Remind me why there are 16 teams in the NL and only 14 in the AL?

Question

I know it has something to do with interleague play, but why must there be an even number of teams in both leagues for interleague play to be feasible?

Answer 1

You need to have an even number of teams in each league in order to avoid an too many off days for teams. Baseball teams make their money from playing games. The more datesof the calender they fill the more money they can make. There are probably quite a few owners out their that wish their teams played everyday. Too many off days in a row makes owners unhappy.

My personal feeling is that since Bud Selig is the not only the MLB Commisioner but also has a major vested interest in the Brewers, he used his position to realign the divisions in a favorable way for his Brewers.

The Brewers never did anything in the AL East other than 1982 and weren't making any money, so Bud moved them to the NL into the same division as the Cubs in order to establish some kind of rivalry between the two teams and create more revenue opportunities for his Brewers.

I liked it better when each league had only two divisions, there was no wild card, the LCS was a best of 5 and the World Series finished before the end of October.

Answer 2

its so there are an even number of teams in each league. Since baseball is played in series', then 1 team from each league would have to have 3-4 games off, like a bye in football.  

Answer 3

In 1997, each league had 14 teams, but in 1998 Arizona and Tampa Bay came in.  Tampa bay went to the AL and Arizona went to the NL.  That would make 15 teams in each league.  15 teams would be feasbile for interleague play, but for the rest of the season one team from each league has to take a 3 game break b/c of the uneven amount of teams.  That is why they move Milwaukee to the NL in 1998.

Answer 4

pretty simple. It is for balanced scheduling. If it was 15 and 15 you would either have interleague games everyday, or someone in each league would always have a day off.