Major League Baseball facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Major League Baseball

Sport	Baseball
Founded	National League (NL), 1876; 149 years ago (1876) American League (AL), 1901; 124 years ago (1901) National Agreement signed, 1903; 122 years ago (1903) Merged into one organization, 2000; 25 years ago (2000)
Commissioner	Rob Manfred
No. of teams	30
Countries	United States (29 teams) Canada (1 team)
Headquarters	1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 U.S.
Confederation	WBSC Americas
Most recent champion(s)	Los Angeles Dodgers (8th title)
Most titles	New York Yankees (27 titles)
TV partner(s)	United States: ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 Fox/FS1 TBS MLB Network Canada: Sportsnet/TVA Sports TSN/RDS MLB Network International: See list
Streaming partner(s)	United States: ESPN+ Apple TV+ Max The Roku Channel Canada: Apple TV+ The Roku Channel
Official website	MLB.com

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the top professional baseball league in the United States and Canada. It's one of the four biggest sports leagues in North America. MLB has 30 teams, split evenly between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). Twenty-nine teams are in the U.S., and one is in Canada.

The National League started in 1876, and the American League in 1901. They officially joined forces in 1903 with the National Agreement. This makes MLB the oldest major professional sports league in the world. The two leagues became one organization in 2000, led by the commissioner of baseball. MLB's main office is in Midtown Manhattan, New York.

Baseball's first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, began in 1869. Early on, players often switched teams or leagues. The 1903 National Agreement stopped this by making teams respect player contracts.

Before 1920, it was called the "dead-ball era" because home runs were rare. A big scandal happened in 1919 when some players tried to lose the 1919 World Series on purpose. Baseball survived this event, and a powerful commissioner was put in charge to lead the sport.

MLB grew very popular in the 1920s. It even did well during the Great Depression and World War II. After the war, Jackie Robinson broke baseball's "color barrier" in 1947. This meant black players could finally play in the major leagues.

Some teams moved to new cities in the 1950s and 1960s. Eight new teams joined the AL and NL in the 1960s. Players also gained more rights, leading to "free agency." This meant players could choose which team to play for after their contract ended.

New stadiums with artificial turf changed the game in the 1970s and 1980s. Home runs became very common in the 1990s. Later, it was found that some players had used performance-enhancing substances. An investigation in 2006–07, called the Mitchell Report, confirmed this.

Each team plays 162 games every season. The season usually starts in early April. Six teams from each league then go to a four-round playoff tournament in October. This ends with the World Series, where the two league champions play each other. The New York Yankees have won the most championships with 27 titles. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the current champions, winning in 2024.

MLB is the second richest sports league in the world by money earned. Baseball games are shown on TV, radio, and the internet. MLB has the most fans attending games of any sports league. In 2023, over 70.75 million people watched games in person.

MLB also manages Minor League Baseball, which are smaller teams linked to the major league clubs. They also help run the World Baseball Classic, an international tournament for national teams.

Baseball's Beginnings: How MLB Started

Early Baseball Leagues

In the 1860s, baseball became a national game, helped by soldiers playing it during the American Civil War. The first group to govern baseball was the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP). It was an amateur league for 12 years. By 1867, over 400 clubs were members.

In 1869, the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was formed. This led to a split between amateur and professional players. The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NA) was created in 1871 for professional teams. Some modern teams, like the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves, can trace their history back to the NA.

In 1876, the National League (NL) was started because the NA wasn't working well. The NL focused on clubs, not just players. Clubs could now make sure players followed their contracts. They also had to play all their scheduled games. Efforts were made to stop gambling on games, which made results unfair. The first NL game on April 22, 1876, is often seen as the start of MLB.

The Baltimore Orioles from the National League in 1896.

The early NL years were tough. There were rival leagues and players didn't like the "reserve clause." This rule made it hard for players to move to other teams. Many teams came and went. The American Association (1882–1891) was the most successful rival. For a few years, the NL and American Association champions played each other, like an early World Series.

The two leagues merged in 1892, forming a 12-team NL. But the NL cut four teams after the 1899 season. This led to the American League forming in 1901. This caused a "war" between the AL and NL, with teams trying to sign each other's players.

In 1903, the AL, NL, and other smaller leagues signed a new National Agreement. This agreement helped bring peace and set up a system for minor leagues, which is still used today.

