Major League Baseball season
Encyclopedia
The Major League Baseball
season is the set of scheduled games played prior to the postseason
(playoffs). 162 games are played. Prior to 1961 in the American League
and 1962 in the National
, 154 games were played. The games are scheduled over 178 to 183 days, except when teams participate in International Openers. . The season typically runs from early April to late September, followed by the postseason in October.
The season begins with the official Opening Day
and runs 26 weeks through the last Sunday of September or first Sunday of October. One or more International Opener games may be scheduled outside the United States
and Canada
before the official Opening Day. Not every team plays every day, but there are daily games except during the All-Star Game break. Individual teams are given some days off on Mondays and Thursdays.
that had begun in 1994 required a delay in the season to accommodate limited spring training
.
The listed years are those in which the league revised its schedule. For example, the National League (NL)scheduled 84 games during 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1882 — four seasons begin 1879, ending before 1883, the next listing. 1876 is listed here for convenience although the NL did not schedule games (see 1871 to 1876).
(1871–1875) did not schedule games, nor did it control the number of teams, a major reason for its demise after the 1875 season. Clubs paid a $10 entry fee, later $20, to enter the Association for one season and thereby declare for that year's national championship. Without continuing membership or heavy investment
there was little to deter a team from breaking a commitment, and though it happened it was mainly due to clubs going out of business
.
The National League organized for 1876 on a different basis, granting exclusive memberships to eight clubs that would continue from year to year — it was generally expected, if only because membership would be profitable. But the new league followed its predecessor in merely agreeing that each club would play a certain number of matches to a decision (excluding ties) by a certain date. Boston
played 70 games with its quota of ten decisions against every rival.
For all six early seasons, clubs made their own dates including championship games, other games with members, and games with non-members. Some may have practically dictated arrangements with some others, but there was no central control or coordination.
This listing gives the greatest number of games played by any club for each season. Naturally, the leader by games played was always a strong club fielding one of the better gate attractions.
" and 81 as "visitor". Some games may be scheduled for sites other than the two home ballpark
s but one of the two is always designated the home team. Beside that advance schedule, some games are postponed and rescheduled; occasional one-game playoffs are added to the championship season in order to break ties; and annual postseason series also follow.
Currently the schedule includes 252 "interleague games" that match one team from the American League and one from the National League; the other 2178 games match a pair from within one league. About half of the latter match teams from within one division and about half match teams from different divisions in one league. In the Central Division of the National League, which alone has six teams, every pair of division rivals plays 15 or 16 games. Within the other, smaller divisions every pair of teams plays 18 or 19 games.
Division games (1091). There are 61 pairs of teams from within one division.
Other intraleague games (1087). There are 150 pairs of teams from two different divisions within one league.
comprises 84 three-game series, namely six series (18 games) for each of fourteen AL teams and as many as six for each of sixteen NL teams.
Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 play six games every year, which are scheduled in two three-game series "home and home", or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state.
These local and regional series account for 66 interleague games and the other 186 are determined by rotation.
and resulting disruptions in travel, resulting in games scheduled for September 11–17 being rescheduled to the first week of October and the playoffs and World Series
being rescheduled one week later than their originally planned dates, which resulted in the World Series continuing into early November.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
season is the set of scheduled games played prior to the postseason
Major League Baseball postseason
The Major League Baseball postseason is an elimination tournament held after the conclusion of Major League Baseball's regular season. It consists of one best-of-five series and two best-of-seven series...
(playoffs). 162 games are played. Prior to 1961 in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and 1962 in the National
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, 154 games were played. The games are scheduled over 178 to 183 days, except when teams participate in International Openers. . The season typically runs from early April to late September, followed by the postseason in October.
The season begins with the official Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
and runs 26 weeks through the last Sunday of September or first Sunday of October. One or more International Opener games may be scheduled outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
before the official Opening Day. Not every team plays every day, but there are daily games except during the All-Star Game break. Individual teams are given some days off on Mondays and Thursdays.
