1998 Major League Baseball expansion 1998 Major League Baseball expansion The 1998 Major League Baseball expansion resulted in the establishment of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s 29th and 30th teams beginning play for the 1998 season. After initiating an expansion committee in March 1994, 27 groups representing nine cities submitted bids for the proposed expansion teams. After a yearlong process, on March 9, 1995, the league awarded the National League franchise to Phoenix and the American League franchise to Tampa. The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (currently the Tampa Bay Rays), would subsequently begin play for the 1998 season. With the successes of
Baseball in Canada Short-Season A level. Several other Canada-based teams play in low-tier American independent circuits, including the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, and the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. Canada has produced some successful players in Major League Baseball. Ferguson Jenkins is currently the only Canadian in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The following table lists other achievements earned by Canadian baseball players. Baseball in Canada Baseball in Canada dates back to the 19th century, and is played at various levels of competition throughout the country. There is currently one major league team, the Toronto Blue Jays, founded in