Why is there an American League and a National League? Why don't they just disband the two and have every team play against each other during the regular season? It also seems pointless to reward 2 MVPs, 2 Cy Youngs, etc...
2007-05-26 00:06:01 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
The American League was created as a rival league in 1900 or 1901, can't remember which. The National League had been in existence since the 1870's. The first World Series was played in 1903 but the teams never played each other in games that counted until regular season interleague play began in 1997. I believe were the 30 teams to become one big league it would be difficult to avoid dilluting some key inter-divisioin rivalries such as Yankees - RedSox, Cubs- Cardinals, Giants - Dodgers, etc. By playing the 18 (or whatever it is) games teams get a good shot at beating out the opponent they must beat for a division title which would be diminished if they had to play against all MLB teams in a single season. If you went to a NFL style format in which teams play their division opponents an appopriate amount and played against others in some sort of rotation you would really have the same situation you have now with interleague play. Having one MVP and so forth is not without precedent, in the first years when Cy Young award was given it went to best pitcher in both leagues, one award only.
2007-05-26 03:50:45 · answer #1 · answered by ligoneskiing 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The American League actually played its first season in 1900, but it is sort of considered to be a "minor" league during that season, so most references do not recognize that season... the majority of American League books/web sites etc, treat 1901 as the first official year of the American League.
The National League was established in 1876, and it was a successor to the "National Association", which existed from 1871 to 1875. The NL was a "league of clubs" as opposed to an "Association of Players"..that's the main difference... many of the same players and teams from the National Association of 1875 became part of the National League in 1876.
As to why there are still two "separate" leagues, two sets of awards, etc... it's just tradition. Change occurs very slowly in baseball, much more slowly than in any other professional sports leagues.
2007-05-26 13:22:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates North American professional baseball's two leagues, the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure which has existed between them since 1903. The American League operates under the Designated Hitter Rule, but the National League does not ('inter-league' game rules are determined by the home team's league). In 2000, the American and National leagues were officially disbanded as separate legal entities with all rights and functions consolidated in the commissioner's office. MLB effectively operates as a single league and as such it constitutes one of the major professional sports leagues of North America.
I hope this helps...
2007-05-26 07:23:13 · answer #3 · answered by www.DJandKent.com 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is just become part of a long standing tradition. Both leagues are under the MLB umbrella and except for the DH
the rules of the game are the same. The NFL is basically the same in rewarding leaders in each of there conferences.
It is just how it evolved.
2007-05-26 07:17:34 · answer #4 · answered by search4knowledge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tradition and habit, by this point, mainly. The leagues demonstrate little difference in operation aside from the DH rule.
Who knows, total consolidation and realignment may be the next item on Seligula's Evil Masterplan Checklist.
2007-05-26 09:21:47 · answer #5 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