- The Cubs are the oldest MLB team.
- Seven American League teams were founded in 1901.
- The Rays and Diamondbacks are the newest MLB teams.
Major League Baseball is the world’s oldest sports league. While franchises have come and gone, some teams have stuck around for more than a century. That includes some franchises that have been located in multiple cities during their existence, but I have used their original date of formation for the purposes of this article.
MLB betting has been around throughout the game’s history, with fans and players wagering on baseball as far back as the 19th century.
What’s the Oldest MLB Team?
| Rank | Team | Year Established |
| 1 | Chicago Cubs | 1870 |
| 2 | Atlanta Braves | 1871 |
| T-3 | Cincinnati Reds | 1882 |
| T-3 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1882 |
| T-3 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1882 |
| T-6 | San Francisco Giants | 1883 |
| T-6 | Philadelphia Phillies | 1883 |
| 8 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1884 |
| T-9 | Boston Red Sox | 1901 |
| T-9 | Chicago White Sox | 1901 |
| T-9 | Cleveland Guardians | 1901 |
| T-9 | Detroit Tigers | 1901 |
| T-9 | Baltimore Orioles | 1901 |
| T-9 | Minnesota Twins | 1901 |
| T-9 | Oakland Athletics | 1901 |
| 16 | New York Yankees | 1903 |
| T-17 | Los Angeles Angels | 1961 |
| T-17 | Texas Rangers | 1961 |
| T-19 | New York Mets | 1962 |
| T-19 | Houston Astros | 1962 |
| T-21 | Kansas City Royals | 1969 |
| T-21 | San Diego Padres | 1969 |
| T-21 | Washington Nationals | 1969 |
| T-21 | Milwaukee Brewers | 1969 |
| T-25 | Toronto Blue Jays | 1977 |
| T-25 | Seattle Mariners | 1977 |
| T-27 | Miami Marlins | 1993 |
| T-27 | Colorado Rockies | 1993 |
| T-29 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 1998 |
| T-29 | Tampa Bay Rays | 1998 |
The Chicago Cubs are the oldest MLB team, beginning their life in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings. Of course, that name was brought back to life in the Windy City a few years later by the franchise now known as the Chicago White Sox.
As is evident, the American League was only formed in 1901, with seven franchises beginning that year. Only four of those seven teams have remained in their cities since.
Prior to merging with the National League in 1892, the American Association was home to the franchises now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds.
The age of a franchise has little impact on baseball betting decisions in the 21st century, though newer franchises inevitably have a smaller fanbase. Expansion has been common throughout MLB history, with the New York Mets and Houston Astros joining in 1962, and four more teams being added seven years later.
The American League added the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners in 1977 before the National League was expanded with the Florida Marlins (now known as the Miami Marlins) and Colorado Rockies 16 years later.
