<P> On November 15 , 2011 , it was announced that Crane had agreed to move the franchise to the American League for the 2013 season . The move was part of an overall divisional realignment of MLB , with the National and American leagues each having 15 teams in three geographically balanced divisions . Crane was given a $70 million concession by MLB for agreeing to the switch ; the move was a condition for the sale to the new ownership group . Two days later , the Astros were officially sold to Crane after the other owners unanimously voted in favor of the sale . It was also announced that 2012 would be the last season for the Astros in the NL . After over fifty years of the Astros being a part of the National League , this move was unpopular with many Astros fans . </P>
<P> On November 15 , 2011 , it was announced that Crane had agreed to move the franchise to the American League for the 2013 season . The move was part of an overall divisional realignment of MLB , with the National and American leagues each having 15 teams in three geographically balanced divisions . Crane was given a $70 million concession by MLB for agreeing to the switch ; the move was a condition for the sale to the new ownership group . Two days later , the Astros were officially sold to Crane after the other owners unanimously voted in favor of the sale . It was also announced that 2012 would be the last season for the Astros in the NL . After over fifty years of the Astros being a part of the National League , this move was unpopular with many Astros fans . </P>
when did the astros move to the al
when did the astros move to the al
the 2013 season
the 2013 season