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Major League Baseball

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Major League Baseball
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 Major League Baseball season
SportBaseball
FoundedNational League (NL), (1876)
American League (AL), (1901)
National Agreement signed, (1903)
Merged into one organization, (2000)
CommissionerRob Manfred
No. of teams30
CountriesUnited States (29 teams)
Canada (1 team)
Headquarters1271 Avenue of the Americas
Most recent
champion(s)		Los Angeles Dodgers
(8)
Most titlesNew York Yankees
(27 titles)
TV partner(s)
Official websiteMLB.com

Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league in North America. It is often considered to be the highest level of professional baseball in the world. There are two leagues that make up the MLB: the American League, also called AL, and National League, also called NL. There are currently 30 teams in the MLB, 29 from the United States and one from Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays.

The official website of MLB is known as "MLB.com" (www.mlb.com).

Major League Format

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The 30 teams in MLB are divided into two leagues: American and National. Each league is divided into three divisions: East, Central, West. Since the 2013 season, each division has had five teams. The most recent change took place after the 2012 season, when the Houston Astros moved from the NL Central to the AL West.

Each team in Major League Baseball is scheduled to play a 162-game season. The season begins in April (or sometimes the end of March) and ends in October. The teams play other teams in their own division the most, and play very few (no more than six) games against teams in the other league. Teams usually play each other in series of three or four games at a time. If a game is canceled because of bad weather, it may be held later, sometimes as part of a doubleheader (two games in one day). Sometimes these games are not held again if it would not affect either team's place in the standings (the list of teams ordered by their number of wins and losses).

Highest ranking teams after this regular season enter a post-season of "playoff" games. Teams that are tied at the end of a season may play another game to decide which team(s) will enter the playoffs. The playoff games determine the champion for each of the two leagues.

In July, there are three days where teams do not play normal games, and a group of the best players play in the "Major League Baseball All-Star Game". This period is called the "All-Star Break", and it is thought of as the point where half of the season is over. Some games at the beginning of the regular season have been played in other countries, such as Japan.

Playoffs

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At the end of every season, ten teams play in the playoffs. Five teams from the AL, and five teams from the NL are in the playoffs. The team from the West, Central, or East division from each league with the most wins makes the playoffs (a team with the best record in its division is said to have "won its division"). The next two best teams in the AL and the next two best teams in the NL also get to play in the playoffs. They are called "wild card" teams. The first playoff round is called the Wild Card game. The two wild card teams from each league play each other in a one-game playoff. The winner of each game moves on to the Division Series. The team with the best record in each league plays the winner of its league's Wild Card game. The division winner with the second best record plays against the division winner with the third best record.

In the Division Series, teams play "best out of 5". Once one team beats the other three times, the winning team moves onto the next round of the playoffs, the Championship Series. The teams that lose are out of the playoffs. The AL teams that win play in the AL Championship Series. The NL teams that win play in the NL Championship Series. The Championship series is "best out of 7 games". Once one team beats the other four times, the winning team moves onto the next round of the playoffs. After the Championship Series, there are only two teams left.

World Series

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These two teams play each other in the World Series, which is also a "best out of 7 games" series. The winner of the World Series is the champion of the league. They receive a trophy, depicting flags at different heights.

History

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The first league of professional baseball teams began in 1871 and was called the National Association. This league did not play baseball the same way MLB does. For example, batters would walk after nine pitches instead of four. Many of the teams had problems with money and split up after only one or two seasons. However two teams are still playing today. Those teams were the Boston Red Stockings, which today are the Atlanta Braves, and the Chicago White Stockings, which today are the Chicago Cubs.

In 1876, the National League began, and included the Red and White Stockings as well as six other teams. This league was run better, but many teams still would split up after only a few seasons. Some, like the teams that are now called the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, are also still playing today. There were other leagues also. The American Association started in 1882. It became the Western League in 1885 and was almost as good as the National League. However many of its teams would go to the National League, and the American Association disappeared in 1891. The National League had problems, though. Players and fans did not behave well, and in 1894 a fire started during a game and destroyed the stadium and part of Roxbury, Boston.

