What does MLB stand for?

MLB stands for Major League Baseball.

Major League Baseball is the professional organization that oversees the top level of baseball in the United States and Canada. It consists of two leagues—the American League and National League—with 15 teams in each league, for 30 clubs overall. The organization also manages the regular season, postseason, All-Star Game, and World Series.

The name reflects baseball’s history. The National League was founded in 1876, while the American League began in 1901. The two leagues operated separately for much of their history before merging under one commissioner in 2000. The term “major league” distinguishes MLB from minor-league baseball, where affiliated teams develop players for the major-league clubs.

A common mix-up is confusing MLB with the minor leagues or assuming the “M” means “main.” MLB is the standard abbreviation used in schedules, standings, broadcasts, and official statistics.