National League Central

The National League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National League East (the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals).

When the division was created in 1994, the Pirates were originally supposed to stay in the East, while the Atlanta Braves were to be moved to the Central from the West. However, the Braves, wanting to form a natural rivalry with the expansion Florida Marlins, requested to be moved to the East instead. Despite the Marlins offering to go to the Central, the Pirates instead gave up their spot in the East to the Braves. Since then, the Pirates have tried several times unsuccessfully to be placed back in the East.

In 1998, the NL Central became the largest division in Major League Baseball when the Milwaukee Brewers were moved in from the American League Central, which gave them six teams. In 2013, the Astros moved to the American League West.

This division has been dominated by the Cardinals, who have accounted for 12 of the 26 division championships, plus three wild card appearances. Aside from the Cardinals, the Cubs and the Brewers both have the second-most division championships with six, as well as four wild card appearances for the Cubs and three for the Brewers. The Astros had four division titles and two wild card appearances, while the Reds have three division titles, along with one wild card appearance. The Pirates have never won the NL Central, though they do possess three wild card appearances.