The Senior Circuit

I should clarify before I start that I'm biased when it comes to discussions between the two leagues in Major League Baseball. I grew up as a fan of the Dodgers and even though I wasn't born until almost ten years after Major Baseball Rule 6.10 (the designated hitter rule) was enacted, I believe myself to be a baseball purist who enjoys the game the way it has been played for over 100 years.

Myself at age 2

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs more commonly referred to as just the National League, the NL or the Senior Circuit is the oldest existing professional sports league in the world. Founded in 1876, the National League started with eight teams and two of them, the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves, are still playing today (however, they were using different names).


There are just a few minor differences between the Major League Baseball leagues; the American League and the National League. The most significant difference is the aforementioned designated hitter rule.


Now I will admit that there is a difference between fantasy baseball and the actual game itself but when reviewing the for quality of players that is one of the easiest ways to research the players. Of the top 40 starting pitchers ranked by Yahoo! Sports, 25 of them are from the National League and 8 of the top 10 pitchers are in the senior circuit. Of the last five American League Cy Young award winners, three of them are now pitching in the National League.

Zack Greinke in the Brewers clubhouse

Over this last offseason, there have been several transactions to improve the pitching in the National League: Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Milwaukee Brewers and fellow Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee jumped ship from the Texas Rangers to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Cliff Lee reintroduced as a Phillie by GM Ruben Amaro

Last season I offered to bet anyone who would take me on that Roy Halladay would win the Cy Young and that the National League would win the All-Star Game. As it turned out, I won both bets and was able to profit well over $100. Not only did the National League win the All-Star Game but the NL team also won the World Series. This year will likely be no different as the balance of power has swung decidedly in favor on the National League and unless Albert Pujols takes his talents to Anaheim next year we can expect the same for many years to come.