Here's the list of all the teams in the WhatIfSports Database. It doesn't always match up with Baseball-Reference.com, but it's pretty darn close. I've noted where there's a discrepency between the two.

Two side notes: (A) When you're doing research for the New York Giants and it covers the year of 1890, both the National League franchise and the Players League franchise will show up in your results. In order to differentiate between the two, you simply sort on "Players League" and search under "Teams" to show which of the Giants DO NOT belong on the National League franchise; (B) Under the Simleague Baseball Utility Player Search, the team/league/division drop-down lists the "Rochester Hop Bitters" - don't even try to find them. The Hop Bitters only existed in 1879 and 1880, therefore, before any Hop BItters players would have been listed in the database.


N.L. - National League
A.L. - American League
A.A. - American Association
F.L. - Federal League
P.L. - Players League

B-R.com - www.Baseball-Reference.com

CURRENT TEAMS:

ANGELS:
Los Angeles Angels: 1961-1964 (A.L.)
California Angels: 1965-1996 (A.L.)
Anaheim Angels: 1997-2005 (A.L.)
Los Angeles Angels: 2006-2007 (A.L.)
Anaheim Angels: 2008-2017 (A.L.)
Los Angeles Angels: 2018-2023 (A.L.)

ASTROS:
Houston Colt .45's: 1962-1964 (N.L.)
Houston Astros: 1965-2012 (N.L.)
Houston Astros: 2013-2023 (A.L.)

ATHLETICS:
Philadelphia Athletics: 1901-1954 (A.L.)
Kansas City Athletics: 1955-1967 (A.L.)
Oakland Athletics: 1968-2023 (A.L.)

BLUE JAYS:
Toronto Blue Jays: 1977-2023 (A.L.)

BRAVES:
Boston Beaneaters: 1885-1906 (N.L.)
Boston Doves: 1907-1910 (N.L.)
Boston Braves: 1911-1935 (N.L.)
Boston Bees: 1936-1940 (N.L.)
Boston Braves: 1941-1952 (N.L.)
Milwaukee Braves: 1953-1965 (N.L.)
Atlanta Braves: 1966-2023 (N.L.)

BREWERS:
Seattle Pilots: 1969 (A.L.)
Milwaukee Brewers: 1970-1997 (A.L.)
Milwaukee Brewers: 1998-2023 (N.L.)

CARDINALS:
St. Louis Browns: 1885-1891 (A.A.)
St. Louis Browns: 1892-1898 (N.L.)
St. Louis Perfectos: 1899 (N.L.)
St. Louis Cardinals: 1900-2023 (N.L.)

CUBS:
Chicago White Stockings: 1885-1889 (N.L.)
Chicago Colts: 1890-1897 (N.L.)
Chicago Orphans: 1898-1902 (N.L.)
Chicago Cubs: 1903-2023 (N.L.)

DIAMONDBACKS:
Arizona Diamondbacks: 1998-2023 (N.L.)

DODGERS:
Brooklyn Grays: 1885-1886 (A.A.)
Brooklyn Dodgers: 1887 (A.A.) (known as the Brooklyn Grays in B-R.com)
Brooklyn Bridegrooms: 1888-1889 (A.A.)
Brooklyn Bridegrooms: 1890-1898 (N.L.)
Brooklyn Superbas: 1899-1910 (N.L.)
Brooklyn Dodgers: 1911-1915 (N.L.)
Brooklyn Robins: 1916-1930 (N.L.)
Brooklyn Dodgers: 1931-1957 (N.L.)
Los Angeles Dodgers: 1958-2023 (N.L.)

GIANTS:
New York Giants: 1885-1957 (N.L.)
San Francisco Giants: 1958-2023 (N.L.)

GUARDIANS:
Cleveland Blues: 1901-1902 (A.L.) (in B-R.com, in 1902, they were known as the Bronchos)
Cleveland Naps: 1903-1915 (A.L.)
Cleveland Indians: 1916-2021 (A.L.)
Cleveland Guardians: 2022-2023 (A.L.)

MARINERS:
Seattle Mariners: 1977-2023 (A.L.)

MARLINS:
Florida Marlins: 1993-2011 (N.L.)
Miami Marlins: 2012-2023 (N.L.)

METS:
New York Mets: 1962-2023 (N.L.)

