National League Central Competition
This division is one of MLB’s six divisions and only one of 3 in the NL. The division was created in 1994. The division merged two Western and three Eastern teams. They merged Cincinnati and Houston from the Western division. They also merged Chicago, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh from the Eastern division. They added Milwaukee. It has been the biggest division for over 10 years. Of these teams, the Cubs was the team that most recently won the division. Chicago Cubs merchandise is probably the most sold merchandise of the six teams in the division and that’s including even when they are in a down year. The Reds don’t really have good sales, even when they are having a decent year. I would have thought that the Cincinnati Reds merchandise would have sold well when Ken Griffey Jr. played there, but still sales fell short of the estimates.
Houston and St. Louis have dominated the division. The Astros fans love their team. Back in ‘05 when they got swept by the White Sox, Houston Astros merchandise was seen in full force. St. Louis Cardinals merchandise is more popular in the country than the Astros’s is. The two teams have won all except for 4 of the division title since 1995. They have won 3 of the possible 4 wild card berths that the division has gotten. The Cubs have been fielding good teams lately and in years where they didn’t win the division. They won the division in ‘03, ‘07 and ‘08.
The Cubs were one of the founding members. They used to be in the NL East. The Cincinnati Reds used to be in the NL West. The Houston Astros used to be in the NL West. The Milwaukee Brewers used to be in the AL central. The Pittsburgh Pirates used to be in the NL East. The St. Louis Cardinals used to be in the NL East.
The Red Sox swept the Cardinals in the World Series in 2004. The White Sox swept the Astros in the World Series in 2005. The Cardinals won the WS in five games. Teams like the Pirates don’t have many bright spots in their history. Pittsburgh Pirates merchandise hasn’t been a bright spot for the area either.
The wildcard came into play in 1994. This place in the playoffs was given to the team that had the best record that didn’t emerge victorious in their division. The Pirates have a hard time even getting the last playoff spot.
Tags: St. Louis Cardinials merchandise | St. Louis Cardinials merchandise | Pittsburgh Pirates merchandise | Pittsburgh Pirates merchandise | Cincinnati Reds merchandise | Cincinnati Reds merchandise | Houston Astros merchandise | Houston Astros merchandise | Chicago Cubs merchandise | Chicago Cubs merchandise