National League East

The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central, it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title.

National League East
LeagueNational League
SportMajor League Baseball
Founded1969
No. of teams5
Most recent
champion(s)
Atlanta Braves
(2023; 18th title)
Most titlesAtlanta Braves (18)

After having internal, informal divisions for scheduling purposes during the pre-expansion era,[1] the division was formally created when the National League (NL) (along with the American League) added two expansion teams and divided into two divisions, East and West effective for the 1969 season. The National League's geographical alignment was rather peculiar as its partitioning was really more north and south instead of east and west. Two teams in the Eastern Time Zone, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, were in the same division as teams on the Pacific coast. This was due to the demands of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, who refused to support expansion unless they were promised they would be kept together in the newly created East division.

During the two-division era, from 1969 to 1993, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates together owned more than half of the division titles, having won a combined 15 of 25 championships during that span.[2] They were also the only teams in the division to have won consecutive titles during that span.[3][4][5]

When the National League realigned into three divisions in 1994, the Pittsburgh Pirates were originally supposed to stay in the East while the Braves were to be moved to the newly created National League Central. However, the Braves, wanting to form a natural rivalry with the expansion Florida Marlins, elected to be placed in the East. Despite the Marlins offering to go to the Central, the Pirates instead gave up their spot in the East to the Braves.[6] Since then, the Pirates have tried several times unsuccessfully to be placed back in the East.[7]

Division membership

Current members

Former members

Division members

Place cursor over year for division champ or World Series team.

NL East 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
Chicago Cubs[C]  
Montreal Expos
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates[C]  
St. Louis Cardinals[C]  
  Florida Marlins[B]
  Atlanta Braves[C]
NL East Division[A]
Years
97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23  
Montreal Expos Washington Nationals[D]
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Florida Marlins Miami Marlins[E]
Atlanta Braves
  Team not in division   Division Won World Series   Division Won NL Championship
A The creation of the division with the expansion of the league – with the Expos added.
B Florida Marlins added in the 1993 expansion
C The Atlanta Braves moved in from the NL West, and the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals moved into newly created National League Central Division
D The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C., becoming the Washington Nationals
E The Florida Marlins relocated from Miami Gardens, Florida to Miami and changed their name to the Miami Marlins

