The American League began as a minor league called the Western League whose first season was 1894. The named was changed to American League for the 1900 season and the AL declared itself a major league for the 1901 season.
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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.
The National Consumer's League was founded by Florence Kelley in 1895.
The AFL was founded in 1959 and the first season was in 1960.
Professional baseball in the USA has a continuous history from 1876, when the National League was founded, until today. A National Association existed from 1871 to 1875, but there is controversy on whether this was an actual league or not.
The Chicago Cubs are in the national league.