Interleague play
Interleague play in Major League Baseball was introduced in 1997. Prior to this year, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season.
History
The proposal to introduce interleague play was not, and is still not, a universally endorsed one. However, with attendance waning as the result of the 1994 baseball strike, it was judged by many that something was needed to stir up interest in the league. Interleague play created some match-ups which had not been seen before, and some which held special significance for geographical and historical reasons. (Need more on the history.)
From 1997 to 2001, teams from the American League West played teams from the National League West, etc., typically scheduled to alternate between home and away in consecutive years. However, in 2002, the league began alternating which divisions would play which divisions, and thus in 2002 the American League East played the National League West, the American League Central played the National League East, and the American League West played the National League Central. Match-ups which had been of particular interest prior to this format (e.g. New York Yankees vs. New York Mets) were preserved. This is expected to be the continuing format of interleague play.
Overall, the National League holds an 869-840 edge over the American League.
Interesting Match-ups
There are several match-ups which are the result of interleague play which are highly anticipated and well-attended for a number of reasons:
- Geographical:
- Historical:
(I would like somebody to clear this up. There are more match-ups and certainly more needs to be said about each one.)
Pros
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Cons
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External Links
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