per year list?

[downstairs]

Ok... hopefully this is on-topic in this category.

Anyone know where I can get a simple list of how many MLB teams existed, year-by-year since, say, 1900 or so?

Maybe someone can just do it here from memory?

[elrod]

From memory:

1901-1960:
AL: 8 teams - some teams changed names and location but there were no new ones
Orioles/Yankees (Baltimore Orioles move to NY in 1903)
Brewers/Browns/Orioles (MIL Brewers moved to STL in 1902 and BALT in 1954)
White Sox
Tigers
Indians
Red Sox
Senators
Athletics

NL: 8 teams
Phillies
Giants
Dodgers
Cubs
Braves
Reds
Cardinals
Pirates

1961-1968
10 teams in AL; same as above plus new Senators (old ones became the Twins) and Angels

1962-1968
10 teams in NL; same as above plus Mets and Astros

1969-1976
12 teams in AL; same as previous plus Pilots/Brewers and Royals
Note: In 1971 the new Senators became the Texas Rangers
Also, the 1969 Seattle Pilots move to Milwaukee in 1970

1969-1992
12 teams in NL; same as previous plus Padres and Expos


1977-1997
14 teams in AL; same as previous plus Blue Jays and Mariners

1993-1997
14 teams in NL; same as previous plus Rockies and Marlins

1998-present
Brewers move from AL to NL, new Diamondbacks, giving NL 16 teams
AL has 14 teams with Devil Rays and no more Brewers
Note: in 2004 the Expos become the Washington Nationals

Hope this helps.

[downstairs]

Thank you Elrod!

[ATXBMX]

This should pretty much cover it. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/)