Champions by year

  • Team names link to the season in which each team played
Year Winner Record % Playoff Results
1969 New York Mets (1) 100–62 .617 Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–1
1970 Pittsburgh Pirates (1) 89–73 .549 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates (2) 97–65 .599 Won NLCS (Giants) 3–1
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3
1972 Pittsburgh Pirates (3) 96–59 .619 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–2
1973 New York Mets (2) 82–79 .509 Won NLCS (Reds) 3–2
Lost World Series (Athletics) 4–3
1974 Pittsburgh Pirates (4) 88–74 .543 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1975 Pittsburgh Pirates (5) 92–69 .571 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1976 Philadelphia Phillies (1) 101–61 .623 Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0
1977 Philadelphia Phillies (2) 101–61 .623 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1978 Philadelphia Phillies (3) 90–72 .556 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
1979 Pittsburgh Pirates (6) 98–64 .605 Won NLCS (Reds) 3–0
Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3
1980 Philadelphia Phillies (4) 91–71 .562 Won NLCS (Astros) 3–2
Won World Series (Royals) 4–2
1981 Montreal Expos (1)† 60–48 .556 Won NLDS (Phillies) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–2
1982 St. Louis Cardinals (1) 92–70 .570 Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Brewers) 4–3
1983 Philadelphia Phillies (5) 90–72 .556 Won NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1
Lost World Series (Orioles) 4–1
1984 Chicago Cubs (1) 96–65 .596 Lost NLCS (Padres) 3–2
1985 St. Louis Cardinals (2) 101–61 .623 Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–3
1986 New York Mets (3) 108–54 .667 Won NLCS (Astros) 4–2
Won World Series (Red Sox) 4–3
1987 St. Louis Cardinals (3) 95–67 .586 Won NLCS (Giants) 4–3
Lost World Series (Twins) 4–3
1988 New York Mets (4) 100–60 .625 Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–3
1989 Chicago Cubs (2) 93–69 .574 Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–1
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates (7) 95–67 .586 Lost NLCS (Reds) 4–2
1991 Pittsburgh Pirates (8) 98–64 .605 Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
1992 Pittsburgh Pirates (9) 96–66 .593 Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
1993 Philadelphia Phillies (6) 97–65 .599 Won NLCS (Braves) 4–2
Lost World Series (Blue Jays) 4–2
1994§ No playoffs due to 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike
1995 Atlanta Braves (1) 90–54 .625 Won NLDS (Rockies) 3–1
Won NLCS (Reds) 4–0
Won World Series (Indians) 4–2
1996 Atlanta Braves (2) 96–66 .593 Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–3
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–2
1997 Atlanta Braves (3) 101–61 .623 Won NLDS (Astros) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Marlins) 4–2
1998 Atlanta Braves (4) 106–56 .654 Won NLDS (Cubs) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Padres) 4–2
1999 Atlanta Braves (5) 103–59 .636 Won NLDS (Astros) 3–1
Won NLCS (Mets) 4–2
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0
2000 Atlanta Braves (6) 95–67 .586 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–0
2001 Atlanta Braves (7) 88–74 .543 Won NLDS (Astros) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Diamondbacks) 4–1
2002 Atlanta Braves (8) 101–59 .631 Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–2
2003 Atlanta Braves (9) 101–61 .623 Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–2
2004 Atlanta Braves (10) 96–66 .593 Lost NLDS (Astros) 3–2
2005 Atlanta Braves (11) 90–72 .556 Lost NLDS (Astros) 3–1
2006 New York Mets (5) 97–65 .599 Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Cardinals) 4–3
2007 Philadelphia Phillies (7) 89–73 .549 Lost NLDS (Rockies) 3–0
2008 Philadelphia Phillies (8) 92–70 .568 Won NLDS (Brewers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
Won World Series (Rays) 4–1
2009 Philadelphia Phillies (9) 93–69 .574 Won NLDS (Rockies) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–2
2010 Philadelphia Phillies (10) 97–65 .599 Won NLDS (Reds) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–2
2011 Philadelphia Phillies (11) 102–60 .630 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2012 Washington Nationals (2) 98–64 .605 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2013 Atlanta Braves (12) 96–66 .593 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
2014 Washington Nationals (3) 96–66 .593 Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–1
2015 New York Mets (6) 90–72 .556 Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
Won NLCS (Cubs) 4–0
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–1
2016 Washington Nationals (4) 95–67 .586 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
2017 Washington Nationals (5) 97–65 .599 Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–2
2018 Atlanta Braves (13) 90–72 .556 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
2019 Atlanta Braves (14) 97–65 .599 Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2
2020†† Atlanta Braves (15) 35–25 .583 Won NLWC (Reds) 2–0
Won NLDS (Marlins) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–3
2021 Atlanta Braves (16) 88–73 .547 Won NLDS (Brewers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Won World Series (Astros) 4–2
2022 Atlanta Braves (17)††† 101–61 .623 Lost NLDS (Phillies) 3–1
2023 Atlanta Braves (18) 104–58 .642 Lost NLDS (Phillies) 3–1

† – Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the season was split. Montreal won the second half and defeated first-half champion Philadelphia (59–48) in the postseason.
§ – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike starting August 12, no official winner was awarded. Montreal was leading at the strike.
†† – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of the eight-team postseason format used for that season, division runner-up Miami (30–29, .508) also qualified for the playoffs.
††† – The Braves and Mets finished tied for first place with identical records. The Braves were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Mets, and the Mets received the wild card berth.

Most Division titles

Team Titles Year(s)
Atlanta Braves 18 1995–2005, 2013, 2018–2023
Philadelphia Phillies 11 1976–1978, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2007–2011
Pittsburgh Pirates 9 1970–1972, 1974–1975, 1979, 1990–1992
New York Mets 6 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 2006, 2015
Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos 5 1981, 2012, 2014, 2016–2017
St. Louis Cardinals 3 1982, 1985, 1987
Chicago Cubs 2 1984, 1989
Miami/Florida Marlins 0
  • Italics indicate teams no longer in the division.
  • Note that because of the wild card postseason berth, the Miami Marlins have two World Series wins (1997, 2003) without ever winning the division.

