When Does Major League Baseball Season Start?

The MLB season is just around the corner, so make sure you know when your favorite team is playing. Check out our guide to find out the answer to when does Major League Baseball season start.

Introduction

Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization, the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. A total of 30 teams play in the National League (NL) and American League (AL), with 15 teams in each league. The NL and AL were formed as separate legal entities in 1876 and 1901, respectively. After cooperating but remaining legally separate entities beginning in 1903, the leagues merged into a single organization led by the Commissioner of Baseball in 2000. The organization also oversees Minor League Baseball, which comprises about 240 teams affiliated with the Major League clubs. With the World Baseball Softball Confederation, MLB manages the international World Baseball Classic tournament.

The History of Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball (MLB) is professional baseball’s oldest and most prestigious level of play. The first MLB season took place in 1876, and the league has been in operation continuously since 1903.

The modern MLB schedule typically begins in late March or early April, and runs into October. There are 162 regular season games played by each team, which generally works out to be six or seven games per week.

The regular season is followed by the playoffs, which culminate in the World Series – the annual championship series of Major League Baseball. The World Series typically takes place in late October or early November.

The First Major League Baseball Game

The first Major League Baseball game was played on April 22, 1876, between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Stockings. The game was a pitching duel between James “Hoss” Radbourn and Albert Spalding, with Radbourn’s team winning 2-0.

The Start of the Regular Season

The start of the regular season is one of the most anticipated times of the year for baseball fans. All 30 teams take the field in hopes of winning the World Series, and every fan has high hopes for their team. The first pitch is usually thrown around the beginning of April, with Opening Day typically taking place on a Monday.

The End of the Regular Season

The Major League Baseball regular season typically runs from early April to late September, with a short break in August. The postseason playoffs begin in October.

The regular season is 161 games for each team, and it is traditionally played Monday through Saturday, with Sunday as an off day. However, there are some exceptions. For example, Opening Day games are often played on a Monday or Thursday, to give teams an extra day of rest after their journey to their home stadium. Memorial Day games are also common, as are July 4th and Labor Day games.
There are also some special cases in which teams will play on Sundays. For example, the New York Yankees and Mets play each other in what is known as the Subway Series. These cross-town rivals usually play each other on weekends, but occasionally they will play a game on a Sunday afternoon so that more fans can attend.

The Postseason

The Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason is a play-off tournament at the conclusion of every Major League Baseball (MLB) season. As of 2014, the MLB postseason generally began on the second Tuesday in October, and ended on the first Wednesday in November. The postseason rounds consisted of the American League and National League division series, followed by the respective League Championship Series, and concluding with the World Series.

Conclusion

It is generally agreed that the earliest possible date for the start of the Major League Baseball season is February 1st. However, this date is not set in stone and there have been a few instances where the season has started a few days earlier. The latest possible start date for the season is April 1st.