MLB Coloring Book

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the major professional baseball league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the oldest sports leagues in North America. MLB has 30 teams, divided into two leagues: the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). The MLB season culminates with competition in the World Series, where the champions of both leagues meet to compete for the title of baseball champion. The league is also known for figures such as Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Derek Jeter, who have had a significant impact on the history of baseball and the sport in the US.

Information

1. History: MLB has roots dating back to the 19th century. It was formally established in 1903 as a result of the merger of two rival leagues: the National League (NL), which was founded in 1876, and the American League (AL), which was formed in 1901.
2. Structure: MLB consists of 30 teams - 15 in the National League and 15 in the American League. The teams are further divided into three divisions in each league: the Eastern, Central and Western.
3. Season: A typical MLB regular season runs from early spring to early fall and consists of 162 games for each team. The regular season is followed by the postseason, in which the top teams in each division, as well as wild-card teams, compete in playoffs that culminate in the World Series.
4. World Series: This is the final stage of the postseason, in which the National League and American League champions compete in a best-of-seven series for the title of baseball world champion.
5. Stars: In the history of MLB there have been many great players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Derek Jeter and many others.
6. Cultural influence: MLB plays a significant role in American culture. Events such as the Home Run Derby and the MLB All-Star Game attract the attention of fans from all over the country and the world.
7. International coverage: Although MLB is primarily located in the US (with the exception of a few Canadian teams), it has a global influence. Many players come from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, Japan and South Korea.
8. Contemporary Challenges: MLB, like many other sports, is grappling with challenges such as the length of games, the need to attract younger fans and doping issues.
9. Contemporary innovations: MLB is constantly introducing technological innovations, such as the video replay system and advanced statistics (e.g. Statcast), to better understand and analyze the game.
10. Community Initiatives: MLB plays an important role in the communities where the teams are located through various charitable programs and initiatives to improve life in those communities.

Trivia

1. Babe Ruth: Although he is best known for hitting home runs, Babe Ruth began his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. It wasn't until he moved on to the New York Yankees that he became a legendary batter.
2. Longest match: In 1984, the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers played the longest game in terms of duration - 8 hours and 6 minutes. The game was divided into two parts, which were played over two days.
3. Cal Ripken Jr: In 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles broke Lou Gehrig's record by playing 2,131 consecutive games without a break. His record stopped at 2,632 games.
4. Colorful nicknames: Baseball is known for its unusual player nicknames. "Babe", "The Iron Horse", "Yogi", "The Say Hey Kid" are just a few of them.
5. Jackie Robinson: In 1947, he became the first African-American to play in MLB, breaking the "color barrier." His number, 42, was retired by all MLB teams in recognition of his achievement.
6. Excellent debut: In 2004, in his first MLB entry, Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals recorded a home run.
7. Cap with 10 sizes: In 2016, Bartolo Colón became the oldest player to hit his first home run at age 42. What's more, his size 8 cap is the largest in MLB.
8. Unbroken records: Some MLB records are considered unbreakable. Joe DiMaggio's record of 56 consecutive games with at least one hit is one of them.
9. World Series without Americans: In 1992 and 1993, the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series title, becoming the first and only non-U.S. team to achieve this to date.
10. "Curse of the Bambino": For 86 years, the Boston Red Sox team failed to win a World Series championship. Many believed it was the "curse of Babe Ruth" (nicknamed "Bambino"), who was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919. The curse was "broken" in 2004 when the Red Sox won the championship.