Other postseason teams

Year Winner Record % GB Playoff Results
1997 Florida Marlins 92–70 .568 9 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–0
Won NLCS (Braves) 4–2
Won World Series (Indians) 4–3
1999 New York Mets* 97–66 .595 6.5 Won NLDS (Diamondbacks) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–2
2000 New York Mets 94–68 .580 1 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–1
Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–1
2003 Florida Marlins 91–71 .562 10 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Cubs) 4–3
Won World Series (Yankees) 4–2
2010 Atlanta Braves 91–71 .562 6 Lost NLDS (Giants) 3–1
2012 Atlanta Braves** 94–68 .580 4 Lost NLWC (Cardinals)
2016 New York Mets** 87–75 .537 8 Lost NLWC (Giants)
2019 Washington Nationals** 93–69 .574 4 Won NLWC (Brewers)
Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–2
Won NLCS (Cardinals) 4–0
Won World Series (Astros) 4–3
2020 Miami Marlins** 31–29 .517 4 Won NLWC (Cubs) 2–0
Lost NLDS (Braves) 3–0
2022 New York Mets**††† 101–61 .623 0 Lost NLWC (Padres) 2–1
Philadelphia Phillies** 87–75 .537 14 Won NLWC (Cardinals) 2–0
Won NLDS (Braves) 3–1
Won NLCS (Padres) 4–1
Lost World Series (Astros) 4–2
2023 Philadelphia Phillies** 90–72 .556 14 Won NLWC (Marlins) 2–0
Won NLDS (Braves) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Diamondbacks) 4–3
Miami Marlins** 84–78 .519 20 Lost NLWC (Phillies) 2–0

* – Defeated the Cincinnati Reds in a one-game playoff for the Wild Card, 5–0.

** – From 2012 to 2019, and in 2021, the Wild Card was expanded to two teams. Those teams faced each other in the Wild Card Game to determine the final participant in the National 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.

††† – In 2022, the Braves and Mets finished tied for first place with identical 101-61 records. The Braves were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Mets, and the Mets received the wild card berth.

