Baseball, America’s pastime, has a rich and evolving history, and one aspect that has seen significant changes over the years is the length of the regular season. For fans and newcomers alike, understanding How Many Mlb Games In A Season are played is crucial to appreciating the sport’s structure and endurance. Initially shorter, the Major League Baseball season has gradually expanded to become the 162-game marathon we know today. Let’s delve into the historical journey of the MLB schedule, exploring its evolution from the early days of the National League to the modern era.
The National League, established in 1876, marked the formal beginning of professional baseball’s major league structure. In its inaugural year, an NL season featured 70 games, with eight teams facing each other ten times. This relatively short season reflected the nascent stage of professional baseball and logistical constraints of the time. However, this was just the starting point. The schedule length fluctuated in the early years as the league itself navigated its formative period. For instance, in the two seasons following the inaugural year, with a reduced league of six teams, the schedule even shortened to 60 games, with each team playing their rivals twelve times. This remains the shortest season length in MLB history.
From 1879 onwards, as the National League stabilized and grew in popularity, the season length began a gradual ascent. Returning to an eight-team format in 1879, the schedule increased to 84 games. Over the next decade, the league steadily added games, typically in increments of 14 every few years. By 1891, the season had reached 140 games. This expansion occurred by increasing the number of times each team played one another, reflecting a growing appetite for baseball and improved logistical capabilities. During this period, games often took place in the late afternoon, and weather and darkness frequently led to cancellations, further influencing the practicalities of season scheduling.
The period between 1882 and 1891 also saw the emergence of a rival major league, the American Association. Starting with six teams and an 80-game schedule in 1882, the American Association mirrored the National League’s expansion. By its second year with eight teams, the AA season was 98 games. It continued to grow, reaching 112 games in 1885 and then matching the National League with a 140-game season from 1886 until its disbandment in 1891. Interestingly, the Players League, another short-lived major league, also adopted a 140-game schedule in its single year of existence in 1890.
After the American Association folded, the National League expanded to 12 teams in 1892 and introduced a 154-game schedule. In this expanded format, each team played every other team 14 times. However, this longer season proved somewhat unwieldy, and for the subsequent five years (1893-1897), the schedule was reduced to 132 games. The 154-game format returned for the 1898 and 1899 seasons, but the league still found managing 12 teams challenging. By 1900, the National League consolidated back to eight teams and reverted to a 140-game schedule.
The American League, initially a minor circuit known as the Western League, gained major league status in 1901. For the first three years of the 20th century (1901-1903), both the National and American Leagues operated with eight teams and a 140-game schedule, marking a period of relative stability in season length.
A significant shift occurred in 1904, when both leagues adopted an 8-team, 154-game schedule. This new format saw each team play every other team 22 times in a season. This schedule became the standard, persisting continuously from 1904 to 1960, with a brief interruption during World War I. Even the Federal League, a third major league that existed in 1914 and 1915, also adopted the 154-game format, further solidifying its status as the established norm.
During World War I, in 1918, the season was shortened due to orders from the War Department, concluding on September 2nd. Teams played approximately 125 games that year. In 1919, with the war over, teams aimed to return to normalcy but opted for a slightly shorter 140-game schedule. This season proved successful, highlighted by Babe Ruth’s home run record, signaling a bright future for baseball. By 1920, the 154-game schedule was reinstated and remained unchanged through World War II and beyond, becoming deeply ingrained in baseball tradition.
The landscape of MLB began to change significantly in the mid-20th century. In 1953, the first franchise shift in 50 years occurred when the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee. This move, followed by others, necessitated a major realignment of teams. Expansion led to the introduction of a 10-team, 162-game schedule. The American League expanded to ten teams in 1961 and adopted the 162-game format, with teams playing 18 games against each opponent. The National League followed suit in 1962. Notably, 1961 was unique as the only year the two leagues had different numbers of teams and played schedules of unequal length.
The modern 162-game schedule, as we know it today, was fully implemented in 1969, alongside divisional play. With 12 teams in each league, divided into two divisions, the schedule was structured so each team played 18 games against five divisional opponents and 12 games against the six teams in the other division. This structure maintained the total of 162 games. The introduction of divisional play also led to league championship series (playoffs) between the divisional champions, adding a new layer of excitement to the end of the regular season, although these playoff games are not included in regular season statistics.
Over the years, various alternative schedule lengths have been proposed and considered. In 1946, for example, prompted by Yankee President Larry MacPhail, MLB tentatively agreed to a 168-game schedule to capitalize on baseball’s post-war popularity and offset increased player benefits. This proposal, which would have seen teams play 24 games against each opponent, faced strong opposition from the public and players and was ultimately scrapped in favor of continuing with the 154-game schedule. Similarly, in 1968, the National League considered a 165-game schedule for its first 12-team season in 1969, but this too was abandoned in favor of the 162-game divisional structure adopted by the American League.
The most recent alteration to the MLB schedule length occurred in 1972 due to a player strike at the beginning of the season. The strike led to the cancellation of the first ten days of play. Disagreements over compensation for the cancelled games resulted in a compromise where 86 games were permanently cancelled, leading to uneven schedules across teams, ranging from 153 to 156 games in the National League and 154 to 156 in the American League. Despite this disruption, the season proceeded, and the differing game counts ultimately impacted divisional standings.
In conclusion, the journey to how many MLB games in a season are played today has been a long and winding one, reflecting the evolving nature of professional baseball, from its foundational years to its modern structure. Starting from a mere 70 games in 1876, the schedule has adapted to league expansions, societal changes, and labor relations, finally settling into the 162-game format that has been in place since 1969. This historical perspective highlights not only the changes in season length but also the enduring appeal and adaptability of baseball itself.
