MLB

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of professional baseball in North America, comprising 30 teams split between the American League and National League. Each league has 15 teams and, since 1994, the leagues are organized into three divisions per league: East, Central, and West. MLB operates a centralized governing structure that coordinates rules, scheduling, and competitive balance. The season runs from spring training through the regular season, in which teams play 162 games, followed by a postseason culminating in the World Series between the league champions.

MLB traces its modern form to 1903, when the American League and National League agreed to a joint schedule and a postseason championship. The league features storied franchises such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers, and has grown through expansion and relocation over the decades.

Postseason play includes division winners and wild-card teams competing in a series of rounds, leading to the best-of-seven World Series. The season also features the All-Star Game, which showcases league talent midseason.

Governance involves the Commissioner, team owners, and the Major League Baseball Players Association. MLB negotiates broadcasting and streaming rights and the collective bargaining agreement with players. The sport maintains a large farm system and a draft to develop talent, along with international signings.

The designated hitter rule was adopted by the American League in 1973 and was extended to the National League with the universal DH in 2022. MLB and its players' union oversee international development, festivals, and events such as the World Baseball Classic, reinforcing baseball's global footprint. The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown memorializes players and figures who shaped the game.