National League

The National League is the oldest existing major-league professional baseball organization in the United States. The league began play in 1876 as the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, replacing the failed National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. The league’s supremacy was challenged by several rival organizations over the years, beginning with the American Association in 1882–91. Of those only the American League, formed in 1900, survived. Beginning in 1903 the champions of the National and American leagues have engaged in a World Series contest, held annually except in 1904 and 1994, to decide the championship of Major League Baseball.

The National League consists of 15 baseball teams aligned in three divisions:

• NL East: Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington (D.C.) Nationals
• NL Central: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals
• NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 26 National League (NL) pennants, the most in NL history. The team won its first pennant (as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms) in 1890 and its most recent in 2025. In addition, the Dodgers have won nine World Series, the third most in Major League Baseball history. The current NL teams ranked by NL pennant wins are:

• 1. Los Angeles Dodgers (26)
• 2. San Francisco Giants (23)
• 3. St. Louis Cardinals (19)
• 4. Atlanta Braves (18)
• 5. Chicago Cubs (17)
• 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (9)
• 6. Cincinnati Reds (9)
• 8. Philadelphia Phillies (8)
• 9. New York Mets (5)
• 10. San Diego Padres (2)
• 10. Arizona Diamondbacks (2)
• 10. Miami Marlins (2)
• 13. Washington Nationals (1)
• 13. Colorado Rockies (1)
• 15. Milwaukee Brewers (1)

Every team currently in the National League (NL) has won an NL pennant. The last team to win its first NL pennant is the Milwaukee Brewers, who did so in 2026. The Brewers spent their first 29 seasons (1969–97) in the American League (AL) and won an AL pennant in 1982. Since moving to the NL in 1998 the Brewers have made ten playoff appearances, including four berths in the NL Championship Series and one in the World Series. The Colorado Rockies and the Washington Nationals each also have won one NL pennant.