Other Leagues Recognized as Major Leagues

Over time, several other old baseball leagues have been recognized as "major leagues." This means their player statistics and records are counted with the modern MLB leagues. In 1969, MLB officially recognized six major leagues: the National League, American League, American Association, Union Association (1884), Players' League (1890), and Federal League (1914–1915).

In December 2020, Major League Baseball also recognized seven Negro league baseballs as major leagues. These included the first and second Negro National Leagues and others. In 2021, websites like Baseball-Reference.com started including stats from these leagues. In May 2024, MLB announced it was adding these Negro Leagues numbers to its official history.

The "Dead-Ball Era" (1900-1919)

Baseball legend Cy Young on a 1911 baseball card.

The years between 1900 and 1919 are known as the "dead-ball era." Games usually had low scores, and pitchers were often the stars. Famous pitchers from this time include Walter Johnson and Cy Young. The term "dead-ball" also described the baseball itself. The balls weren't wound as tightly and didn't fly as far. Also, balls were used for a long time, even when they got dirty or damaged. Owners didn't want to buy new, expensive balls.

Pitchers could also use special pitches like the spitball, which made the ball move in tricky ways. Many ballparks were very large, making home runs rare. Teams focused on "small ball" tactics like singles, bunts, and stolen bases.

A rule change in 1901 (NL) and 1903 (AL) made it harder for batters. Before this, foul balls didn't count as strikes. This new rule made scoring runs much tougher.

After the 1919 World Series, a big scandal called the Black Sox Scandal happened. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were accused of losing the World Series on purpose for money. Even though they were found not guilty in court, all eight players were banned from Major League Baseball forever.

Baseball's Growing Popularity

Baseball became even more popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The 1920 season saw a sad event: Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians died after being hit in the head by a pitch. He is the only MLB player to die from an injury during a game. After this, both leagues started using new, white baseballs more often, which helped end the "dead-ball" era.

The New York Yankees became a powerhouse team. By the end of the 1930s, they had played in 11 World Series and won eight. Their star slugger, Babe Ruth, set a new home run record in 1927 by hitting 60 home runs.

The Great Depression in the 1930s hurt baseball's popularity. Attendance dropped, and many teams struggled financially. Owners cut player salaries and team sizes. But teams found new ways to survive, like playing night games, broadcasting games on radio, and offering special promotions. No MLB teams went out of business during the Great Depression.

Baseball During World War II

World War II caused a shortage of players, as over 500 MLB players joined the military. Many played baseball for military teams. MLB teams during this time had younger players, older players, or those who couldn't serve due to physical reasons. For example, Pete Gray, a one-armed outfielder, got to play in the major leagues. However, black players were still not allowed in MLB and played in the Negro league baseball.

Wartime rules limited travel and night games. MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis asked U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt if baseball could continue. Roosevelt agreed, saying it would be good for the country's morale. So, baseball continued, even though stars like Stan Musial and Ted Williams were serving in the war.

Breaking Baseball's Color Barrier

A 1951 comic book featuring baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

In the mid-1940s, Branch Rickey, who ran the Brooklyn Dodgers, worked to bring a black player into professional baseball. He chose Jackie Robinson from the Negro leagues. Robinson promised to stay calm and not react to any racist comments. Rickey then signed him. In 1946, Robinson joined the Dodgers' minor league team, the Montreal Royals. He was the first black baseball player in that league since the 1880s.

On April 15, 1947, Robinson made his major league debut with the Dodgers. Black baseball fans came in huge numbers to watch him play. Most newspaper writers and white players reacted positively, but some did not.

Some players threatened to strike, but NL President Ford C. Frick and Commissioner Happy Chandler said any striking players would be suspended. Many major league players supported Robinson, including his teammate Pee Wee Reese. That year, Robinson won the first Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award.

Soon after, Larry Doby became the first African-American player in the American League. The next year, more black players joined MLB, including Satchel Paige and Roy Campanella.

Women in Baseball

In 1952, MLB stopped teams from signing women to contracts. This rule was changed in 1992. So far, no women have played in MLB games.

Teams Moving and Expanding

Action from the 1959 World Series at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

From 1903 to 1952, MLB had 16 teams in 10 cities, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. In the 1950s, teams started moving to new cities. For example, the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee, and the St. Louis Browns became the Baltimore Orioles.

The 1958 Major League Baseball season was a big change. Walter O'Malley, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, moved his team to Los Angeles. This was the first major league team on the West Coast. He also convinced the New York Giants to move to San Francisco. These moves were very successful for both teams and for MLB. The Dodgers set an attendance record in their first home game in Los Angeles with 78,672 fans.

