The National League began in 1876 and the American League started in 1901. The Cincinnati Reds were the first professional team founded in 1869 and were known as the Red Stockings back then.
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The Brooklyn Dodgers, winner of the National League, defeated the New York Yankees, American League Champions, four games to three to become World Champions in 1955.
While it was organized professional football that would become the NFL, it was called the American Professional Football Conference and formed August 20, 1920. The NFL itself, using the name National Football League, was formed in June , 1922.
It was never illegal in football.
Expansion to 10 teams came to the American League in 1961, with the addition of the Los Angeles Angels the Minnesota Twins. The National League expanded to 10 teams in 1962 with the addition of the New York Mets and the Houston Colt 45's. The next round of expansion, and the introduction of divisonal play, came in 1969, as each league expanded to 2 divsions of 6 teams each. New teams were the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots (soon to move and become the Milwaukee Brewers) in the American League, and the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres in the National League.
In 1869, the Cincinnati Baseball Club, better known as the Red Stockings, became the first all professional team. Two years later the National Association, the first major league of baseball, was formed.