1998 Major League Baseball expansion the American League. Following that transaction, MLB consequently altered its season structure so as to include interleague play throughout the regular season. 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
Far West League (collegiate summer baseball league) Far West League (collegiate summer baseball league) The Far West League (FWL) was a collegiate summer baseball league based on the west coast of the United States that serves primarily California and Oregon. It was formed as part of a merger between the West Coast League/Tri-State and Pacific West Baseball League, even though the PWBL is still in operation. The FWL began play in 2011 with each team facing each of the other teams three times for 27 regular-season league games. Post-season play saw the top five teams in a nine-game double-elimination tournament with the Humboldt Crabs winning the 2011