In 1961, the Washington Senators moved to Minnesota to become the Minnesota Twins. Two new teams, the Los Angeles Angels and a new Washington Senators team, joined the American League. In 1962, the NL added the Houston Astros and the New York Mets. The Astros were the first Southern team since 1899. The Mets struggled at first but won the World Series in 1969.

In 1966, the Braves moved to Atlanta. In 1968, the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland. In 1969, both leagues added two more teams. The AL added the Seattle Pilots (who became the Milwaukee Brewers) and the Kansas City Royals. The NL added the first Canadian team, the Montreal Expos, and the San Diego Padres.

In 1972, the second Washington Senators team moved to Texas and became the Texas Rangers. In 1977, baseball expanded again, adding the Toronto Blue Jays (another Canadian team) and the Seattle Mariners.

Pitching Dominance and Rule Changes

This graph shows the average number of runs scored per MLB game each year.

By the late 1960s, pitchers were much stronger than hitters. In 1968, called "the year of the pitcher," Boston Red Sox player Carl Yastrzemski won the batting title with a low average of .301. Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain won 31 games, a rare feat. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson had an amazing earned run average (ERA) of just 1.12.

Because of this, MLB changed some rules in December 1968. They made the strike zone smaller and lowered the pitcher's mound. These changes were meant to help hitters.

In 1973, the American League started using the designated hitter (DH) rule. This rule allows a player to bat for the pitcher, who doesn't have to hit. This was done to increase scoring and make games more exciting.

New Stadiums and Artificial Fields

In the 1960s and 1970s, many cities built large stadiums for both baseball and football. These stadiums often had artificial turf fields. This changed how baseball was played. Speed and defense became more important than hitting home runs, as the fields were often very big.

Teams started to focus on strong pitching, especially their relief pitchers. Starting pitchers didn't always finish games; instead, a "closer" would finish the last few innings. Stolen bases increased, and home runs decreased.

Steroid Era and Team Changes

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many players hit 40 or 50 home runs in a season. This was much more common than before. It later became clear that some players were using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

In 1993, the National League added the Florida Marlins and the Colorado Rockies. In 1998, the Brewers moved to the National League, and two new teams were added: the Arizona Diamondbacks (NL) and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (AL). This brought the total number of teams to 30.

After the 2001 season, team owners thought about reducing the number of teams. The Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins were almost removed from the league. But these plans were stopped.

In 2005, the Montreal Expos moved and became the Washington Nationals. This brought baseball back to Washington, D.C., after 33 years. Montreal is now the only city since 1901 that hosted an MLB team but doesn't have one anymore.

The Modern Game: Technology and Rule Changes

Today, technology like Statcast helps teams understand players better. Statcast tracks player movements, ball speed, and how far batted balls travel. This helps teams improve players and make smarter defensive plays.

Teams used to use a "defensive shift" often, where fielders moved to one side of the field to stop certain hitters. This was very effective. But to make games more exciting, MLB banned extreme infield shifts starting in 2023. Now, two fielders must be on each side of second base when a pitch is thrown.

Baseball games had also become longer. To speed things up, MLB added a pitch clock in 2023. Pitchers now have 15 seconds to throw a pitch (or 20 seconds with runners on base). Batters must be ready to hit with 8 seconds left. If rules are broken, a ball or strike is added. Pitchers also have limits on how many times they can try to pick off a runner.

In 2019, MLB investigated the Houston Astros for stealing signs using technology in 2017 and 2018. The Astros were found guilty. Their general manager and field manager were suspended, and the team was fined. The Boston Red Sox were also found guilty of sign stealing in 2017 and 2018.

Recent Team Moves and Future Plans

In November 2023, MLB owners approved the Oakland Athletics relocation to Las Vegas. This means the Oakland Athletics team will move to Las Vegas.

As of early 2024, MLB is thinking about adding more teams. Several groups want to own a new MLB team.

MLB Teams: Who Plays Where?

Braves

Marlins

Yankees

Phillies

Nationals

Cubs

Reds

Astros

Brewers

Pirates

Cardinals

Diamondbacks

Rockies

Dodgers

Padres

Giants

Orioles

Red Sox

Mets

Rays

Blue Jays

White Sox

Indians

Tigers

Royals

Twins

Angels

Athletics

Mariners

Rangers

An asterisk (*) means the team moved from another city. See each team's page for more details.

