Baseball Leagues

Baseball originated from other running games such as cricket and rounders.  Although the roots of the game can be considered to be English, Baseball is almost certainly American and in America Baseball is big business.  You can start playing from the age of 5 in little league, and if your really any good you progress into minor then through to minor league.

Major league baseball is much like England’s FA who run premiership football.  All the very best players are in major league baseball.  There are two leagues that are run by major league American League and National League.

The teams within major league baseball play a 162 game season.  This starts on the first Sunday in April and ends the first Sunday in October.

The two leagues (American and National) follow the same rules.

1950s Major League Baseball - movietone news clips

The following teams are part of the American League:

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Chicaco White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Los Angeles Angels
Minnesota Twins
New York Yankees
Oakland Atheletics
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays

The following teams are part of the National League:

Arizona Diamond Backs
Atlanta Braves
Chicaco Cubs
Cincinnati Rockies
Florida Marlins
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
New York Mets.
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
St Louis Cardinals
Washington Nationals

The ten best players for the 2008 season in major league baseball are considered to be:

Alex Rodiguez – New York Yankees
Matt Holliday – Colorado Rockies
Jake Peavy – San Diego Padres
Albert Pujols – St Louis Cardinals
Hanley Ramirez – Florida Marlins
David Wright – New York Mets.
Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers
Jose Reyes – New York Mets.
Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies

Minor league baseball is the teams which are on the ladder below major league baseball.  All of the minor league baseball teams are operated as independent businesses.  A number of the baseball teams which come under the minor league umberella, do not have any links with Major league baseball.  These are known as independent leagues, these independent leagues do not have membership with the organisation of Minor League Baseball.

As well as Major league and Minor League baseball there is a non-profit organisation in the united states called Little League baseball.  This was founded in 1939 by Carl Stotz.  It began as a three team league in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  A museum dedicated to little league baseball is also located in South Williamsport.  It shows all the history of the little league baseball and has interactive exhibits for children of all ages to enjoy.

Little league is basically a baseball team for under 18 years olds.  It is taken very seriously.  Children from 5 years of age can participate in Little League.  Originally boys from the age of 8 were allowed to participate in little league, but girls have been permitted to play since 1974.  Although girls and womens baseball has never been as big as the male equivilent.