Out of all sports, baseball has one of the longest seasons –and, of course, the main reason for this is the large number of games in a single baseball season. However, not only does a baseball season have a lot of games, but a single game also often takes a long time to finish. This is because a baseball game does not have the concept of a ‘draw’, which is why teams keep on playing until a clear winner emerges.
How Many Baseball Games Are in a Season?
A typical MLB (Major League Baseball Season) will have 162 games. Until 1961, a single MLB game had only 154 games. However, from 1962 onwards, the number of games has gone up to 162.
During 1994, the Player’s Strike led to the cancellation of the World Series, which impacted the number of games played during that season. The 1994 MLB season only saw 144 games being played, since, by the time the strike ended, it had been too late to complete the full 162-game quota.
Generally, a team will play 3 or even 4 times against every team in the league. This arrangement is useful for pitching rotations, and also reduces the travel-time involved in a 162-game season. Occasionally, teams will get an off day on the odd Thursday or Monday. However, in general, games are played every single day of the week, all the way from April until September.
This schedule is quite taxing on the players. It is typically hard in Florida and Texas, where the summer months of June, July, and August can be unendurable at times and make it extremely difficult to play. To counter the heat, many stadiums in the warmer parts of the US have introduced retractable roofs or domes.
The reason that the 162-game rule has not been tinkered with for so many decades is that baseball prides itself on its tradition, and does not want to compromise on it by making changes to the number of games. Another related reason is that baseball numbers and records are considered very important. For instance, achieving feats like 500 or 600 home runs, or to make it to the 3000-hit club, requires players to play a large number of games every season. Even then, making and breaking such records require consistent performances over a long and relatively injury-free career.
Also, baseball is relatively physically undemanding. Yes, it does make players vulnerable to injuries, but it is not as taxing as soccer or other sports that requires players to constantly be on the move. For this reason, players can play more games in a season without many problems.
In addition, just like with any other sport, teams and players will have peaks and dips in performance. Hence, the greater the number of games played, the easier it will be to determine the best and most consistent team, and the more deserving the ultimate winner would be.
How Many Baseball Games in a High School Baseball Season?
As far as interscholastic sports go, almost every state has a limit on the number of games that can be played in a single season. Baseball is not an exception in this regard. Generally, a state would allow somewhere around 25 to 30 baseball games in one season. Teams get plenty of scrimmages, and can also play during the offseason.
The best players usually play a large proportion of their games during the ‘summer ball’. During this period, many players play an extra 50 to games, bringing the total to around 80 to 100 games. Of course, this will also depend on the region where the player resides and the weather conditions throughout the year.
Baseball requires a lot of skill. If a player can bat at least 250 to 300 times in a single season, they are better poised to move on to the next level. The greater the number of repetitions, the more a player can refine their skills (especially in a highly-skilled game like baseball).
Some northern school teams move south during the spring break, and get a lot of games in during the warmer weather which starts during the last week of March or the first week of April. Such trips allow these teams to gain an upper hand on their competitors by playing an additional 8 to 10 games in warmer conditions.
How Many Baseball Games in a Little League Season?
Little League is often the first step for a number of kids interested in playing baseball. The season generally initiates in April or May, and stretches until June or July. This way, the kids can use their summer break to hone their baseball skills.
Often, kids can participate in school yard or backyard baseball, which is a lot less formal. Generally, a Little League team will play around 15 games.
A lot of communities play one-off games during the week, and then participate in tournaments during the weekend. These tournaments, on their own, allow players to participate in an additional 5 to 7 games every weekend.
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So, all in all, a Little League team plays around 40-60 games in a season: around 20 in the regular league, and another 20 to 40 in tournaments.
Some kids also indulge in fall ball, which adds another 10-20 games to their seasonal tally. All in all, if indoor or winter baseball is possible, a kid can play around 80 baseball games during a calendar year.
Our Final Thoughts:
To sum up, the fact that an MLB season has a mammoth 162 games, and that teams play pretty much every day of the week, is what largely contributes to the fan-falling and popularity of baseball. Fans love that they can see their favorite player in action every single day throughout a half-year period.
Another thrilling thing about baseball is that it is one sport where you cannot rely on the clock to come to your rescue. Passing the ball around or trying to waste time in order to shut out the game, are not options.
To learn more about baseball, please feel free to check out some of the other blogs on our website.