Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league and the highest level of organized baseball in the United States and Canada. One of the big four major leagues, MLB comprises 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. Formed in 1876 and 1901, respectively, the NL and AL cemented their cooperation with the National Agreement in 1903, making MLB the oldest major professional sports league in the world. They remained legally separate entities until 2000, when they merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball. MLB is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
National League Baltimore Orioles, 1896
Cy Young, 1911 baseball card
Jackie Robinson comic book, 1951
1959 World Series action at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Sapporo Dome in Japan serves as home ballpark for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, a professional baseball team playing in Nippon Professional Baseball.
