Discussion and resources for Major League Baseball (MLB) are the focal point of this portion of our web guide. MLB is the highest level of organized baseball in the United States and Canada.
Major League Baseball is currently made up of thirty teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL).
The modern baseball era began in 1876 when the National League was formed with eight charter teams. In 1901, the American League was founded as a rival league. The two leagues operated independently until 1903, when they agreed to cooperate and form the World Series, pitting the champions of one league against those of the other. The NL and AL operated cooperatively but as separate organizations overseen by the National Commission, a three-man governing body, until 1921, when the office of Commissioner of Baseball was established.
In 2000, the NL and AL merged into a single organization, now a single unit, divided into two parts, each with its own rules and traditions. Each league is further divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West. Teams are owned by individual or corporate entities operating under a collective bargaining agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
Until recently, a key difference between the NL and the AL was the designated hitter rule, which allows players to bat in place of the pitcher, generally leading to higher-scoring games. However, the NL adopted the DL rule in 2022, bringing the two leagues closer together.
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball oversees the operations of both leagues, enforces rules, and represents MLB in negotiations with players and other stakeholders.
The regular season typically consists of 162 games per team, with the top teams in each division qualifying for the postseason playoffs. NL and AL champions meet in the World Series, a best-of-seven game series to determine the Series champion.
The MLB season runs from late March to late September, with the postseason extending into October. The regular season is divided into two halves, with the All-Star Game held in mid-July. The game features a matchup between the NL and AL All-Star teams, with the winner earning home-field advantage in the World Series.
Although MLB teams are confined to the United States and Canada, it has a significant presence globally, with players from several countries contributing to the Major League talent pool. The World Baseball Classic, an international tournament, showcases national teams competing against one another. Held annually since 2006, the MLB International Cup also features teams worldwide competing in a tournament. Additionally, the MLB has established partnerships with international organizations to promote the sport globally.
Topics related to Major League Baseball, the National League, the American League, any of their respective teams, or other topics focused on Major League Baseball are appropriate for this category or its subcategories.
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Recommended Resources
The AFL is an off-season baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB), which operates during autumn in Arizona at six different baseball complexes. Rosters are filled by many of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) who their parent clubs assign. The six teams of the AFL are organized into three-team divisions, each affiliated with five teams in MLB , and each MLB team provides seven players from their MiLB affiliates. Schedules and teams are featured.
https://www.mlb.com/arizona-fall-league
The website is dedicated to providing information on Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums. It features details on current, past, and future ballparks, along with news, photographs, and other information. Included are data on ballpark attendance, seating charts, comparisons, spring training ballparks, and ballpark renderings and models. Ballparks are also sorted by American League and National League. An online shopping area includes replicas of ballparks and other merchandise.
https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/
Published since 1942, Baseball Digest is the nation's longest-running baseball magazine. It offers several subscription options, including print and digital. The magazine offers an archive of Major League Baseball history, featuring unique articles, player interviews, and in-depth reporting on the game. Subscribers can access its archive of more than eight hundred issues or read just the current issue. Contacts, licensing data, and advertising opportunities are available.
https://baseballdigest.com/
Baseball-Reference.com is a great resource for baseball facts and figures. The website provides information about major league baseball players including stats on batting, special batting, fielding, post-season batting and all-star game batting; appearances on leaderboards and awards as well as transactions, salaries and uniforms. The website also provides complete baseball team encyclopedias as well as league, manager, leader and record board, awards and post-season indexes.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/
Big League Tours offers a variety of baseball-themed tours that allow fans to experience Major League Baseball games and attractions across the United States. Their tours include lower-level seats, stadium tours, player experiences, and first-class hotel accommodations. They provide flexible itineraries to ensure fans can enjoy the best of baseball in different cities. Organized tours are sorted by region (East Coast, Mideast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, West Coast) and Japan.
https://www.bigleaguetours.com/
A spring training league for MLB teams held in Arizona each year, it involves fifteen MLB teams playing training games at 10 different stadiums in the Phoenix metro area and surrounding regions. Member teams include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.
https://cactusleague.com/i
The Florida Grapefruit League is a spring training league for Major League Baseball teams, held in Florida every year. It involves 15 MLB teams (Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals) playing at various stadiums across the state. A guide is featured.
https://floridagrapefruitleague.com/
MLB is a professional baseball league and the highest level of organized baseball in the United States and Canada. It has thirty teams, which are divided equally between the National League and the American League. Twenty-nine teams are in the U.S., and one is in Canada. The official site of MLB provides comprehensive coverage of professional baseball, including news, scores, schedules, standings, and player stats, along with highlights, interviews, and exclusive stories.
https://www.mlb.com/
The MLBPA is the labor union representing all current Major League Baseball players. All players, managers, coaches, and athletic trainers who hold or have held a signed contract with a Major League club are eligible for membership in the Association. The MLBPA has three major divisions: a labor union, a business (Players Choice Licensing Program), and a charitable foundation (Major League Baseball Players Trust). An introduction to the MLBPA is provided, along with press releases and contacts.
https://www.mlbplayers.com/
Major League Baseball Players Benefits Plan Handbook
The Handbook provides comprehensive information about the benefits available to Major League Baseball players, including health care, retirement plans, and other support services. The handbook is designed to help players understand their benefits and how to access them. Players' rights and protections against surprise medical bills may be downloaded from the site, and other plan benefits are available through a login. Contact information is posted on the website.
https://mlbpbenefitsplanhandbook.com/
The grassroots movement is dedicated to bringing Major League Baseball to Raleigh, North Carolina. The initiative aims to showcase Raleigh's viability as a potential location for an MLB expansion team, leveraging the city's growing population, strong television market, and rich baseball history. The movement is supported by the Carolina Hurricanes' new CEO and president, who have publicly announced their plans to pursue an MLB team in Raleigh. Potential stadium locations and events are featured.
https://mlbraleigh.com/
The popular website provides up-to-date news and analysis on Major League Baseball trades, free agent signings, and other transactions. Online since at least 2005, when it first appeared in the Wayback Machine, MLB Trade Rumors is a go-to source for fans and analysts to stay informed about the latest moves and potential deals within MLB teams. Information can be found by team. Its writing team, advertising opportunities, archives, and a mobile application are available.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
A comprehensive resource about Minor League Baseball prospects, Prospects1500 provides in-depth analysis, rankings, and news about top prospects in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB). The site publishes detailed top prospect lists, including its "Top 50 Prospects" for each MLB team, updated semi-annually, and content specific to the American and National leagues. The site's staff is introduced, along with an overview of the site, advertising opportunities, and contacts.
https://www.prospects1500.com/
Spring Training Yearbook Online
Spring Training Magazine is a comprehensive resource for fans of spring training baseball. The website provides detailed information on schedules, rosters, ticket sales, directions to ballparks, player information, and the history of spring training. It covers both the Grapefruit League in Florida and the Cactus League in Arizona, including each team in these leagues. Day-by-day schedules are included, including suggested restaurants and accommodations, maps, and contacts are included.
http://www.springtrainingmagazine.com/
