One of the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, the other being the American League (AL). The National League was founded in 1876, making it the older of the two leagues that comprise MLB. The National League is traditionally known for its emphasis on strategy, especially because, unlike the American League, pitchers are required to bat in games hosted by NL teams, due to the non-use of the designated hitter rule. This rule difference has historically led to various strategic differences in gameplay between the leagues. However, there has been discussion and temporary implementation of the designated hitter in the NL.
History and Structure
Founded on February 2, 1876, the National League (NL) is the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. It was established to replace the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP) of 1871-1875. The NL is sometimes called the Senior Circuit, in contrast to MLB's other league, the American League, which was founded 25 years later and is called the "Junior Circuit". Each league has 15 teams.
- Divisions: The NL is divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West, with each division made up of five teams.
Gameplay and Strategy
The National League is traditionally known for its emphasis on strategy, especially because, unlike the American League, pitchers are required to bat in games hosted by NL teams, due to the non-use of the designated hitter rule. This rule difference has historically led to various strategic differences in gameplay between the leagues. However, there has been discussion and temporary implementation of the designated hitter in the NL.
- Postseason Playoffs: Teams compete throughout the MLB regular season to win their division or earn a wild card spot to advance to the postseason playoffs. The ultimate goal is to win the National League pennant and advance to the World Series to face the champion of the American League.