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Division of Major League Baseball From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. MLB consists of an East, Central, and West division for each of its two 15-team leagues, the American League (AL) and National League (NL). This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the American League West. Before that time, each league consisted of 10 teams without any divisions.
| League | American League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Major League Baseball |
| Founded | 1969 |
| No. of teams |
|
| Most recent champion(s) | New York Yankees (2024; 21st title) |
| Most titles | New York Yankees (21) |
Four of the division's five teams are located in the Eastern United States, with the other team, the Toronto Blue Jays, in Eastern Canada. It is currently the only division that contains a non-American team. At the end of the Major League Baseball season, the team with the best record in the division earns one of the AL's six playoff spots.[lower-alpha 1]
Baseball writers have long posited that the American League East is the toughest division in MLB;[1][2] during its 50-year existence, an AL East team has gone on to play in the World Series 28 times, and 16 of those teams have been crowned World Series champions. Since the 1995 season, when the wild-card playoff berth was introduced, the AL East has produced 20 of the 32 wild-card teams for the American League, with the AL West sending seven teams, and only five coming from the AL Central.
When MLB split into divisions for the 1969 season, the American League, unlike the National League, split its 12 teams strictly on geography. The six teams then located in the Eastern Time Zone were all placed in the AL East, with the other six teams making up the AL West.
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In September 1971, American League owners approved the move of the second Washington Senators franchise to Arlington, Texas, to become the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers moving to the AL West, the owners then debated whether the Chicago White Sox or Milwaukee Brewers should move to the AL East for 1972. The White Sox requested they be moved to the East under the argument of being an original AL franchise and playing most of their longtime rival teams, of which five were in the East.
The Oakland Athletics (formerly from Kansas City and Philadelphia) objected to moving the White Sox to the East; owner Charlie Finley was a Chicago native who wanted to continue to make three trips per season with his club to the Second City. The Minnesota Twins went a step further and objected to switching either the White Sox or Brewers out of fear of losing their closest geographic rivals and the Twins, citing the National League's lack of geographic accuracy (which placed the Atlanta Braves in the NL West) in forming its divisions as a reason why the Rangers should not have been shifted out of the East. The Twins also argued that the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys played (and still do play) in the NFC East despite being far from the Northeast.
The White Sox' pleas notwithstanding, the Brewers, who began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and had to endure long divisional road trips to Oakland and Anaheim (and vice-versa) in the AL West, were moved to the AL East.
![[icon]](#/media/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion with: history after 1972. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021) |
| Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL East Division[A] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 |
| Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Red Sox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleveland Indians[D] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Detroit Tigers[E] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York Yankees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington Senators[B] |
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| Milwaukee Brewers[B][D] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toronto Blue Jays[C] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AL East Division[A] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Red Sox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York Yankees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toronto Blue Jays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Tampa Bay Rays[F] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team not in division Division Won World Series Division Won AL Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* – The Yankees and Red Sox finished with exact records, tied for the division championship; the Yankees won a one-game tie-breaker.
† – Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, the season was split. The Yankees won the first half and defeated the second-half champion Brewers (62–45) in the postseason.
†† – Due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike starting August 12, the season was not played to completion. The Yankees were leading at the time of the strike.
+ – The Red Sox and Yankees finished tied for first place with identical records. The Yankees were declared division winners, due to having won the season series against the Red Sox, and the Red Sox received the wild card berth.[lower-alpha 2]
††† – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was shortened to 60 games. By virtue of an expanded eight-team postseason format, the division runner-up Yankees also qualified for the playoffs.
