Baseball has been America’s favorite game for well over two hundred years now, but how did our obsession begin, and where?

1800s

The foundations of baseball in America are credited to Abner Doubleday in 1839, but the formation of the National League did not occur until 1876.

1900s

The American League formed in 1901, and two years later the first World Series (against the National and American Leagues, respectively) is played.

1910s

Baseball’s first big controversy came in 1919 when eight White Sox players were banned for fixing the World Series.

1920s

One of the biggest names in baseball history, Babe Ruth was traded to the Yankees in 1920. He is known for hitting more home runs on his own than just one other team in the league.

1930s

The sport created its own Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, and three years later the first televised game aired.

1940s

Jackie Robinson joined the major leagues in 1947 to become the first African American professional player in the sport.

1950s

The 1950s marked great change for major league baseball as many teams relocated—including the Dodgers and Giants who moved to California in 1957.

1960s

Six new teams were added to the league, including the first non-American team, the Montreal Expos.

1970s

Players won the right to play as free agents in 1975, and the World Series broke major ground on television when Game 7 was watched by an estimated 75 million Americans.

1980s

700 games were canceled in 1981 due to a players strike. On a positive note, Pete Rose broke a new all-time hits record in 1985.

1990s

The entire 1994 season was canceled because of yet another players strike, but the follow year, Cal Ripken set the record for the most consecutive games played.

2000s

In 2001, Barry Bonds set the single-season home run mark, and in 2007, the all-time mark.