Season results

(#) Denotes team that won the World Series
(#) Denotes team that won the National League pennant, but lost World Series
(#) Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th
1969N.Y. Mets (100–62)Chicago Cubs (92–70)Pittsburgh (88–74)St. Louis (87–75)Philadelphia (63–99)Montreal (52–110)
1970Pittsburgh (89–73)Chicago Cubs (84–78)N.Y. Mets (83–79)St. Louis (76–86)Philadelphia (73–88)Montreal (73–89)
1971Pittsburgh (97–65)St. Louis (90–72)Chicago Cubs (83–79)N.Y. Mets (83–79)Montreal (71–90)Philadelphia (67–95)
1972Pittsburgh (96–59)Chicago Cubs (85–70)N.Y. Mets (83–73)St. Louis (75–81)Montreal (70–86)Philadelphia (59–97)
1973N.Y. Mets (82–79)St. Louis (81–81)Pittsburgh (80–82)Montreal (79–83)Chicago Cubs (77–84)Philadelphia (71–91)
1974Pittsburgh (88–74)St. Louis (86–75)Philadelphia (80–82)Montreal (79–82)N.Y. Mets (71–91)Chicago Cubs (66–96)
1975Pittsburgh (92–69)Philadelphia (86–76)N.Y. Mets (82–80)St. Louis (82–80)Chicago Cubs (75–87)Montreal (75–87)
1976Philadelphia (101–61)Pittsburgh (92–70)N.Y. Mets (86–76)Chicago Cubs (75–87)St. Louis (72–90)Montreal (55–107)
1977Philadelphia (101–61)Pittsburgh (96–66)St. Louis (83–79)Chicago Cubs (81–81)Montreal (75–87)N.Y. Mets (64–98)
1978Philadelphia (90–72)Pittsburgh (88–73)Chicago Cubs (79–83)Montreal (76–86)St. Louis (69–93)N.Y. Mets (66–96)
1979Pittsburgh (98–64)Montreal (95–65)St. Louis (86–76)Philadelphia (84–78)Chicago Cubs (80–82)N.Y. Mets (63–99)
1980Philadelphia (91–71)Montreal (90–72)Pittsburgh (83–79)St. Louis (74–88)N.Y. Mets (67–95)Chicago Cubs (64–98)
1981St. Louis (59–43)Montreal (60–48)Philadelphia (59–48)Pittsburgh (46–56)N.Y. Mets (41–62)Chicago Cubs (38–65)
1982St. Louis (92–70)Philadelphia (89–73)Montreal (86–76)Pittsburgh (84–78)Chicago Cubs (73–89)N.Y. Mets (65–97)
1983Philadelphia (90–72)Pittsburgh (84–78)Montreal (82–80)St. Louis (79–83)Chicago Cubs (71–91)N.Y. Mets (68–94)
1984Chicago Cubs (96–65)N.Y. Mets (90–72)St. Louis (84–78)Philadelphia (81–81)Montreal (78–83)Pittsburgh (75–87)
1985St. Louis (101–61)N.Y. Mets (98–64)Montreal (84–77)Chicago Cubs (77–84)Philadelphia (75–87)Pittsburgh (57–104)
1986N.Y. Mets (108–54)Philadelphia (86–75)St. Louis (79–82)Montreal (78–83)Chicago Cubs (70–90)Pittsburgh (64–98)
1987St. Louis (95–67)N.Y. Mets (92–70)Montreal (91–71)Philadelphia (80–82)Pittsburgh (80–82)Chicago Cubs (76–85)
1988N.Y. Mets (100–60)Pittsburgh (85–75)Montreal (81–81)Chicago Cubs (77–85)St. Louis (76–86)Philadelphia (65–96)
1989Chicago Cubs (93–69)N.Y. Mets (87–75)St. Louis (86–76)Montreal (81–81)Pittsburgh (74–88)Philadelphia (67–95)
1990Pittsburgh (95–67)N.Y. Mets (91–71)Montreal (85–77)Chicago Cubs (77–85)Philadelphia (77–85)St. Louis (70–92)
1991Pittsburgh (98–64)St. Louis (84–78)Philadelphia (78–84)Chicago Cubs (77–83)N.Y. Mets (77–84)Montreal (71–90)
1992Pittsburgh (96–66)Montreal (87–75)St. Louis (83–79)Chicago Cubs (78–84)N.Y. Mets (72–90)Philadelphia (70–92)
1993Philadelphia (97–65)Montreal (94–68)St. Louis (87–75)Chicago Cubs (84–78)Pittsburgh (75–87)Florida (64–98)N.Y. Mets (59–103)
1994Montreal (74–40)Atlanta (68–46)N.Y. Mets (55–58)Philadelphia (54–61)Florida (51–64)
1995(1) Atlanta (90–54)N.Y. Mets (69–75)Philadelphia (69–75)Florida (67–76)Montreal (66–78)
1996(1) Atlanta (96–66)Montreal (88–74)Florida (80–82)N.Y. Mets (71–91)Philadelphia (67–95)
1997(1) Atlanta (101–61)(4) Florida (92–70)N.Y. Mets (88–74)Montreal (78–84)Philadelphia (68–94)
1998(1) Atlanta (106–56)N.Y. Mets (88–74)Philadelphia (75–87)Montreal (65–97)Florida (54–108)
1999(1) Atlanta (103–59)(4) N.Y. Mets[a] (97–66)Philadelphia (77–85)Montreal (68–94)Florida (64–98)
2000(3) Atlanta[b] (95–67)(4) N.Y. Mets (94–68)Florida (79–82)Montreal (67–95)Philadelphia (65–97)
2001(3) Atlanta (88–74)Philadelphia (86–76)N.Y. Mets (82–80)Florida (76–86)Montreal (68–94)
2002(1) Atlanta (101–59)Montreal (83–79)Philadelphia (80–81)Florida (79–83)N.Y. Mets (75–86)
2003(1) Atlanta (101–61)(4) Florida (91–71)Philadelphia (86–76)Montreal (83–79)N.Y. Mets (66–95)