Since the advent of the Wild Card, AL East teams have faced each other in the ALCS 5 times, the ALDS 4 times, and the Wild Card twice.
| Year | Winner | Record | % | GB | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | New York Yankees | 79–65 | .549 | 7 | Lost ALDS (Mariners) 3–2 |
| 1996 | Baltimore Orioles | 88–74 | .543 | 4 | Won ALDS (Indians) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1 |
| 1997 | New York Yankees | 96–66 | .593 | 2 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–2 |
| 1998 | Boston Red Sox | 92–70 | .568 | 22 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–1 |
| 1999 | Boston Red Sox | 94–68 | .580 | 4 | Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–1 |
| 2003 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 6 | Won ALDS (Athletics) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Yankees) 4–3 |
| 2004 | Boston Red Sox | 98–64 | .605 | 3 | Won ALDS (Angels) 3–0 Won ALCS (Yankees) 4–3 Won World Series (Cardinals) 4–0 |
| 2005 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 0 | Lost ALDS (White Sox) 3–0 |
| 2007 | New York Yankees | 94–68 | .580 | 2 | Lost ALDS (Indians) 3–1 |
| 2008 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 2 | Won ALDS (Angels) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Rays) 4–3 |
| 2009 | Boston Red Sox | 95–67 | .586 | 8 | Lost ALDS (Angels) 3–0 |
| 2010 | New York Yankees | 95–67 | .586 | 1 | Won ALDS (Twins) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Rangers) 4–2 |
| 2011 | Tampa Bay Rays | 91–71 | .562 | 6 | Lost ALDS (Rangers) 3–1 |
| 2012* | Baltimore Orioles | 93–69 | .574 | 2 | Won ALWC (Rangers) Lost ALDS (Yankees) 3–2 |
| 2013 | Tampa Bay Rays** | 92–71 | .564 | 5½ | Won ALWC (Indians) Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1 |
| 2015 | New York Yankees | 87–75 | .537 | 6 | Lost ALWC (Astros) |
| 2016 | Toronto Blue Jays*** | 89–73 | .549 | 4 | Won ALWC (Orioles) Won ALDS (Rangers) 3–0 Lost ALCS (Indians) 4–1 |
| Baltimore Orioles*** | 89–73 | .549 | 4 | Lost ALWC (Blue Jays) | |
| 2017 | New York Yankees | 91–71 | .562 | 2 | Won ALWC (Twins) Won ALDS (Indians) 3–2 Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–3 |
| 2018 | New York Yankees | 100–62 | .617 | 8 | Won ALWC (Athletics) Lost ALDS (Red Sox) 3–1 |
| 2019 | Tampa Bay Rays | 96–66 | .593 | 7 | Won ALWC (Athletics) Lost ALDS (Astros) 3–2 |
| 2020**** | New York Yankees | 33–27 | .550 | 7 | Won ALWC (Indians) 2–0 Lost ALDS (Rays) 3–2 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 32–28 | .533 | 8 | Lost ALWC (Rays) 2–0 | |
| 2021 | Boston Red Sox***** | 92–70 | .568 | 12 | Won ALWC (Yankees) Won ALDS (Rays) 3–1 Lost ALCS (Astros) 4–2 |
| New York Yankees***** | 92–70 | .568 | 12 | Lost ALWC (Red Sox) | |
| 2022 | Toronto Blue Jays | 92–70 | .568 | 7 | Lost ALWC (Mariners) 2–0 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 86–76 | .531 | 13 | Lost ALWC (Guardians) 2–0 | |
| 2023 | Tampa Bay Rays | 99–63 | .611 | 2 | Lost ALWC (Rangers) 2–0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 89–73 | .549 | 12 | Lost ALWC (Twins) 2–0 | |
| 2024 | Baltimore Orioles | 91–71 | .562 | 3 | Lost ALWC (Royals) 2–0 |
* – From 2012 to 2019, and in 2021, the Wild Card was expanded to two teams. Those teams faced each other in the Wild Card Game to determine the final participant in the American League Division Series. In 2020 only, eight teams, including the three division winners, played in a best-of-three Wild Card Series, with the winners advancing to the Division Series. Starting in 2022, the Wild Card field was increased to three teams, and along with the lowest-ranked division winner, qualified for the best-of-three Wild Card Series to determine the remaining two slots in the Division Series.
** In 2013, the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with the identical records of 91–71. A one-game playoff was held and the Rays won it 5–2 over the Rangers to capture the second Wild Card berth.
*** In 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles finished the season with the identical records of 89–73. However, the Blue Jays won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Orioles.
**** Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was shortened to 60 games.
***** In 2021, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees finished the season with the identical records of 92–70. However, the Red Sox won the right to host the Wild Card Game by virtue of their 10–9 regular-season record against the Yankees.
