one of the two associations in the United States and Canada of professional baseball teams designated as major leagues. It was founded as a minor league association in 1893 and was initially called the Western League. The Western League changed its name to the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs after the 1899 season, declared itself a major league in 1901 (the year now recognized as the league's first official season), and was granted equal status by the older National League in 1903. The American League consists of 14 teams (including one Canadian team) aligned in three divisions: the Eastern, comprising the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays; the Central, comprising the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins; and the Western, comprising the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.