How many games are in a Major League Baseball season?

Since the 20^th century, the number of games in a Major League Baseball season has remained relatively consistent, with each team playing between 150 and 162 games. From 1920-1960, each team in the American League and National League played 154 games a season. In 1961, each American League team played a 162-game schedule. In 1962, the National League teams also added eight games to the schedule. Each of the 30 MLB teams today continues to play a 162-game schedule.

In addition, there are two wild-card playoff games, one in each league, in addition to best-of-five division series, followed by best-of-seven league championship series and the World Series.

Why did the AL and NL go to a 162-game schedule?

The reason the schedule expanded in the early 1960s was league expansion. In 1961, the AL added the Los Angeles Angels (now Anaheim Angels) and Washington Senators, who moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1972 and were named the Texas Rangers. In 1962, the NL added the New York Mets and Houston Colt 45s, who became the Astros in 1965. Each team played each other 18 times.   

What significant record was set when the AL schedule expanded in 1961?

The year MLB’s schedule expanded was also the season Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s season home run record. Unfortunately for Maris, the record came with an asterisk because he didn’t hit his 61^st homer until after Game No. 154 in 1961. MLB commissioner Ford Frick decided all records broken after the 154^th game of the season would come with an asterisk. This ruling was reversed in 1991, but Maris never lived to see the change. He died in 1985.