Beginning in 2022, the postseason has expanded to three division leaders and three wild cards per league.
| (#) | Denotes team that won the World Series |
| (#) | Denotes team that won the American League pennant, but lost World Series |
| (#) | Denotes team that qualified for the MLB postseason |
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | |
| |||||||
| 1969 | Baltimore (109–53) | Detroit (90–72) | Boston (87–75) | Washington (86–76) | N.Y. Yankees (80–81) | Cleveland (62–99) | |
| 1970 | Baltimore (108–54) | N.Y. Yankees (93–69) | Boston (87–75) | Detroit (79–83) | Cleveland (76–86) | Washington (70–92) | |
| 1971 | Baltimore (101–57) | Detroit (91–71) | Boston (85–77) | N.Y. Yankees (82–80) | Washington (63–96) | Cleveland (60–102) | |
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| 1972 | Detroit (86–70) | Boston (85–70) | Baltimore (80–74) | N.Y. Yankees (79–76) | Cleveland (72–84) | Milwaukee (65–91) | |
| 1973 | Baltimore (97–65) | Boston (89–73) | Detroit (85–77) | N.Y. Yankees (80–82) | Milwaukee (74–88) | Cleveland (71–91) | |
| 1974 | Baltimore (91–71) | N.Y. Yankees (89–73) | Boston (84–78) | Cleveland (77–85) | Milwaukee (76–86) | Detroit (72–90) | |
| 1975 | Boston (95–65) | Baltimore (90–69) | N.Y. Yankees (83–77) | Cleveland (79–80) | Milwaukee (68–94) | Detroit (57–102) | |
| 1976 | N.Y. Yankees (97–62) | Baltimore (88–74) | Boston (83–79) | Cleveland (81–78) | Detroit (74–87) | Milwaukee (66–95) | |
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| 1977 | N.Y. Yankees (100–62) | Baltimore (97–64) | Boston (97–64) | Detroit (74–88) | Cleveland (71–90) | Milwaukee (67–95) | Toronto (54–107) |
| 1978 | N.Y. Yankees[a] (100–63) | Boston (99–64) | Milwaukee (93–69) | Baltimore (90–71) | Detroit (86–76) | Cleveland (69–90) | Toronto (59–102) |
| 1979 | Baltimore (102–57) | Milwaukee (95–66) | Boston (91–69) | N.Y. Yankees (89–71) | Detroit (85–76) | Cleveland (81–80) | Toronto (53–109) |
| 1980 | N.Y. Yankees (103–59) | Baltimore (100–62) | Milwaukee (86–76) | Detroit (84–78) | Boston (83–77) | Cleveland (79–81) | Toronto (67–95) |
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| 1981 | Milwaukee (62–47) | Baltimore (59–46) | N.Y. Yankees (59–48) | Detroit (60–49) | Boston (59–49) | Cleveland (52–51) | Toronto (37–69) |
| 1982 | Milwaukee (95–67) | Baltimore (94–68) | Boston (89–73) | Detroit (83–79) | N.Y. Yankees (79–83) | Cleveland (78–84) | Toronto (78–84) |
| 1983 | Baltimore (98–64) | Detroit (92–70) | N.Y. Yankees (91–71) | Toronto (89–73) | Milwaukee (87–75) | Boston (78–84) | Cleveland (70–92) |
| 1984 | Detroit (104–58) | Toronto (89–73) | N.Y. Yankees (87–75) | Boston (86–76) | Baltimore (85–77) | Cleveland (75–87) | Milwaukee (67–94) |
| 1985 | Toronto (99–62) | N.Y. Yankees (97–64) | Detroit (84–77) | Baltimore (83–78) | Boston (81–81) | Milwaukee (71–90) | Cleveland (60–102) |
| 1986 | Boston (95–66) | N.Y. Yankees (90–72) | Detroit (87–75) | Toronto (86–76) | Cleveland (84–78) | Milwaukee (77–84) | Baltimore (73–89) |
| 1987 | Detroit (98–64) | Toronto (96–66) | Milwaukee (91–71) | N.Y. Yankees (89–73) | Boston (78–84) | Baltimore (67–95) | Cleveland (61–101) |
| 1988 | Boston (89–73) | Detroit (88–74) | Milwaukee (87–75) | Toronto (87–75) | N.Y. Yankees (85–76) | Cleveland (78–84) | Baltimore (54–107) |
| 1989 | Toronto (89–73) | Baltimore (87–75) | Boston (83–79) | Milwaukee (81–81) | N.Y. Yankees (74–87) | Cleveland (73–89) | Detroit (59–103) |
