First Recorded Baseball Game
The first recorded baseball game was played on June 19, 1846, in Hoboken, New Jersey, between the Knickerbocker Club and a group of cricket players.
1846
1869
First Professional Baseball Team
The Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team, paying their players to play the game.
1876
National League Founded
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), was founded, becoming the first major league in baseball.
1901
American League Established
The American League (AL) was established as a major league to rival the National League, leading to the creation of the modern Major League Baseball (MLB) structure.
1903
First World Series
The first World Series was held between the American League champion Boston Americans and the National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates, with Boston winning the series.
1919
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal occurred when eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the World Series in exchange for money from gamblers.
1920
Formation of the Negro National League
The Negro National League was formed, providing a structured league for African American players during the era of racial segregation in baseball.
1947
Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier
Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1969
Baseball Divisional Play Introduced
Major League Baseball introduced divisional play, splitting each league into East and West divisions and adding a playoff round before the World Series.
1973
Designated Hitter Rule Implemented
The American League adopted the designated hitter rule, allowing teams to use a player to bat in place of the pitcher.
1994
MLB Strike
A players' strike led to the cancellation of the remainder of the 1994 season, including the World Series, for the first time in 90 years.
1997
Interleague Play Begins
Major League Baseball introduced interleague play, allowing teams from the American League and National League to compete against each other during the regular season.
2005
Steroid Scandal
The publication of the Mitchell Report detailed widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, leading to stricter drug testing policies.
2016
Chicago Cubs Win World Series
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending a 108-year championship drought, the longest in professional sports history.
2020
COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortened 60-game MLB season, with games played without fans in attendance for most of the season.
2023
Introduction of Pitch Clock
Major League Baseball introduced a pitch clock to speed up the pace of play, marking a significant change in the game's regulations.
