MLB
Major League Baseball, the professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world, comprising 30 teams in the United States and Canada.
Company Type
private
Founded
1903
Headquarters
New York City, New York, USA
About MLB
Who owns MLB?
MLB is owned collectively by its 30 member club owners through the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Each team is independently owned, but they collectively govern the league. Rob Manfred serves as Commissioner, appointed by the club owners.
MLB is owned collectively by its 30 member club owners through the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Each team is independently owned, but they collectively govern the league. Rob Manfred serves as Commissioner, appointed by the club owners.
Is MLB publicly traded?
No, MLB is not publicly traded as a league. Individual teams are privately owned, though some teams have partial public ownership structures. The league itself is a private association of its 30 member clubs.
No, MLB is not publicly traded as a league. Individual teams are privately owned, though some teams have partial public ownership structures. The league itself is a private association of its 30 member clubs.
What is MLB's annual revenue?
MLB generates approximately $11-12 billion in annual revenue, derived from media rights, ticket sales, sponsorships, and licensing. Commissioner Manfred stated that 2024 revenues were higher than 2023.
MLB generates approximately $11-12 billion in annual revenue, derived from media rights, ticket sales, sponsorships, and licensing. Commissioner Manfred stated that 2024 revenues were higher than 2023.
When was MLB founded?
MLB was formally established in 1903 through the National Agreement between the National League (founded 1876) and the American League (founded 1901). The first modern World Series was played in 1903.
MLB was formally established in 1903 through the National Agreement between the National League (founded 1876) and the American League (founded 1901). The first modern World Series was played in 1903.
Who won the 2024 World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees. The Dodgers' roster featured Shohei Ohtani, who had signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the team in December 2023.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees. The Dodgers' roster featured Shohei Ohtani, who had signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the team in December 2023.
Who is the MLB Commissioner?
Rob Manfred has served as MLB Commissioner since January 2015, succeeding Bud Selig. Manfred has implemented significant rule changes including the pitch clock, larger bases, and limits on defensive shifts, which have reduced average game times substantially.
Rob Manfred has served as MLB Commissioner since January 2015, succeeding Bud Selig. Manfred has implemented significant rule changes including the pitch clock, larger bases, and limits on defensive shifts, which have reduced average game times substantially.
History of MLB
The roots of Major League Baseball trace back to the founding of the National League in 1876, which established the first professional baseball league with a formal structure, schedule, and rules. The American League was founded in 1901 by Ban Johnson, who elevated the minor Western League to major league status and declared it a competitor to the National League.
The two leagues initially competed for players and fans, but in 1903 they signed the National Agreement, establishing a framework for coexistence and creating what would become modern Major League Baseball. The first modern World Series was played in 1903, with the Boston Americans defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The early 20th century established baseball as America's national pastime. Legendary players including Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and Babe Ruth became national celebrities. The 1919 Black Sox scandal, in which eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of intentionally losing the World Series, led to the establishment of the Commissioner's Office in 1920. Kenesaw Mountain Landis became the first Commissioner and served until 1944.
Babe Ruth's home run hitting transformed the game in the 1920s, and the New York Yankees became the dominant team of the era. The Great Depression challenged baseball economically but the sport endured, and the introduction of night games in 1935 expanded the fan base.
Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947, when he debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson's integration of baseball was a landmark moment in American civil rights history, and April 15 is now celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day across MLB.
Television transformed baseball in the 1950s and 1960s, bringing games to national audiences. The league expanded geographically, moving teams from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco in 1958 and adding expansion teams in subsequent decades. MLB grew from 16 teams in 1960 to 30 teams by 1998.
The free agency era began in 1975 following the Messersmith-McNally arbitration decision, which struck down the reserve clause that had bound players to their teams indefinitely. Free agency dramatically increased player salaries and changed the economics of baseball.
MLB faced significant challenges in the 1990s, including the 1994-95 players' strike that cancelled the World Series for the first time since 1904. The strike damaged fan attendance and trust, but the sport recovered in the late 1990s, partly driven by the home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998.
The steroid era of the 1990s and 2000s tainted many of baseball's statistical achievements, leading to the Mitchell Report in 2007 and enhanced drug testing programs. Several prominent players, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez, faced scrutiny over performance-enhancing drug use.
Rob Manfred became Commissioner in January 2015, succeeding Bud Selig. Manfred has implemented significant rule changes aimed at improving the pace of play, including the pitch clock (introduced in 2023), larger bases, and limits on defensive shifts. The 2023 rule changes reduced average game time by approximately 26 minutes, with the 2024 season posting the best average game time (2 hours, 36 minutes) since 1984.
The 2024 World Series was won by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who defeated the New York Yankees. The Dodgers' roster featured Shohei Ohtani, who signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the team in December 2023, the largest contract in professional sports history.
Brands Owned by MLB
MLB owns 3 brands in our database.
Boston Red Sox
Owned by MLB
American professional baseball team based in Boston, competing in Major League Baseball (MLB) and one of the most successful franchises in baseball history.
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Los Angeles Dodgers
Owned by MLB
American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, competing in MLB's National League West division.
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Toronto Blue Jays
Owned by MLB
Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto, Ontario, competing in MLB's American League East division.
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MLB Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Record revenues in 2024, with Commissioner Manfred citing strong economic performance
- +Pace-of-play improvements (pitch clock, larger bases) have reduced average game time to the lowest since 1984, improving the fan experience
- +162-game season generates substantial media rights and ticket revenue
- +Deep historical roots and cultural significance in the United States
- +Growing international appeal, particularly in Latin America and Asia
Considerations
- -NFL generates significantly more revenue and media attention than MLB
- -Competitive balance concerns, with large-market teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Mets) able to spend far more than small-market teams
- -Steroid era legacy continues to affect the sport's historical record and Hall of Fame voting
- -Declining youth participation in baseball in some markets
- -Collective bargaining with the MLBPA requires ongoing negotiation and has resulted in work stoppages
Frequently Asked Questions About MLB
Who owns MLB?
MLB is owned collectively by its 30 member club owners through the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Each team is independently owned, but they collectively govern the league. Rob Manfred serves as Commissioner, appointed by the club owners.
Is MLB publicly traded?
No, MLB is not publicly traded as a league. Individual teams are privately owned, though some teams have partial public ownership structures. The league itself is a private association of its 30 member clubs.
What is MLB's annual revenue?
MLB generates approximately $11-12 billion in annual revenue, derived from media rights, ticket sales, sponsorships, and licensing. Commissioner Manfred stated that 2024 revenues were higher than 2023.
When was MLB founded?
MLB was formally established in 1903 through the National Agreement between the National League (founded 1876) and the American League (founded 1901). The first modern World Series was played in 1903.
Who won the 2024 World Series?
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees. The Dodgers' roster featured Shohei Ohtani, who had signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the team in December 2023.
Who is the MLB Commissioner?
Rob Manfred has served as MLB Commissioner since January 2015, succeeding Bud Selig. Manfred has implemented significant rule changes including the pitch clock, larger bases, and limits on defensive shifts, which have reduced average game times substantially.
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