Baseball is long recognized as the great American pastime, but it really is a world wide sport. Countries in Central and Southern America, the Caribbean, and Asia are all involved in this sport. In the 18th century, baseball developed in North America. By the late 19th century it became the United States national sport. In the United States, Major League Baseball(MLB)is divided into two leagues. They are the National League and the American League.
The oldest league in MLB is the National League (NL), or the senior league. This league began its growth in February 1876. Expansion continued in this league for 60 years, adding several teams such as the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and the Montreal Expos, who have since moved to Washington D.C. and been renamed the Nationals. Then, in 1993, the Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins were added, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998. The Brewers transferred from the American League (AL) to the NL in 1998 to provide 16 teams.
The junior league, known as the American League (AL), came into existence in 1901. This league has been a steady performer in the World Series, winning 61 of the 103 championships. This league does have a Canadian team in the Toronto Blue Jays. The growth of the AL resulted in many areas receiving a professional baseball team. The last to join the league was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who joined in 1998. During the early growth of this league they only faced the NL in exhibition games or the World Series. That all changed in 1997, when the NL an AL played inter-league games to promote interest before the World Series. There is one more significant difference between the leagues; in the NL the pitcher must bat, however, in the AL the designated hitter was employed to make the game more exciting in 1973.
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