Widely popular as the nationl game of the United States, the game ignites a fervour in the minds and hearts of many Americans. The game in itself is simple and played with a bat and ball between two teams with nine players each. The teams take turns batting and running from one base to another. The other team pitches.

Each team tries to outdo the other by trying to score more runs by hitting the ball thrown by the pitcher with the baseball bat and base-running. There are nine innings to a game, where each pitching and fielding side tries to get the batting team out. The team with the most runs at the end of the game is the winning side.

The game has supposedly evolved from older bat-and-ball games, most notably from England and France. Brought by people immigrating to America, this game has taken a life of its own. It took root in America by the 19th century and developed into a full-fledged national sport by the later half of the same century.

Even though the exact inception and route of the origin of baseball is not surely known and widely debated, it is safe to say that in the land of Uncle Sam, the game has found its true appeal and can be treated no less than a religion.

Today, the game of baseball is popular not only in the U.S. but also in countries such as Canada, Japan and Cuba. It is played in areas as diverse as Central and South America, parts of Europe and east Asia.

In the U.S. And Canada, the game is famous through the Major League Baseball (MLB). It comprises of 30 teams from the U.S and Canada. The teams play throughout April to September. They play 162 games each season leading to the playoffs. The World Series happens in the month of October.

AL: American League
NL: National League