How MLB is Organized

MLB follows rules set in the Major League Baseball Constitution. The Commissioner of Baseball leads MLB. This person hires umpires and makes deals for marketing and TV. MLB also controls most of Minor League Baseball.

MLB is the only sports league in the U.S. that isn't fully under federal antitrust laws. This special status comes from a 1922 court ruling. It has helped teams become very valuable.

The current Commissioner of MLB is Rob Manfred. There are also other important leaders who handle things like legal issues, communications, and marketing.

MLB has a special group called MLB Advanced Media. They run MLB.com and all 30 team websites. They also have a video production company. MLB also owns most of MLB Network, a TV channel about baseball.

League Structure and Divisions

In 1920, a powerful Commissioner of Baseball was put in charge to make decisions for all of professional baseball. From 1901 to 1960, both the American League and National League had eight teams each.

In the 1960s, MLB added eight more teams, including the first non-U.S. team, the Montreal Expos. Two more teams were added in the 1970s. From 1969 to 1993, each league had an East and West Division. In 1993, the National League added two teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies, to make the number of teams even. A third division, the Central Division, was added to each league in 1994.

Until 1996, teams from the two leagues only played each other in the World Series and the All-Star Game. But in 1997, "interleague play" started, meaning teams from different leagues could play each other during the regular season.

In 1998, two new teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays, joined MLB. This made 30 teams total. The Milwaukee Brewers moved from the AL to the NL to keep the number of teams even in each league. The Detroit Tigers also moved divisions. In 2013, the Houston Astros moved from the NL to the AL. Now, both leagues have three divisions with five teams each. Interleague play happens throughout the season.

In 2000, the AL and NL officially became one big league, like the NFL or NBA. They still use the names "American League" and "National League," but they are part of the same organization. The rules are the same for both leagues. For a long time, the AL used the designated hitter (DH) rule, but the NL didn't. In 2020, the NL started using the DH rule too. This change became permanent in 2022, so now the rules are exactly the same in both leagues.

Baseball Uniforms: What Players Wear

Cleveland Guardians players wearing a special throwback uniform.

A baseball uniform is what players and coaches wear during a game. It shows their role and identifies their team with logos, colors, and numbers.

Traditionally, home uniforms have the team name on the front. Away uniforms show the team's home city. But now, many teams use their team name on both. Most teams also have extra uniforms in different colors. In recent years, "throwback" uniforms, which look like old uniforms, have become popular.

The New York Knickerbockers were the first team to wear uniforms in 1849. They wore blue wool pants, white shirts, and straw hats. Caps have always been part of baseball uniforms. In 1882, a rule said players on the same team should wear different colored uniforms based on their position. This rule didn't last long.

By the late 1880s, some teams started wearing striped uniforms. By 1900, it was common for teams to have two different uniforms: a white one for home games and a gray or dark-colored one for away games.

In 2021, MLB made a deal with a company called FTX. Their logo appeared on umpire uniforms. But FTX went bankrupt in 2022, so MLB removed the patches before the 2023 season.

The Baseball Season: How it Works

Spring Training: Getting Ready to Play

A Grapefruit League game at the former Los Angeles Dodgers camp in Vero Beach, Florida.

Spring training is a time for practices and practice games before the regular season starts. Teams train in Arizona and Florida because the weather is warm there. Spring training helps new players try out for spots on the team. It also gives current players time to practice and get ready.

Teams in Arizona are in the Cactus League. Teams in Florida are in the Grapefruit League. Spring training lasts almost two months, from mid-February until early April. Pitchers and catchers start training a few days earlier because they need more time to get ready.

Regular Season: The Main Games

Each team plays 162 games in a season. Games are usually played in "series" of three games against the same opponent. Sometimes there are two- or four-game series. All games in a series are usually played at the same team's stadium. Teams often play several home series in a row (a "homestand") and then several away series.

Teams usually play five to seven days a week. Most games are at night. But on Opening Day, holidays, or the last game of a series, games might be played during the day. Sunday games are usually in the afternoon so teams can travel for Monday night games.

In the current setup, each team plays 13 games against the four other teams in its division. They also play one home series and one away series against the 10 other teams in their league. Plus, each team plays a three-game series against every team in the other league. Each team also has a "natural rival" in the other league, and they play two home games and two away games against them each year.

Since there are 15 teams in each league, two teams must play interleague games almost every day. Each team plays 20 interleague games per season.

Starting in 2023, the schedule changed. Now, every team plays at least one series against every other team each year. This means more variety in who plays whom.