NATIONALS:
Montreal Expos: 1969-2004 (N.L.)
Washington Nationals: 2005-2023 (N.L.)

ORIOLES:
Milwaukee Brewers: 1901 (A.L.)
St. Louis Browns: 1902-1953 (A.L.)
Baltimore Orioles: 1954-2023 (A.L.)

PADRES:
San Diego Padres: 1969-2023 (N.L.)

PHILLIES:
Philadelphia Quakers: 1885-1889 (N.L.)
Philadelphia Phillies: 1890-1943 (N.L.)
Philadelphia Blue Jays: 1944-1945 (N.L.)
Philadelphia Phillies: 1946-2023 (N.L.)

PIRATES:
Pittsburgh Alleghenys: 1885-1886 (A.A.)
Pittsburgh Alleghenys: 1887-1890 (N.L.)
Pittsburgh Pirates: 1891-2023 (N.L.)

RANGERS:
Washington Senators: 1961-1971 (A.L.)
Texas Rangers: 1972-2023 (A.L.)

RAYS:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: 1998-2007 (A.L.)
Tampa Bay Rays: 2008-2023 (A.L.)

REDS:
Cincinnati Red Stockings: 1885-1889 (A.A.)
Cincinnati Reds: 1890-2023 (N.L.)

RED SOX:
Boston Americans: 1901-1907 (A.L.)
Boston Red Sox: 1908-2023 (A.L.)

ROCKIES:
Colorado Rockies: 1993-2023 (N.L.)

ROYALS:
Kansas City Royals: 1969-2023 (A.L.)

TIGERS:
Detroit Tigers: 1901-2023 (A.L.)

TWINS:
Washington Senators: 1901-1960 (A.L.)
Minnesota Twins: 1961-2023 (A.L.)

WHITE SOX:
Chicago White Sox: 1901-2023 (A.L.)

YANKEES:
New York Highlanders: 1903-1912 (A.L.)
New York Yankees: 1913-2023 (A.L.)

EARLIER FRANCHISES:

Baltimore Orioles: 1885-1891 (A.A.) / 1892-1899 (N.L.)
Baltimore Orioles: 1901-1902 (A.L.)
Baltimore Terrapins: 1914-1915 (F.L.)
Boston Reds: 1890 (P.L.) / 1891 (A.A.)
Brooklyn Feds: 1914-1915 (F.L.) (called the Tip-Tops on BR.com)
Brooklyn Gladiators: 1890 (A.A.)
Brooklyn Wonders: 1890 (P.L.) (called the Ward's Wonders on B-R.com)
Buffalo Bisons: 1885 (N.L.)
Buffalo Bisons: 1890 (P.L.)
Buffalo Feds: 1914-1915 (F.L.) (also called the Blues and the Buffeds on B-R.com)
Chicago Pirates: 1890 (P.L.)
Chicago Whales: 1914-1915 (F.L.) (also called the Chi-Feds on B-R.com)
Cincinnati Kelly's Killers: 1891 (A.A.)
Cleveland Infants: 1890 (P.L.)
Cleveland Blues: 1887-1888 (A.A.) / Cleveland Spiders: 1889-1899 (N.L.)
Columbus Solons: 1889-1891 (A.A.)
Detroit Wolverines: 1885-1888 (N.L.)
Indianapolis Hoosiers: 1887-1889 (N.L.)
Indianapolis Hoosier-Feds: 1914 / (moved to become the) Newark Peppers: 1915
Kansas City Cowboys: 1886 (N.L.)
Kansas City Cowboys: 1888-1889 (A.A.)
Kansas City Packers: 1914-1915 (F.L.)
Louisville Colonels: 1885-1891 (A.A.) / 1892-1899 (N.L.)
Milwaukee Brewers: 1891 (A.A.)
Newark Peppers: 1915 (F.L.) (also known as the Indianapolis Hoosier-Feds: 1914)
New York Giants: 1890 (P.L.)
New York Metropolitans: 1885-1887 (A.A.)
Philadelphia Athletics: 1890 (P.L.) / 1891 (A.A.)
Philadelphia Athletics: 1885-1890 (A.A.)
Pittsburgh Burghers: 1890 (P.L.)
Pittsburgh Rebels: 1914-1915 (F.L.)
Providence Grays: 1885 (N.L.)
Rochester Broncos: 1890 (A.A.)
St. Louis Maroons: 1885-1886 (N.L.)
St. Louis Terriers: 1914-1915 (F.L.)
Syracuse Stars: 1890 (A.A.)
Toledo Maumees: 1890 (A.A.)
Washington Nationals: 1886-1889 (N.L.)
Washington Statesmen: 1891 (A.A.) / Washington Senators: 1892-1899 (N.L.)