2004(2) Atlanta (96–66)Philadelphia (86–76)Florida (83–79)N.Y. Mets (71–91)Montreal (67–95)
2005(2) Atlanta (90–72)Philadelphia (88–74)Florida (83–79)N.Y. Mets (83–79)Washington (81–81)
2006(1) N.Y. Mets (97–65)Philadelphia (85–77)Atlanta (79–83)Florida (78–84)Washington (71–91)
2007(2) Philadelphia (89–73)N.Y. Mets (88–74)Atlanta (84–78)Washington (73–89)Florida (71–91)
2008(2) Philadelphia (92–70)N.Y. Mets (89–73)Florida (84–77)Atlanta (72–90)Washington (59–102)
2009(2) Philadelphia (93–69)Florida (87–75)Atlanta (86–76)N.Y. Mets (70–92)Washington (59–103)
2010(1) Philadelphia (97–65)(4) Atlanta (91–71)Florida (80–82)N.Y. Mets (79–83)Washington (69–93)
2011(1) Philadelphia (102–60)Atlanta (89–73)Washington (80–81)N.Y. Mets (77–85)Florida (72–90)
2012(1) Washington (98–64)(4) Atlanta (94–68)Philadelphia (81–81)N.Y. Mets (74–88)Miami (69–93)
2013(2) Atlanta (96–66)Washington (86–76)N.Y. Mets (74–88)Philadelphia (73–89)Miami (62–100)
2014(1) Washington (96–66)Atlanta (79–83)N.Y. Mets (79–83)Miami (77–85)Philadelphia (73–89)
2015(3) N.Y. Mets (90–72)Washington (83–79)Miami (71–91)Atlanta (67–95)Philadelphia (63–99)
2016(2) Washington (95–67)(4) N.Y. Mets[c] (87–75)Miami (79–82)Philadelphia (71–91)Atlanta (68–93)
2017(2) Washington (97–65)Miami (77–85)Atlanta (72–90)N.Y. Mets (70–92)Philadelphia (66–96)
2018(3) Atlanta (90–72)Washington (82–80)Philadelphia (80–82)N.Y. Mets (77–85)Miami (63–98)
2019(2) Atlanta (97–65)(4) Washington (93–69)N.Y. Mets (86–76)Philadelphia (81–81)Miami (57–105)
  • 2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games. The postseason field was expanded to eight teams and the wild-card round became a best-of-three series.
2020(2) Atlanta (35–25)(6) Miami (31–29)Philadelphia (28–32)Washington (26–34)N.Y. Mets (26–34)
2021(3) Atlanta (88–73)Philadelphia (82–80)N.Y. Mets (77–85)Miami (67–95)Washington (65–97)
2022(2) Atlanta[d] (101–61)(4) N.Y. Mets[d] (101–61)(6) Philadelphia (87–75)Miami (69–93)Washington (55–107)
2023(1) Atlanta (104–58)(4) Philadelphia (90–72)(5) Miami[e] (84–78)N.Y. Mets (75–87)Washington (71–91)
Notes and Tiebreakers
  • a New York and Cincinnati of the National League Central were tied for the wild-card berth and played in a tie-breaker game. The Mets won 5–0 to claim the wild-card spot.
  • b Atlanta and St. Louis of the National League Central were tied for the second and third seed, but the Braves were relegated to the third seed by losing the season series 4–3.
  • c New York and San Francisco of the National League West were tied for both wild-card berths, but the Mets claimed the first wild-card spot by winning the season series 4–3.
  • d Atlanta and New York were tied for the division title, but the Braves claimed the National League East title by winning the season series 10–9.
  • e Miami and Arizona of the National League West were tied for the fifth seed and the second wild-card berth, but the Marlins claimed the second wild-card spot by winning the season series 4–2.

See also

References

  1. "Boston Braves go to Milwaukee". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. March 18, 1953. p. 1.
  2. Collier, Gene (September 27, 1993). "Pirates, Phillies Have Owned the Outgoing NL East Division". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1.
  3. Collier, Gene (July 4, 2005). "PiratesPhillies: A Rivalry Lost and Missed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1.
  4. Von Benko, George (July 7, 2005). "Notes: Phils–Pirates rivalry fading". Philadelphia Phillies. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  5. "Pirates perform rare three-peat feat 4-2". USA Today. September 28, 1992. p. 5C.
  6. Chass, Murray (16 September 1993). "BASEBALL; Pirates Relent on New Alignment". The New York Times.
  7. "Starkey: Pirates in American League' Yes!". TribLIVE.com. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
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