Article by Steve Vang
Baseball Major League is the highest grade of play in North American professional baseball. Baseball Major League also refers to the organization that governs the American League and the National League with the help of joint organizational structure since 1901. From 2000, both leagues got divided with all the operations and rights in the commissioner’s office. At present, Baseball Major League operates as a single league with 30 teams in which 29 are from the United States and one in Canada.
Baseball Major League also manages all the functions of the World Baseball Classic. Every season 162 games are conducted, and additionally, extra games are played if there is any tie breaker required to decide the participation. The matches start on the first Sunday in the month of April and finishes on the first Sunday in the month of October, and postseason are normally held during October or in early November. The rules and regulations for both league is the same except the American League operates under the Designated Hitter Rule.
The Baseball Major League is managed by the Major League Baseball, which has gone through many incarnations since 1876 with the latest changes in 2005. Commissioner of baseball guides the Baseball Major League in selecting and controlling the umpiring crews, labor, negotiating markets, and all television contracts. The production and multimedia section of the Baseball Major League is a New York- based advanced media firm, which also take care of all the websites of the 30 teams. The baseball uniforms worn by the team members show the role played by an individual in the team such as players, coaches, and managers.
The only team to display player’s number on the sleeve, other than the back of their uniforms is the Phillies. The Baseball Major League drug policy is very strict and first positive drug test on the player leads to 50 games suspension, 100 games suspension for second positive test, and finally life-time ban for third positive test. Numerous blackout rules are followed in the Baseball Major League and one such is only local broadcasters are given first priority to televise games. At present, three broadcasters hold the contract to broadcast games namely ESPN, FOX, and TBS, and league is in the state of transition to the new contracts. The radio broadcasting contract is given to ESPN to broadcast nationally and rights to World Series are exclusive for ESPN. With the growing popularity of baseball, there is much possibility of international expansion in countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Monterrey, and San Juan.