Historical season schedules
This account gives the length of the major league championship season schedule by league and year. It does not cover the curtailment of play by war (1918) or by strikes and lockouts (1972, 1981, 1994). The schedules for 1995 were revised and shortened from 162 to 144 games, after late resolution of the strikeStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
that had begun in 1994 required a delay in the season to accommodate limited spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
The listed years are those in which the league revised its schedule. For example, the National League (NL)scheduled 84 games during 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1882 — four seasons begin 1879, ending before 1883, the next listing. 1876 is listed here for convenience although the NL did not schedule games (see 1871 to 1876).
National League
| Start year | Total Games | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 1876 | 70 games | 10 games × 7 opponents |
| 1877 | 60 games | 12 games × 5 opponents |
| 1879 | 84 games | 12 games × 7 opponents |
| 1883 | 98 games | 14 games × 7 opponents |
| 1884 | 112 games | 16 games × 7 opponents |
| 1886 | 126 games | 18 games × 7 opponents |
| 1888 | 140 games | 20 games × 7 opponents |
| 1892 | 154 games | 14 games × 11 opponents |
| 1893 | 132 games | 12 games × 11 opponents |
| 1898 | 154 games | 14 games × 11 opponents |
| 1900 | 140 games | 20 games × 7 opponents |
| 1904 | 154 games | 22 games × 7 opponents |
| 1919 | 140 games | 20 games × 7 opponents |
| 1920 | 154 games | 22 games × 7 opponents |
| 1962 | 162 games | 18 games × 9 opponents |
| 1969 | 162 games | 18 games × 5 opponents in own division, 12 × 6 in other division |
| 1993 | 162 games | expansion - schedules same as AL 1979-1993 |
| 1994 | 162 games | leagues split into 3 divisions - schedules based on 1993 alignments |
| 1997 | 162 games | inter-league play introduced - opponent schedules vary |
| 1998 | 162 games | expansion - opponent schedules vary |
| 2013 | TBA | The league has agreed to move the Houston Astros Houston Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field... to the American League to create two 15-team league and 6 divisions and 5 teams. It is unclear at this point how games will be scheduled. |
American League
| Start year | Total Games | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 140 games | 20 games × 7 opponents |
| 1904 | 154 games | 22 games × 7 opponents |
| 1919 | 140 games | 20 games × 7 opponents |
| 1920 | 154 games | 22 games × 7 opponents |
| 1961 | 162 games | 18 games × 9 opponents |
| 1969 | 162 games | 18 games × 5 opponents in own division, 12 × 6 in other division |
| 1977 | 162 games | expansion - 15 games × 6 opponents in own division, 10 or 11 × 7 opponents in other division |
| 1979 | 162 games | 13 games × 6 opponents in own division, 12 games × 7 opponents in other division |
| 1994 | 162 games | leagues split into 3 divisions - schedules based on 1993 alignments |
| 1997 | 162 games | inter-league play introduced - opponent schedules vary |
| 1998 | 162 games | expansion - 18 games × 3 or 4 opponents in own division - 18 games against NL teams (with usually 6 games, 3 home 3 away against one team every year, and the other 12 games against 4 other teams which may or may not be in the same division as the first team, rotating by division on a 3 year cycle. Other opponent schedules vary. |
| 2013 | TBA | The league has agreed to move the Houston Astros Houston Astros The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field... to the American League to create two 15-team league and 6 divisions and 5 teams. It is unclear at this point how games will be scheduled. |
American Association
1882 - 1891- 1882 - 80 games - 16 games × 5 opponents
- 1883 - 98 games - 14 games × 7 opponents
- 1884 - 112 games - 16 games × 7 opponents
- 1886 - 140 games - 20 games × 7 opponents
- After 1891 four AA clubs joined the NL and four were bought out.
National Association of Professional Baseball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball PlayersNational Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(1871–1875) did not schedule games, nor did it control the number of teams, a major reason for its demise after the 1875 season. Clubs paid a $10 entry fee, later $20, to enter the Association for one season and thereby declare for that year's national championship. Without continuing membership or heavy investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
there was little to deter a team from breaking a commitment, and though it happened it was mainly due to clubs going out of business
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
.