| 1990 | Boston (88–74) | Toronto (86–76) | Detroit (79–83) | Cleveland (77–85) | Baltimore (76–85) | Milwaukee (74–88) | N.Y. Yankees (67–95) |
| 1991 | Toronto (91–71) | Boston (84–78) | Detroit (84–78) | Milwaukee (83–79) | N.Y. Yankees (71–91) | Baltimore (67–95) | Cleveland (57–105) |
| 1992 | Toronto (96–66) | Milwaukee (92–70) | Baltimore (89–73) | Cleveland (76–86) | N.Y. Yankees (76–86) | Detroit (75–87) | Boston (73–89) |
| 1993 | Toronto (95–67) | N.Y. Yankees (88–74) | Baltimore (85–77) | Detroit (85–77) | Boston (80–82) | Cleveland (76–86) | Milwaukee (69–93) |
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| 1994 | N.Y. Yankees (70–43) | Baltimore (63–49) | Toronto (55–60) | Boston (54–61) | Detroit (53–62) | ||
| 1995 | (2) Boston (86–58) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (79–65) | Baltimore (71–73) | Detroit (60–84) | Toronto (56–88) | ||
| 1996 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (92–70) | (4) Baltimore (88–74) | Boston (85–77) | Toronto (74–88) | Detroit (53–109) | ||
| 1997 | (1) Baltimore (98–64) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (96–66) | Detroit (79–83) | Boston (78–84) | Toronto (76–86) | ||
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| 1998 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (114–48) | (4) Boston (92–70) | Toronto (88–74) | Baltimore (79–83) | Tampa Bay (63–99) | ||
| 1999 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (98–64) | (4) Boston (94–68) | Toronto (84–78) | Baltimore (78–84) | Tampa Bay (69–93) | ||
| 2000 | (3) N.Y. Yankees (87–74) | Boston (85–77) | Toronto (83–79) | Baltimore (74–88) | Tampa Bay (69–92) | ||
| 2001 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (95–65) | Boston (82–79) | Toronto (80–82) | Baltimore (63–98) | Tampa Bay (62–100) | ||
| 2002 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (103–58) | Boston (93–69) | Toronto (78–84) | Baltimore (67–95) | Tampa Bay (55–106) | ||
| 2003 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (101–61) | (4) Boston (95–67) | Toronto (86–76) | Baltimore (71–91) | Tampa Bay (63–99) | ||
| 2004 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (101–61) | (4) Boston (98–64) | Baltimore (78–84) | Tampa Bay (70–91) | Toronto (67–94) | ||
| 2005 | (3) N.Y. Yankees[b] (95–67) | (4) Boston (95–67) | Toronto (80–82) | Baltimore (74–88) | Tampa Bay (67–95) | ||
| 2006 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (97–65) | Toronto (87–75) | Boston (86–76) | Baltimore (70–92) | Tampa Bay (61–101) | ||
| 2007 | (1) Boston[c] (96–66) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (94–68) | Toronto (83–79) | Baltimore (69–93) | Tampa Bay (66–96) | ||
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| 2008 | (2) Tampa Bay (97–65) | (4) Boston (95–67) | N.Y. Yankees (89–73) | Toronto (86–76) | Baltimore (68–93) | ||
| 2009 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (103–59) | (4) Boston (95–67) | Tampa Bay (84–78) | Toronto (75–87) | Baltimore (64–98) | ||
| 2010 | (1) Tampa Bay (96–66) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (95–67) | Boston (89–73) | Toronto (85–77) | Baltimore (66–96) | ||
| 2011 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (97–65) | (4) Tampa Bay (91–71) | Boston (90–72) | Toronto (81–81) | Baltimore (69–93) | ||
| 2012 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (95–67) | (5) Baltimore (93–69) | Tampa Bay (90–72) | Toronto (73–89) | Boston (69–93) | ||