If anyone finds an error or discrepency, please let me know and I'll make the correction.

Very good though I think that you forgot the LA dodgers on your dodger section. 

Fixed.

I am tired of guys joining historical franchise leagues and having no idea what that really means. How are they connected? Who can I use on my roster?

The Historical Lineage of a franchise is Critical to the Franchise League. What does that mean? It means that just because a player played for a team the same as yours, does not mean the franchises are related. Names have been reused throughout baseball history.

The bible for WiS is accepted as baseball-reference.com.

What makes a historical lineage is that the team was passed from 1 owner to the next, without breaking the chain. The name can be changed but the business of the franchise remains uninterrupted. 

There are some very common ones that are messed up in WiS. A few that come to mind immediately are:

Baltimore Orioles
Cleveland Indians
St. Louis Cardinals
Oakland Athletics

Unfortunately the WiS Draft Center does not help you delineate all of these franchises. I have contacted admin and they say that they will include this in a future update.

The Baltimore Orioles

The current Baltimore franchise was founded in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers. 

So... the current Baltimore Orioles lineage is as follows:

1901 Milwaukee Brewers
1902-1953 St. Louis Browns
1954- Current Baltimore Orioles

There was another very successful unrelated Baltimore Orioles franchise in the 1800's that played in the old American Association and then the Old National League. This team featured the great hitters like John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Joe Kelley and Hughie Jennings to name a few.

They played from 1882-1899 and then were disbanded.

There is a third unrelated Baltimore Orioles franchise that played in 1901-1902.

St. Louis Cardinals

The current St. Louis franchise was founded in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings in the American Association.

From 1883-1898 they were the St. Louis Browns. This team featured WiS greats Tip O'Neill, Jocko Milligan, Elton Chamberlain and Silver King.

They were the St. Louis Perfectos for 1899 before settling on the final name of St. Louis Cardinals from 1900 to Current.

St. Louis Cardinals (1900 - CURRENT)
St. Louis Perfectos (1899)
St. Louis Browns (1883 - 1898)
St. Louis Brown Stockings (1882)

Please note that the St. Louis Browns 1902-1953 are not related as they belong to the Current Baltimore Orioles as noted above.

Cleveland Indians

The current Cleveland Franchise was founded in 1901 as the Cleveland Blues and changed their name to the Cleveland Bronchos where Bill Bernhard had a stellar season.

From 1903-1914 they changed their name to the Cleveland Naps. The Naps featured Addie Joss and one of the greatest SP seasons in the SIM. Joss is probably one of the most forgotten seasons in Franchise leagues by Newbies as they do not include the Naps in their search. Shoeless Joe Jackson also played for the Naps.

In 1915 the name changed to the Cleveland Indians where the name remained.

Cleveland Indians (1915 - CURRENT)
Cleveland Naps (1903 - 1914)
Cleveland Bronchos (1902)
Cleveland Blues (1901)

*Please note that the Cleveland Infants and Cleveland Spiders are not related to the current Indians.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers (1958 - CURRENT)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1911, 1912, 1932 - 1957)
Brooklyn Robins (1914 - 1931)
Brooklyn Superbas (1899 - 1910, 1913)
Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888 - 1890, 1896 - 1898)
Brooklyn Grooms (1891 - 1895)
Brooklyn Grays (1885 - 1887)
Brooklyn Atlantics (1884)


Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves (1966 - CURRENT)
Milwaukee Braves (1953 - 1965)
Boston Braves (1912 - 1935, 1941 - 1952)
Boston Bees (1936 - 1940)
Boston Rustlers (1911)
Boston Doves (1907 - 1910)
Boston Beaneaters (1883 - 1906)

The Braves are really broken out in the Database. The Milwaukee Braves are actually a very small portion of the history. Make sure you look at the Boston Braves, there is a really nice Hornsby.

