MLB

MLB
Current season	2024 Major League Baseball season
Sport	Baseball
Founded	02 February 1869 (National Association of Base Ball Players), 28 January 1903 (modern NL–AL merger)
Commissioner	Rob Manfred
Teams	30
Country	United States (29 teams), Canada (1 team)
Champion	Texas Rangers
Most champs	New York Yankees (27)

MLB. Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in North America and is widely considered the premier baseball league in the world. Comprising 30 teams—29 in the United States and one in Canada—the league is divided into the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), each with three divisions. Governed by the Major League Baseball Constitution, the league's operations are overseen by the Commissioner of Baseball, currently Rob Manfred, with its headquarters located in Midtown Manhattan.

History

The origins of professional baseball are traced to the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, with the formation of the National League in 1876 establishing the first major league. The rival American League was founded in 1901, leading to years of competition before the National Agreement of 1903 created the modern World Series championship. Key historical moments include the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, the breaking of the color line by Jackie Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, and the league's expansion beyond its original 16 teams beginning in the 1960s. The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike led to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series, while the steroid era of the late 1990s and early 2000s significantly impacted records and led to congressional hearings.

Organization

The league is a cartel operating as a single entity, with the Commissioner of Baseball holding broad authority over all aspects of the game. The Major League Baseball Constitution grants the commissioner powers to act "in the best interests of baseball," a precedent set by Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Day-to-day operations are managed by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, which oversees broadcasting, marketing, and discipline. The 30 member clubs are represented by their respective owners and operate as independent businesses, with governance shared through the Executive Council. Key affiliated entities include Minor League Baseball (MiLB) for player development and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) as the players' labor union.

Season structure

The regular season consists of 162 games for each team, typically played from late March or early April to late September or early October. The schedule is primarily composed of intra-division and interleague play, the latter introduced permanently in 1997. The All-Star Game, held annually in mid-July, features players selected by fan vote, managers, and players, with the winning league having earned World Series home-field advantage from 2003 to 2016. Following the regular season, the top teams from each division and wild card qualifiers advance to the Major League Baseball postseason.

Teams and playoffs

The 30 teams are split evenly between the American League and the National League, with each league containing three divisions: East, Central, and West (and their NL counterparts). The postseason tournament expanded to include a second wild card team in each league in 2012 and further to a best-of-three Wild Card Series in 2022. The playoffs proceed through the Division Series and Championship Series to determine the AL and NL champions, who then meet in the World Series, a best-of-seven contest to decide the MLB champion. Historic franchises include the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Player development and labor

Most players enter MLB through the First-Year Player Draft, with international amateur free agents from nations like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Japan also forming a significant talent pipeline. Players typically develop in the Minor League Baseball system before reaching the major league roster. Labor relations have been defined by a series of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and work stoppages, including the pivotal 1972 Major League Baseball strike that established arbitration and the 1994 strike. The Major League Baseball Players Association, led by figures like Marvin Miller and Donald Fehr, is one of the strongest unions in professional sports. Key economic structures include the luxury tax and revenue sharing.

International play

MLB has actively sought to globalize the sport, beginning with regular season games played internationally such as the MLB Japan Opening Series and the MLB London Series. The World Baseball Classic, launched in 2006 and co-organized by MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association, is the premier international tournament featuring MLB players. The league maintains a significant scouting and academy presence in Latin America and has seen an influx of star players from Asia, including Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, and Shohei Ohtani. Efforts to grow the game in Europe and Australia continue through various development programs.

Cultural impact

Baseball is often referred to as "America's pastime" and holds a deep place in American culture, reflected in literature like Bernard Malamud's *The Natural*, films such as *Field of Dreams*, and the musical *Damn Yankees*. Iconic venues like Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are celebrated landmarks. The sport's statistics, from batting average to Wins Above Replacement, are a central part of its appeal and analysis. MLB's media presence is vast, with national broadcast partners including Fox, ESPN, and TBS, and regional coverage through networks like the YES Network and NESN. The league also maintains a significant digital presence through MLB.tv and MLB Network. Category:Major League Baseball Category:Professional baseball leagues in the United States Category:Professional baseball leagues in Canada