The team was transferred from the American League to the National League in 1998 during baseball's expansion and realignment. With the addition of two franchises (Arizona and Tampa Bay), one each in the NL and AL, each league would have had 15 teams. Major League Baseball, however, wished to schedule interleague play, introduced the prior year, in designated blocks throughout the season. This required each league to have an even number of teams so as to not have single interleague games scattered throughout the year. It was therefore decided to have a 16-team National League and a 14-team American League, with the Brewers volunteering to be the franchise to switch leagues, moving to the NL Central.
2006-07-03 15:36:05 · 10 answers · asked by piggy 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I agree with both the first two, you answered your own question and I also agree that Selig thought he took the high road and moved his own team back in '98. He has since relinquished control of the Brew Crew to his daughter Wendy,
2006-07-03 15:53:47 · answer #1 · answered by Rick H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually it all boiled down to the Kansa City Royals wanting out of being in the West Division and into the Central. Playing so many games on the West Coast they lost a lot of their fan base because the games were televised so late in Kansas City. Ultimately the Brewers volunteered to go the National league and that is why the divisions are lopsided today.
2006-07-03 15:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by Chuck Stayk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if they had 15 in AL and 15 in NL there would be an extra team from each meaning that they would have to sit out while all the other teams play, if each team sat out for 3 games (each series) then the season would take over a year to complete.
2006-07-10 04:28:55 · answer #3 · answered by Topher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recall that the Arizona Diamondbacks owner declared he did not want his team to play in the American League. So, maybe originally both Arizona and Tampa Bay were going to the American League, but to satisfy the Diamondback's owner, only Tampa Bay went, and they moved Milwaukee to N.L. I am not 100% sure if this is one of the reasons it happened, but I do recall the Diamondback's owner saying he did not want his team in the A.L.
2006-07-03 23:34:49 · answer #4 · answered by knuckleballer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looks like there is consensus here about why the Brewers moved to the NL. But why didn't they move back to the AL instead of moving the Astros?
2014-07-31 21:22:14 · answer #5 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, you've answered your own question!
The only thing I have to add is that Bud Selig was the owner at the time, and was also on his way to be voted in as Commissioner (7/9/98). So, he took the easy route and moved his own team.
2006-07-03 15:40:57 · answer #6 · answered by Joseph 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always hated that.
I think they should put Milwaukee in the AL Central, and move KC to the AL West.
2006-07-04 01:24:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
u answered ur own question
2006-07-03 15:40:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
u just answered your ?
2006-07-09 16:52:11 · answer #9 · answered by e 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we didn't want them anymore...............
2006-07-03 15:48:34 · answer #10 · answered by Dusty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