Overview of Major League Baseball (MLB)
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league founded in 1903 and is considered the most significant professional baseball league in the world. MLB is subdivided into two leagues, The American League and The National League. MLB is comprised of 30 total teams, consisting of 15 teams in each league. MLB has been a popular spectator sport in the United States and Canada and is one of the major professional sports leagues in both countries.
MLB Expansion History
Throughout the history of MLB, teams have been added and removed, resulting in the current 30-team setup. The first expansion of teams occurred in 1961 when the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators were added to the American League.
MLB Expansion to 30 Teams
The MLB expansion to 30 teams occurred in 1998 when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays were added to the National League and American League, respectively. At the time of the expansion, MLB was the first of the four major North American professional sports leagues to have an even number of teams in each of its two leagues.
Reasons for Expansion
The expansion to 30 teams was driven by several factors. One of the main reasons was to create a balanced schedule between teams. With 30 teams, each team could play 162 games a season, with 81 games being home games and 81 games being away games. This was a much more balanced schedule than what had been previously used with 28 teams, which resulted in some teams playing more home or away games than others.
The expansion was also driven by the desire to create new markets for MLB and to grow the game in new areas. The addition of the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays opened up the markets of Arizona and Florida, respectively, to MLB and created new opportunities for the league to expand its reach.
Impact of Expansion on MLB
The expansion to 30 teams had a significant impact on MLB. The most obvious impact was the expansion of the league to new markets, which has allowed MLB to reach a larger audience and increase its revenue. The expansion also provided a more balanced schedule for teams and allowed for more interleague games, which have become a fan favorite.
Impact of Expansion on Players
The expansion to 30 teams had a positive impact on players as well. With 30 teams, there were more opportunities for players to find a job in the league and to make a living playing professional baseball. Additionally, the expansion allowed for more interleague games, which led to more opportunities for players to be noticed and recruited by other teams.
Impact of Expansion on Fans
The expansion to 30 teams had a significant impact on fans as well. The addition of the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays created two new teams for fans to root for, which increased fan interest in the league. Additionally, the expansion allowed for more interleague games, which created new rivalries and increased fan interest in the game.
Impact of Expansion on Attendance
The expansion to 30 teams also had an impact on attendance. The addition of the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays created two new fan bases in Arizona and Florida, respectively, which increased attendance in those markets. Additionally, the expansion allowed for more interleague games, which increased attendance across the league.
The Future of MLB Expansion
Given the success of the expansion to 30 teams, it is likely that MLB will consider further expansion in the future. The most likely scenario would be the addition of two teams, one in each league, which would bring the total number of teams to 32. Additionally, MLB could look to expand to other markets, such as Mexico or Europe, which would open up a whole new realm of possibilities.
Conclusion
The expansion to 30 teams in 1998 had a significant impact on Major League Baseball. The expansion allowed for more interleague games and opened up MLB to new markets, increasing fan interest and attendance. Additionally, it provided more opportunities for players to make a living playing professional baseball. With the success of the expansion, it is likely that MLB will look to further expand in the future.