All-Star Game: The Best Players Play

President John F. Kennedy throwing out the first pitch at the 1962 All-Star Game.

In early to mid-July, about halfway through the season, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is held. This is a four-day break from the regular season. The All-Star Game features a team of top players from the American League and a team from the National League.

The first official All-Star Game was in 1933. It was so popular that it became an annual event. Fans vote for the starting players in each team's lineup. This fan voting was stopped for a while in 1957 because of a voting scandal, but it came back in 1970.

For a few years, the league that won the All-Star game got "home-field advantage" in the World Series. This meant they would host more games in the World Series. This rule was stopped after the 2016 season.

All-Stars usually wear their own team uniforms for the game. But in the very first All-Star Game in 1933, the National League team wore special gray uniforms.

Postseason: The Road to the World Series

The regular season ends in early October. Then, twelve teams go to the postseason playoffs. These teams include the six division champions and six "wild-card" teams. Wild-card teams are the three teams in each league with the best records that didn't win their division.

There are four rounds of playoff games:

1. Wild Card Series: A best-of-three series. The higher-ranked team hosts all three games.
2. American League Division Series and National League Division Series: Each is a best-of-five series.
3. American League Championship Series and National League Championship Series: Each is a best-of-seven series. The winners are called "pennant winners."
4. World Series: A best-of-seven series between the two league champions.

The Commissioner's Trophy is given to the team that wins the World Series.

In the playoffs, the team with the better regular-season record usually gets "home-field advantage." This means they host more games in the series. Since 2017, home-field advantage in the World Series is based on the regular-season records of the two league champions.

International Baseball Games

Since 1986, an MLB All-Star team goes to Japan every two years. They play exhibition games against Japanese All-Stars or their national team, Samurai Japan.

In 2008, MLB played games in China for the first time. These were spring training games between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. It was an effort to make baseball more popular in China.

MLB also played games in Taiwan in 2011. In 2014, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers played regular-season games in Australia. These were the first MLB regular-season games played there.

In 2019, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees played two regular-season games in London, England. These were the first MLB regular-season games in Europe.

In 2024, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers opened the regular season in Seoul, South Korea. This was the first time MLB regular-season games were played in Korea.

MLB also works with the World Baseball Softball Confederation to put on the World Baseball Classic. This is a big international tournament where national teams compete.

How to Watch and Listen to MLB Games

Television Coverage

Several TV networks show baseball games. These include Fox, ESPN, TBS, and MLB Network. Fox broadcasts MLB games on Saturdays throughout the season. Fox also shows the All-Star Game and all World Series games.

ESPN broadcasts games, including the national Opening Day game. They also have a show called Baseball Tonight before their weekly Sunday Night Baseball game. ESPN also shows the Home Run Derby and the Wild Card Series.

TBS shows some games, and they have exclusive rights to some playoff games.

In 2009, MLB launched the MLB Network. This channel has news and coverage from around the league. It also shows live games. Each team also has local TV broadcasts for most of their games. In Canada, Sportsnet broadcasts Toronto Blue Jays games across the country.

Some MLB games are only available online. In 2022, MLB made a deal with Apple Inc. for Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+. They also partnered with NBC Sports for MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock.

Blackout Rules

This map shows MLB blackout areas in the United States.

This map shows Canadian regions affected by MLB blackouts.      Toronto Blue Jays exclusively      Shared with Seattle Mariners      Shared with Minnesota Twins      Shared with Boston Red Sox Note: Toronto Blue Jays territory covers all of Canada

MLB has "blackout" rules. This means that sometimes, a local TV station has the right to show a game in its area, so a national broadcast of that game might be blocked. MLB's online streaming service also follows these blackout rules. The Commissioner has said he wants to change these rules to make it easier for fans to watch games online.

Radio and Internet Coverage

The first baseball game ever broadcast on radio was on August 5, 1921. It was a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.

Since 1998, ESPN Radio broadcasts national games. They cover Sunday Night Baseball during the regular season, plus the All-Star Game and all playoff games.

Each team also has its own radio announcers who broadcast games. Many teams have networks of stations that cover their fans. Some teams also broadcast games in Spanish. The Los Angeles Dodgers even broadcast some games in Korean. The Toronto Blue Jays also broadcast games in French.

You can also listen to MLB games live on the internet. All TV and radio broadcasts are available through a subscription to MLB.tv on MLB.com. Radio-only broadcasts are also available through MLB.com Gameday Audio.

See also

In Spanish: Grandes Ligas de Béisbol para niños