1874: 71 games (Boston) 1875: 86 games (Hartford) The leading numbers of games played to a decision were 33, 54, 59, 71, and 70 decisions; by the listed teams except the Mutuals in 1872. National League (first 25 years of 1876-present) The National League organized for 1876 on a different basis than the NAPBBP, granting exclusive memberships to eight clubs that would continue from year to year – it was generally expected, if only because membership would be profitable. But in its first season in 1876, the new league followed its predecessor in merely agreeing that each club would play a certain number of matches to a decision (excluding ties) by a certain date. Boston played 70 games with its quota of ten decisions against every rival. The others achieved 56 to 68 decisions with 64 to 66 for the four western teams as the teams from New York and Philadelphia (eastern) abandoned their schedule-concluding road trips. American Association (1882–1891) 1882: 80 games = 5 opponents @ 16 games each 1883: 98 games = 7 opponents @ 16 games each 1884-1885: 112 games = 7 opponents @ 16 games each 1886-1891: 140 games = 7 opponents @ 20 games each The AA expanded its schedule to 140 games two years before the National League did so. After 1891 this incarnation of the AA dissolved with four teams bought out and four others joining the NL, nominally creating one big league, the "National League and American Association" of 12 clubs. Union Association (1884) 1884: 112 games – 7 opponents @ 16 games each for 7 opponents Players' League (1890) 1890: 140 games = 20 games each for 7 opponents 20th century This account gives the originally announce length of the major league "championship season" schedule by league and year. This does not include later announced curtailments of play by war (1918) or by strikes and lockouts (1972, 1981, 1994). The schedules for 1995 were revised and shortened from 162 to 144 games, after late resolution of the strike that had begun in 1994 required a delay in the season to accommodate limited spring training. National League American League Recent season schedules 1998 to 2012 Since 1998, there have been 30 major league teams with a single advance schedule for every season that comprises 2430 games. Each team plays 162 games, 81 as the "home" team, 81 as the "visitor". (This is