Baseball Vernacular- American League East teams

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of posts that will help my in-laws and other non-baseball fan readers understand the game. This one will concentrate on the teams that play in the big leagues. 

There are actually two Major Leagues. The American League and National League are early 20th century rivals that survive to this day, partially because they agreed to play in the World's Series in 1903.
The National League was the first of the Major Leagues. At times, it faced competition from the Players League, Federal League, American Association and Union Association.
The American League - sometimes called The Junior Circuit - formed in 1901.
To make a long story very short, the leagues combined under the umbrella of Major League Baseball over the years. They still play under different rules, the major one being that a designated hitter is allowed in the American League.
After baseball began expanding, things changed. In 1969, each league was divided up into two divisions, the East and the West. A third division, Central, was added in 1994.
Here is a look at the teams that play in the American League East.

American League East

Baltimore Orioles Despite being a terrible organization for the past 15 years, the Orioles boast an impressive history and play in one of the game's most beautiful locations, Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Players you should know: Cal Ripken, Jr.; Brooks Robinson
History: Having spent more than half a century in St. Louis, the Browns moved to Baltimore before the 1954 season and became the Orioles. The franchise won three World Series and six pennants in the next 30 years.

Boston Red Sox For 86 years, the Red Sox were a pathetic team you couldn't help but root for - an honest-to-God real-life Mudville Nine. Now they win and most people don't find that as cute.
Players you should know: Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Carl Yastrzemski (Just say Yaz and people will be impressed)
History: Shakespeare couldn't have written their tragedies. They traded away Babe Ruth. They lost one World Series in which they were one out away from winning it all, only to see a ground ball go through their first baseman's legs. Then, in a beautiful 2004 October, they slayed the mighty Yankees in shocking fashion. After losing the first three games of a best-of-seven series and trailing in the fourth game, the Sox forced a Game 7 in New York and beat the Yankees.They've played in Fenway Park since 1912.

New York Yankees If you don't know who the Yankees are, you're a terrible American. They are the game's premier franchise. And their fans never miss a chance to let you know it.
Players you should know: Seriously, if you don't know who Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio are, you shouldn't be allowed to vote - for American Idol or in presidential elections.  But you should also know Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
History: The Yankees have won a ridiculous 27 World Series. Babe Ruth, hands down the game's greatest star, turned around this moribund franchise when he arrived after a trade from Boston. 

Tampa Bay Rays The Rays have humble beginnings, but have become one of baseball's premier franchises. They've actually won as many division titles as the Yankees and Red Sox combined (two) in the past four years. 
 Players you should know: While they don't have any household names yet, two of the best players in the game today play for the Rays: Evan Longoria and David Price.
History: The Devil Rays came into existence in 1998 and spent nine of the next 10 years in last place. That year they didn't finish in the cellar saw them finish second-to-last. Dizzying heights. Well, before the 2008 season, the Rays dropped the "Devil" in their name and proceeded on a trip to the World Series, where they lost to the Phillies. 

Toronto Blue Jays: The Toronto Blue Jays are often a solid Major League team and even won back-to-back World Series in the 1992-1993 seasons.
Players you should know:  Joe Carter is one of two players to ever hit a home run to end a World Series, he did so against the Phillies in 1993, making this writer cry himself to sleep. Several other legendary players have spent parts of their careers in Toronto, namely Rickey Henderson, Roberto Alomar and Roger Clemens.
History: The Blue Jays were introduced in 1977 and became the first - and only - Canadian team to win the World Series