Teams

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Division Team City Stadium Capacity Coordinates Founded Joined Ref
American League
East Baltimore Orioles Baltimore, Maryland Oriole Park at Camden Yards 45,971 39°17′2″N 76°37′18″W / 39.28389°N 76.62167°W / 39.28389; -76.62167 (Baltimore Orioles) 1901* [1]
Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 21,755 42°20′47″N 71°5′51″W / 42.34639°N 71.09750°W / 42.34639; -71.09750 (Boston Red Sox) 1901 [2]
New York Yankees New York City, New York Yankee Stadium 54,251 40°49′45″N 73°55′35″W / 40.82917°N 73.92639°W / 40.82917; -73.92639 (New York Yankees) 1901* [3]
Tampa Bay Rays St. Petersburg, Florida Tropicana Field 25,000 27°46′6″N 82°39′12″W / 27.76833°N 82.65333°W / 27.76833; -82.65333 (Tampa Bay Rays) 1998 [4]
Toronto Blue Jays Toronto, Ontario Rogers Centre 49,282 43°38′29″N 79°23′21″W / 43.64139°N 79.38917°W / 43.64139; -79.38917 (Toronto Blue Jays) 1977 [5]
Central Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois Guaranteed Rate Field 40,615 41°49′48″N 87°38′2″W / 41.83000°N 87.63389°W / 41.83000; -87.63389 (Chicago White Sox) 1901 [6]
Cleveland Guardians Cleveland, Ohio Progressive Field 44,830 41°29′45″N 81°41′7″W / 41.49583°N 81.68528°W / 41.49583; -81.68528 (Cleveland Guardians) 1901 [7]
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Comerica Park 41,083 42°20′21″N 83°2′55″W / 42.33917°N 83.04861°W / 42.33917; -83.04861 (Detroit Tigers) 1901 [8]
Kansas City Royals Kansas City, Missouri Kauffman Stadium 37,903 39°3′5″N 94°28′50″W / 39.05139°N 94.48056°W / 39.05139; -94.48056 (Kansas City Royals) 1969 [9]
Minnesota Twins Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Field 38,544 44°58′54″N 93°16′42″W / 44.98167°N 93.27833°W / 44.98167; -93.27833 (Minnesota Twins) 1901* [10]
West Houston Astros Houston, Texas Minute Maid Park 41,168 29°45′25″N 95°21′20″W / 29.75694°N 95.35556°W / 29.75694; -95.35556 (Houston Astros) 1962 (NL) 2013 (AL) [11]
Los Angeles Angels Anaheim, California Angel Stadium of Anaheim 55,517 33°48′1″N 117°52′58″W / 33.80028°N 117.88278°W / 33.80028; -117.88278 (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) 1961 [12]
Oakland Athletics Oakland, California Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 46,847 37°45′6″N 122°12′2″W / 37.75167°N 122.20056°W / 37.75167; -122.20056 (Oakland Athletics) 1901* [13]
Seattle Mariners Seattle, Washington T-Mobile Park 47,943 47°35′29″N 122°19′57″W / 47.59139°N 122.33250°W / 47.59139; -122.33250 (Seattle Mariners) 1977 [14]
Texas Rangers Arlington, Texas Globe Life Field 40,300 32°44′51″N 97°5′3″W / 32.74750°N 97.08417°W / 32.74750; -97.08417 (Texas Rangers) 1961* [15]
National League
East Atlanta Braves Atlanta, Georgia Truist Park 51,084 33°53′24″N 84°28′4″W / 33.89000°N 84.46778°W / 33.89000; -84.46778 (Atlanta Braves) 1871* (NA) 1876 (NL) [16]
Miami Marlins Miami, Florida LoanDepot Park 36,742 25°46′41″N 80°13′11″W / 25.77806°N 80.21972°W / 25.77806; -80.21972 (Miami Marlins) 1993 [17]
New York Mets New York City, New York Citi Field 41,922 40°45′25″N 73°50′45″W / 40.75694°N 73.84583°W / 40.75694; -73.84583 (New York Mets) 1962 [18]
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Citizens Bank Park 42,792 39°54′21″N 75°9′59″W / 39.90583°N 75.16639°W / 39.90583; -75.16639 (Philadelphia Phillies) 1883 [19]
Washington Nationals Washington, D.C. Nationals Park 41,339 38°52′22″N 77°0′27″W / 38.87278°N 77.00750°W / 38.87278; -77.00750 (Washington Nationals) 1969* [20]
Central Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 25,649 41°56′54″N 87°39′20″W / 41.94833°N 87.65556°W / 41.94833; -87.65556 (Chicago Cubs) 1874 (NA) 1876 (NL) [21]
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Great American Ball Park 42,319 39°5′51″N 84°30′24″W / 39.09750°N 84.50667°W / 39.09750; -84.50667 (Cincinnati Reds) 1882 (AA) 1890 (NL) [22]
Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee, Wisconsin American Family Field 41,900 43°1′42″N 87°58′16″W / 43.02833°N 87.97111°W / 43.02833; -87.97111 (Milwaukee Brewers) 1969* (AL) 1998 (NL) [23]
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania PNC Park 38,447 40°26′49″N 80°0′21″W / 40.44694°N 80.00583°W / 40.44694; -80.00583 (Pittsburgh Pirates) 1882 (AA) 1887 (NL) [24]
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Busch Stadium 45,494 38°37′21″N 90°11′35″W / 38.62250°N 90.19306°W / 38.62250; -90.19306 (St. Louis Cardinals) 1882 (AA) 1892 (NL) [25]
West Arizona Diamondbacks Phoenix, Arizona Chase Field 48,519 33°26′43″N 112°4′1″W / 33.44528°N 112.06694°W / 33.44528; -112.06694 (Arizona Diamondbacks) 1998 [26]
Colorado Rockies Denver, Colorado Coors Field 50,144 39°45′22″N 104°59′39″W / 39.75611°N 104.99417°W / 39.75611; -104.99417 (Colorado Rockies) 1993 [27]
Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles, California Dodger Stadium 56,000 34°4′25″N 118°14′24″W / 34.07361°N 118.24000°W / 34.07361; -118.24000 (Los Angeles Dodgers) 1884* (AA) 1890 (NL) [28]
San Diego Padres San Diego, California Petco Park 52,445 32°42′26″N 117°9′24″W / 32.70722°N 117.15667°W / 32.70722; -117.15667 (San Diego Padres) 1969 [29]
San Francisco Giants San Francisco, California Oracle Park 41,915 37°46′43″N 122°23′21″W / 37.77861°N 122.38917°W / 37.77861; -122.38917 (San Francisco Giants) 1883* [30]

A star (*) means a relocation of a franchise. See team articles for more information.

References

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  1. ↑ "Oriole Park at Camden Yards". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Fenway Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on February 26, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Yankee Stadium". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tropicana Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rogers Centre". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Cellular Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Progressive Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Comerica Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Kauffman Stadium". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Target Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Minute Maid Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Angel Stadium of Anaheim". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ "O.co Coliseum". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Safeco Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Globe Life Field: Overview and FAQs". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Truist Park A-Z Guide". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Marlins Park Information". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Citi Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Citizens Bank Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Nationals Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Wrigley Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Great American Ball Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Miller Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  24. ↑ "PNC Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Busch Stadium". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Chase Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Coors Field". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Dodger Stadium". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Petco Park". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. July 21, 2015. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Oracle Park History". Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved February 17, 2019.

Other websites

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