Major League Baseball

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Major League Baseball is a league consisting of 30 professional baseball teams divided into two "leagues" which are named the "American League", which has 14 teams, and the "National League", which has 16 teams. Each of these smaller leagues is further divided into three divisions: East, West, and Central.

History

The American and National leagues did not always function as one combined league as they do now. They used to function as individual leagues until 1903 when the two leagues determined a combined champion through a series of games known as the World Series. The World Series is still used today to determine the Major League champion every year.[1]

Throughout the years, both leagues have seen a number of teams come and go. When the National League was formed in 1876, it had eight teams, only four of which are still in existence and in the same city that they started in. The American League was formed in 1901, it also had eight teams, seven of which are still where they started.[2]

The Minors

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in North America. Below it are the minor leagues, ranked AAA, AA and A. The Minors include such leagues as the International League and the Southern League, which typically have teams in smaller cities and towns throughout the U.S. and Canada. Major League teams use the Minors as development leagues for younger players. They also provide an opportunity for older players trying to work their way back into the Majors as well as employment for players who were never able to make it to "The Show," as the big leagues are sometimes called.[3]

List of teams in Major League Baseball

Defunct franchises

References