Major League Baseball (MLB)

Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization in North America consisting of 30 teams – 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. The teams are divided into two leagues: the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), each consisting of three divisions (East, Central, West). The MLB season typically runs from late March/early April to late September/early October, followed by playoffs leading to the World Series in October.

MLB teams are privately owned and operate as franchises. They acquire players through various means, including the MLB Draft, international signings, free agency, trades, and waivers. The MLB Draft, held annually, allows teams to select amateur players to join their organizations. International signings involve acquiring talent from outside the United States and Canada. Free agency allows players with expiring contracts to negotiate with any team. Trades involve teams exchanging players or other assets. Waivers allow teams to claim players who have been designated for assignment by their original team.

Major League Baseball has a set of rules and regulations that govern gameplay, player conduct, team operations, and more. Some key rules include the designated hitter (DH) rule in the American League, which allows teams to use a designated hitter to bat for the pitcher; the three-strike rule for batters, where a batter is out after three strikes; and the four-ball walk rule, where a batter is awarded first base after four balls outside the strike zone. MLB also has rules regarding player contracts, drug testing, instant replay, and more.

MLB teams qualify for the playoffs by finishing the regular season with one of the best records in their division or as a Wild Card team. Each league sends three division winners and two Wild Card teams to the postseason. The Wild Card teams play in a one-game playoff to advance to the Division Series. The Division Series is a best-of-five series, followed by the League Championship Series (best-of-seven), and ultimately the World Series (also best-of-seven) to determine the champion.

Major League Baseball has a rich history filled with notable records and achievements. Some iconic records include Barry Bonds single-season home run record of 73 in 2001, Cal Ripken Jr.s consecutive games played streak of 2,632, and Cy Youngs 511 career wins. Other achievements include perfect games, no-hitters, hitting streaks, and milestone home runs. Players like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and many others have left a lasting legacy in MLB history with their remarkable performances.