The National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. It was created in 1994, merging two teams from the West (Cincinnati and Houston) and three teams from the East (Chicago, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis) divisons of the National League. In 1998 it became the largest division in Major League Baseball, with the addition of a sixth member (Milwaukee).

Current members

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• Chicago Cubs - Founding member; formerly of the NL East
• Cincinnati Reds - Founding member; formerly of the NL West
• Houston Astros - Founding member; formerly of the NL West
• Milwaukee Brewers - Joined in 1998; formerly of the AL Central
• Pittsburgh Pirates - Founding member; formerly of the NL East
• St. Louis Cardinals - Founding memberformerly of the NL East

Division Lineups

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1994-1997

• Chicago Cubs
• Cincinnati Reds
• Houston Astros
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• St. Louis Cardinals

Changes from 1993

• Creation of division due to 1994 MLB realignment
  • Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals moved in from the NL East
  • Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros moved in from the NL West

1998-present

• Chicago Cubs
• Cincinnati Reds
• Houston Astros
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• St. Louis Cardinals

Changes from 1997

• Milwaukee Brewers moved in from the AL Central, due to 1998 MLB expansion

Division champions

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• 1994: None (Due to strike)
• 1995: Cincinnati Reds

Postseason result: Swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in Divisional Series, swept by the Atlanta Braves in Championship Series

• 1996: St. Louis Cardinals

Postseason result: Swept the San Diego Padres in Divisional Series, lost to Atlanta 4-3 in Championship Series

• 1997: Houston Astros

Postseason result: Swept by Atlanta in Divisional Series

• 1998: Houston Astros

Postseason result: Lost to San Diego 3-1 in Divisional Series

• 1999: Houston Astros

Postseason result: Lost to Atlanta 3-1 in Divisional Series

• 2000: St. Louis Cardinals

Postseason result: Swept Atlanta in Divisional Series, lost to the New York Mets 4-1 in Championship Series

• 2001: Houston Astros co-championship with St. Louis CardinalsOfficial Baseball Hall of Fame Site †

Postseason result: Swept by Atlanta in Divisional Series

• 2002: St. Louis Cardinals

Postseason result: Swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in Divisional Series, lost to the San Francisco Giants 4-1 in Championship Series

• 2003: Chicago Cubs

Postseason result: Won Divsional Series 3-2 over Atlanta, lost to the Florida Marlins 4-3 in Championship Series

• 2004: St. Louis Cardinals

Postseason result: Won Divisional Series 3-1 over Los Angeles, Won Championship Series 4-3 over Houston, Swept by the Boston Red Sox in World Series

• 2005: St. Louis Cardinals

Postseason result: Swept San Diego in Divisional Series, Lost to Houston 4-2 in Championship Series

† - The Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2001 season tied for first place with identical records. Houston won the season series against St. Louis and was awarded the tie-breaker; St. Louis was awarded the wild card berth. Had a team from another division won the wild card, a one game playoff would have decided the division champion. 2001 is considered the first shared divisional championship in MLB history. MLB.com

National League Championships

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The division has produced two National League Pennant winners: St. Louis in 2004 and Houston in 2005. Both teams lost in four straight games in the World Series.

Wildcard winners

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The Wildcard is given to the team in each league with the best record that did not win its division and was first introduced in 1994, however, the system was not implemented until the following season, as a player strike prematurely ended the 1994 season. Since its implementation four NL Central teams have won this award.

• 1998: Chicago Cubs

Postseason result: Swept by Atlanta in Divisional Series

• 2001: St. Louis Cardinals

Postseason result: Lost to Arizona 3-2 in Divisional Series

• 2004: Houston Astros

Postseason result: Won the Divisional Series 3-2 over Atlanta, Lost to St. Louis 4-3 in Championship Series

• 2005: Houston Astros

Postseason result: Won the Divisional Series 3-1 over Atlanta, won the Championship Series 4-2 over St. Louis, swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series

See also

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• American League East
• American League Central
• American League West
• National League East
• National League West

Reference

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• MLB Final Standings By Year

Major League Baseball | Major League Baseball divisions | 1994 establishments | 1994 in baseball | 國家聯盟中區