'''Major League Baseball''' is an organization that operates two leagues, the [[American League|American]] and the [[National League]], and has existed since 1903. It is comprised of 30 teams; 16 teams in the National League, and 14 Teams in the American League. The Major League baseball season runs from [[March]] or [[April]] until [[September]] or [[October]], and consists of 162 games (or 163 in the event of a tiebreaker). Spring training comes before the main season, usually in [[February]]. The playoffs follow the regular season, culminating in the [[World Series]] in [[October]]. The only difference between the play of the two leagues is that American League teams are permitted to allow a [[designated hitter]] to bat in place of the pitcher. The MLB is popular throughout [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] as well as [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]], [[Japan]], [[China]], [[South Korea]] and [[India]].
==The Leagues<ref>http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp</ref>==