What are the Major Leagues in Baseball?
Baseball is one of the oldest, and most beloved sports in the United States. It is a game that has been around since the mid-19th century and has become one of the most popular sports in the country. But, what are the major leagues in baseball?
Major League Baseball (MLB)
The Major League Baseball (MLB) is an organization that consists of 30 teams, divided into two leagues – the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The MLB is the highest level of professional baseball in the world and is considered to be the major league of baseball.
MLB Teams
The 30 teams that make up the MLB are located in the United States and Canada. The teams are:
- American League (AL): Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays
- National League (NL): Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals
Minor League Baseball (MiLB)
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is the collective name for the organization that consists of a group of teams in the United States and Canada. These teams are affiliated with MLB teams and are considered the minor leagues in baseball.
MiLB teams are organized into a hierarchy of levels, ranging from the Triple-A (AAA) level to the Rookie level. The Triple-A (AAA) level is the highest level of the minor leagues, followed by Double-A (AA), High-A (A), Low-A (A-), and Rookie (R).
MiLB Teams
The MiLB consists of over 250 teams located across the United States and Canada. Some of the more popular teams include the Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA), the Reading Fightin Phils (AA), the Lakeland Flying Tigers (A), and the Staten Island Yankees (R).
Independent Professional Baseball (IPB)
Independent Professional Baseball (IPB) is an organization that consists of teams that are not affiliated with MLB teams. These teams are not part of the official hierarchy of the minor leagues and are considered to be independent professional baseball teams.
IPB teams are located across the United States and are typically made up of former major and minor league players who are looking to make a comeback, or players who are looking to make the jump to the majors.
IPB Teams
The IPB consists of over 30 teams located across the United States. Some of the more popular teams include the St. Paul Saints (American Association), the Gary SouthShore RailCats (Frontier League), the Sioux City Explorers (American Association), and the Ottawa Champions (Can-Am League).
International Professional Baseball (IPB)
International Professional Baseball (IPB) is an organization that consists of teams from countries outside of the United States and Canada. These teams are not part of the official hierarchy of the major leagues and are considered to be international professional baseball teams.
IPB teams are located across the world and typically consist of former major and minor league players who are looking to make a comeback, or players who are looking to make the jump to the majors.
IPB Teams
The IPB consists of over 30 teams located across the world. Some of the more popular teams include the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants (Japan), the Seoul Nexen Heroes (Korea), the Bologna Angels (Italy), and the Sydney Blue Sox (Australia).
Collegiate Baseball (CB)
Collegiate Baseball (CB) is an organization that consists of college and university teams from across the United States. These teams are not part of the official hierarchy of the major leagues and are considered to be collegiate baseball teams.
CB teams are typically made up of student-athletes who are looking to make the jump to the professional level. Many of these players are drafted by MLB teams and eventually end up playing in the major leagues.
CB Teams
The CB consists of over 1,400 teams located across the United States. Some of the more popular teams include the University of Florida Gators, the University of Texas Longhorns, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Vanderbilt University Commodores.
Conclusion
There are a variety of different leagues in baseball, but the major leagues include the Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (MiLB), Independent Professional Baseball (IPB), International Professional Baseball (IPB), and Collegiate Baseball (CB). Each of these leagues has its own unique set of teams, and each team is made up of players who are looking to make the jump to the major leagues.
Whether you are a fan of the major leagues, the minor leagues, or the collegiate leagues, baseball is a game that is enjoyed by all. So, if you are a fan of the game, make sure to check out the teams and players in each of the major leagues in baseball.