The National League organized for 1876 on a different basis, granting exclusive memberships to eight clubs that would continue from year to year — it was generally expected, if only because membership would be profitable. But the new league followed its predecessor in merely agreeing that each club would play a certain number of matches to a decision (excluding ties) by a certain date. Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
played 70 games with its quota of ten decisions against every rival.
For all six early seasons, clubs made their own dates including championship games, other games with members, and games with non-members. Some may have practically dictated arrangements with some others, but there was no central control or coordination.
This listing gives the greatest number of games played by any club for each season. Naturally, the leader by games played was always a strong club fielding one of the better gate attractions.
- 1871 - 33 games (Mutual, New York)
- 1872 - 58 games (Lord Baltimore)
- 1873 - 60 games (Boston)
- 1874 - 71 games (Boston)
- 1875 - 86 games (Hartford)
- 1876 - 70 games (Boston). This was the first National League season (see text).
Recent season schedules
Since 1998 there are thirty major league teams whose advance schedule for every season comprises 2430 games, namely 162 games for each team including 81 as "homeHome (sports)
In sports, home is a term referring to both the city and stadium, arena, or field where an athletic team plays games at their venue, whilst when the team plays elsewhere then they are considered the away team. The home term can refer to either the sponsoring institution or the place where it is...
" and 81 as "visitor". Some games may be scheduled for sites other than the two home ballpark
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
s but one of the two is always designated the home team. Beside that advance schedule, some games are postponed and rescheduled; occasional one-game playoffs are added to the championship season in order to break ties; and annual postseason series also follow.
Currently the schedule includes 252 "interleague games" that match one team from the American League and one from the National League; the other 2178 games match a pair from within one league. About half of the latter match teams from within one division and about half match teams from different divisions in one league. In the Central Division of the National League, which alone has six teams, every pair of division rivals plays 15 or 16 games. Within the other, smaller divisions every pair of teams plays 18 or 19 games.
Division games (1091). There are 61 pairs of teams from within one division.
- 25 pairings will play 19 games each (475 games)
- 21 pairings will play 18 games each (378 games)
- 13 pairings will play 16 games each (208 games)
- 2 pairings will play 15 games each (30 games)
- Total: 1091 games.
Other intraleague games (1087). There are 150 pairs of teams from two different divisions within one league.
- 23 pairings will play 10 games each (230 games)
- 15 pairings will play 9 games each (135 games)
- 8 pairings will play 8 games each (64 games)
- 34 pairings will play 7 games each (238 games)
- 70 pairings will play 6 games each (420 games)
- Total: 1087 games.
Interleague play
The schedule for interleague playInterleague play
Interleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in . Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season...
comprises 84 three-game series, namely six series (18 games) for each of fourteen AL teams and as many as six for each of sixteen NL teams.
Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 play six games every year, which are scheduled in two three-game series "home and home", or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state.
- Baltimore and Washington
- Chicago Cubs (Northside) and Chicago White Sox (Southside)
- Cincinnati and Cleveland
- Florida (Miami) and Tampa Bay (Tampa/St. Petersburg)
- Houston and Texas (Arlington)
- Kansas City and St. Louis
- Los Angeles Angels (Anaheim) and Los Angeles Dodgers
- Milwaukee and Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
- New York Mets (Queens) and New York Yankees (Bronx)
- Oakland and San Francisco
- San Diego and Seattle
These local and regional series account for 66 interleague games and the other 186 are determined by rotation.
9/11 rescheduling
The season was suspended for one week due to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
and resulting disruptions in travel, resulting in games scheduled for September 11–17 being rescheduled to the first week of October and the playoffs and World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
being rescheduled one week later than their originally planned dates, which resulted in the World Series continuing into early November.
External links
- The Sports Scheduling Group (official Major League Baseball schedulers)