Oakland A s

Oakland Athletics (1968 - CURRENT)
Kansas City Athletics (1955 - 1967)
Philadelphia Athletics (1901 - 1954)

** The mistake made here is that there were 2 unrelated Philadelphia Athletics franchises from 1882-1891. As a matter of fact, they were not related to each other.

Ed Seward and his stack of IP are often snuck into leagues from this franchise.


Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs (1903 - CURRENT)
Chicago Orphans (1898 - 1902)
Chicago Colts (1890 - 1897)
Chicago White Stockings (1876 - 1889)

Many forget about the White Stockings. Cap Anson, John Clarkson and King Kelly (who hit almost .390) not bad for a guy rated as a Catcher.

Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins (1961 - CURRENT)
Washington Senators (1901 - 1960)

Yes the Twins get Walter Johnson and Goose Goslin.

*There is an unrelated Senators franchise from 1891-1899.
**There is also a Washington Senators franchise from 1961-1971 who belong to the Texas Rangers.


Philadelhia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies (1890 - 1942,1945 - CURRENT)
Philadelphia Blue Jays (1943, 1944)
Philadelphia Quakers (1883 - 1889)

Notice that the Phillies changed names in the middle for a couple years to the Blue Jays.

The Quakers have many great WiS players.

New York Yankees

New York Yankees (1913 - CURRENT)
New York Highlanders (1903 - 1912)

The funny thing about the Yankees is that with all those Championships the Yankees have very little elite WiS Starting Pitching (this side of Guidry) Searching the Highlanders will bring you Chesbro and Russ Ford.


Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds (1890 - 1953,1960 - CURRENT)
Cincinnati Redlegs (1954 - 1959)
Cincinnati Red Stockings (1882 - 1889)

Posted by Bilfert on 2/5/2013 12:34:00 PM (view original):
St. Louis Cardinals

The current St. Louis franchise was founded in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings in the American Association.

From 1883-1898 they were the St. Louis Browns. This team featured WiS greats Tip O'Neill, Jocko Milligan, Elton Chamberlain and Silver King.

They were the St. Louis Perfectos for 1899 before settling on the final name of St. Louis Cardinals from 1900 to Current.

St. Louis Cardinals (1900 - CURRENT)
St. Louis Perfectos (1899)
St. Louis Browns (1883 - 1898)
St. Louis Brown Stockings (1882)

Please note that the St. Louis Browns 1902-1953 are not related as they belong to the Current Baltimore Orioles as noted above.

Cleveland Indians

The current Cleveland Franchise was founded in 1901 as the Cleveland Blues and changed their name to the Cleveland Bronchos where Bill Bernhard had a stellar season.

From 1903-1914 they changed their name to the Cleveland Naps. The Naps featured Addie Joss and one of the greatest SP seasons in the SIM. Joss is probably one of the most forgotten seasons in Franchise leagues by Newbies as they do not include the Naps in their search. Shoeless Joe Jackson also played for the Naps.

In 1915 the name changed to the Cleveland Indians where the name remained.

Cleveland Indians (1915 - CURRENT)
Cleveland Naps (1903 - 1914)
Cleveland Bronchos (1902)
Cleveland Blues (1901)

*Please note that the Cleveland Infants and Cleveland Spiders are not related to the current Indians.

Bumping this for reference...I am currently in a franchise league where an owner is insisting that the Spiders are part of the current Indians franchise...it is very clear from all definitive sources (most importantly www.baseball-reference.com) that this is not the case.

Bump....

In July 2014 baseball-reference decided that the 1901-02 Orioles are no longer considered part of the current Yankees franchise.  This post has the details:

http://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2014/07/1901-02-orioles-removed-from-yankees-history/

Thanks C23 - the list above has been updated through 2014.

There is a lot of confusion over the Cleveland Spiders. Online I have read that the Spiders became the Blues which after a few other team names became the Indians. Anyone have info on this? I think baseball reference is limited. It doesn't explain the history but just shows a kind of timeline. Wikipedia describes how the Spiders became the Indians.

The two are not the same franchise.  Yes, some of the same ownership was involved, but the 2 franchises are definitely separate.  www.baseball-reference.com is not "limited"; it is the definitive source on this - much moreso than Wikipedia; the Spiders franchise ended in 1899.  The current Indians franchise started in 1901.  Franchise leagues in WIS should not permit these 2 to be combined.