At the highest level of competition, there are currently 30 teams, with 16 hailing from the national league and another 14 competing in the American League. This bicameral league system has been in place since 1901, with solely the National League in existence beforehand, dating back to 1876.Currently, the following franchises compete in the MLB:Anaheim Angels (1961-)Arizona Diamondbacks (1998-)Atlanta Braves (1871-)Baltimore Orioles (1901-)Boston Red Sox (1901-)Chicago Cubs (1871-)Chicago White Sox (1901-)Cincinnati Reds (1882-)Cleveland Indians (1901-)Colorado Rockies (1993-)Detroit Tigers (1901-)Florida Marlins (1993-)Houston Astros (1962-)Kansas City Royals (1969-)Los Angeles Dodgers (1884-)Milwaukee Brewers (1969-)Minnesota Twins (1901-)New York Mets (1962-)New York Yankees (1901-)Oakland Athletics (1901-)Philadelphia Phillies (1883-)Pittsburgh Pirates (1882-)San Diego Padres (1969-)San Francisco Giants (1883-)Seattle Mariners (1977-)St. Louis Cardinals (1882-)Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-)Texas Rangers (1961-)Toronto Blue Jays (1977-)Washington Nationals (1969-)This is not an all-inclusive list however, as over the annals of baseball history, significantly more cities have been represented among the MLB’s ranks. The following franchises are no longer in existence or are former incarnations of current teams that were later re-franchised (i.e. Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, etc.), but helped contribute to illustrious history of baseball at the Major League level:Altoona Mountain Citys (1884)Baltimore Canaries (1872-1874)Baltimore Marylands (1873)Baltimore Orioles (1882-1899)Baltimore Terrapins (1914-1915)Baltimore Unions (1884)Boston Reds (1884)Boston Reds (1890-1891)Brooklyn Atlantics (1872-1875)Brooklyn Eckfords (1872)Brooklyn Gladiators (1890)Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914-1915)Brooklyn Wonders (1890)Buffalo Bisons (1879-1885)Buffalo Bisons (1890)Buffalo Blues (1914-1915)Chicago Browns (1884)Chicago Pirates (1890)Chicago Whales (1914-1915)Cincinnati Outlaw Reds (1884)Cincinnati Porkers (1891)Cincinnati Reds (1876-1880)Cleveland Forest Citys (1871-1872)Cleveland Infants (1890)Cleveland Spiders (1879-1884)Cleveland Spiders (1887-1899)Columbus Colts (1883-1884)Columbus Colts (1889-1891)Detroit Wolverines (1881-1888)Elizabeth Resolutes (1873)Ft. Wayne Kekiongas (1871)Hartford Dark Blues (1874-1877)Indianapolis Blues (1878)Indianapolis Blues (1884)Indianapolis Hoosiers (1887-1889)Indianapolis Federals/Hoosiers (1914)Kansas City Blues (1888-1889)Kansas City Cowboys (1886)Kansas City Packers (1914-1915)Kansas City Unions (1884)Keokuk Westerns (1875)Louisville Colonels (1882-1899)Louisville Grays (1876-1877)Middletown Mansfields (1872)Milwaukee Brewers (1891)Milwaukee Cream Citys (1878)Milwaukee Grays (1884)New Haven Elm Citys (1875)New York Giants (P) (1890)New York Metropolitans (1883-1887)New York Mutuals (1871-1876)Newark Peppers (1914-1915)Philadelphia Athletics (1871-1876)Philadelphia Athletics (1882-1890)Philadelphia Athletics (1890-1891)Philadelphia Centennials (1875)Philadelphia Keystones (1884)Philadelphia White Stockings (1873-1875)Pittsburgh Rebels (1914-1915)Pittsburgh Burghers (1890)Providence Grays (1878-1885)Richmond Virginias (1884)Rochester Hop Bitters (1890)Rockford Forest Citys (1871)St. Louis Brown Stockings (1875-1877)St. Louis Maroons (1884-1886)St. Louis Red Stockings (1875)St. Louis Terriers (1914-1915)St. Paul Saints (1884)Syracuse Stars (1879)Syracuse Stars (1890)Toledo Blue Stockings (1884)Toledo Maumees (1890)Troy Haymakers (1871-1872)Troy Trojans (1879-1882)Washington Nationals (1872-1873)Washington Nationals (1875)Washington Nationals (1884)Washington Nationals (1884)Washington Olympics (1871-1872)Washington Senators (1886-1889)Washington Senators (1891-1899)Wilmington Quicksteps (1884)Worcester Ruby Legs (1880-1882)