| 2013 | (1) Boston (97–65) | (5) Tampa Bay[d] (92–71) | N.Y. Yankees (85–77) | Baltimore (85–77) | Toronto (74–88) | ||
| 2014 | (2) Baltimore (96–66) | N.Y. Yankees (84–78) | Toronto (83–79) | Tampa Bay (77–85) | Boston (71–91) | ||
| 2015 | (2) Toronto (93–69) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (87–75) | Baltimore (81–81) | Tampa Bay (80–82) | Boston (78–84) | ||
| 2016 | (3) Boston (93–69) | (4) Toronto[e] (89–73) | (5) Baltimore (89–73) | N.Y. Yankees (84–78) | Tampa Bay (68–94) | ||
| 2017 | (3) Boston (93–69) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (91–71) | Tampa Bay (80–82) | Toronto (76–86) | Baltimore (75–87) | ||
| 2018 | (1) Boston (108–54) | (4) N.Y. Yankees (100–62) | Tampa Bay (90–72) | Toronto (73–89) | Baltimore (47–115) | ||
| 2019 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (103–59) | (4) Tampa Bay (96–66) | Boston (84–78) | Toronto (67–95) | Baltimore (54–108) | ||
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| 2020 | (1) Tampa Bay (40–20) | (5) N.Y. Yankees (33–27) | (8) Toronto (32–28) | Baltimore (25–35) | Boston (24–36) | ||
| 2021 | (1) Tampa Bay (100–62) | (4) Boston (92–70) [f] | (5) N.Y. Yankees (92–70) | Toronto (91–71) | Baltimore (52–110) | ||
| 2022 | (2) N.Y. Yankees (99–63) | (4) Toronto (92–70) | (6) Tampa Bay (86–76) | Baltimore (83–79) | Boston (78–84) | ||
| 2023 | (1) Baltimore (101–61) | (4) Tampa Bay (99–63) | (6) Toronto (89–73) | N.Y. Yankees (82–80) | Boston (78–84) | ||
| 2024 | (1) N.Y. Yankees (94–68) | (4) Baltimore (91–71) | Boston (81–81) | Tampa Bay (80–82) | Toronto (74–88) | ||
| Team | Division championships | Postseason records[lower-alpha 3] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Year(s) | Most recent | Wild Card[lower-alpha 4] | ALWC | ALDS | ALCS | World Series | |
| Current Teams in Division | ||||||||
| New York Yankees | 21 | 1976–1977, 1978*, 1980–1981, 1996, 1998–2006, 2009, 2011–2012, 2019, 2022, 2024 | 2024 | 8 | 3–2 | 15–9 | 12–7 | 7–5 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 10 | 1969–1971, 1973–1974, 1979, 1983, 1997, 2014, 2023 | 2023 | 3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 5–5 | 2–3 |
| Boston Red Sox | 10 | 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2013, 2016–2018 | 2018 | 8 | 1–0 | 8–6 | 6–6 | 4–2 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 6 | 1985, 1989, 1991–1993, 2015 | 2015 | 4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–5 | 2–0 |
| Tampa Bay Rays[lower-alpha 5] | 4 | 2008, 2010, 2020–2021 | 2021 | 5 | 3–2 | 2–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 |
| Former Teams in Division | ||||||||
| Detroit Tigers§ | 3 | 1972, 1984, 1987 | 1987 | — | — | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers# | 1 | 1982 | 1982 | — | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Cleveland Indians† | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Washington Senators^ | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Total | 55 | 1969–1993, 1995–present | 2024 | 28 | 9–9 | 30–23 | 29–25 | 16–13 |
* – Won division via tiebreaker
^ indicates no longer in division since 1972
† indicates no longer in division since 1994
# indicates no longer in division since 1994, and no longer part of AL since 1998
§ indicates no longer in division since 1998
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