the american league became a major league before the 1901 season. as the american league made the jump to major league status, many players jumped ship, including cy young and nap lajoie, which led the national league to call them an "outlaw league" in november 1900. as the 1901 season came underway in april, and as the war between the two leagues erupted, the cleveland franchise, now known as the blues, began its first official season as a major league baseball team.