The American League East is One of the Top Two Divisions Ever

The American League East is proving it's the best division in baseball, and one of the best in baseball history.

The American League East is the best division in baseball this year, but it's also one of the best divisions in baseball history, as evidenced by MLB Network.

With the second half of play to start on Friday, MLB Network tweeted out the following graphic:

Just the SECOND time in the Divisional Era (since 1969) that every team is at least 5 games above .500 at the All-Star break

The AL East has been a behemoth all season long and to accomplish something that's only happened one other time in the last 50-plus years just proves it.

The Rays enter the second half of the season at 58-35 while the Orioles are 54-35. Toronto checks in in third place at 50-41 while the Yankees are 49-42 and the Red Sox are 48-43.

All five teams are contenders and all five teams are likely to be active at the trade deadline trying to find upgrades.

The Rays open up the second half of the season with the Kansas City Royals while the Orioles take on the Miami Marlins.

Toronto hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks while the Yankees go to Colorado. The Red Sox open up the second half on the road at the Cubs.

These teams will be able to beat up on each other in the second half, but not as much as usual. With the new balanced schedule in play this year, teams only see each other 13 times instead of the previous 19 times.

It's made for less ability for teams to make in-roads in a division race, but it has allowed for cool history like this.

Follow Fastball on FanNation in social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.