Length of Early MLB Seasons:
Relative to Benchmark 140 Games

Here the annual number of Games and the forward-looking averages, 5yr-Avg and 15yr-Avg, are expressed relative to a benchmark 140-game schedule. 100 means 100% of benchmark, or 140 games; 50 means 50% of benchmark, or 70 games. For more explanation, visit the raw Games Scheduled.

Examples:

1875: length of season, 51% of benchmark (games played by the NA team that ranked 4th in games played)

1886: length of season, 90% of benchmark (games scheduled for each NL team; 100% of benchmark for each AA team)

5 years beginning 1893 (roughly, the batting peak of George Davis): average length of MLB season, 94% of benchmark

15 years beginning 1866 (roughly, the career of Lip Pike): average length of MLB season, 29% of benchmark

                              5-year  15-year
        League  Year  Games   Average Average   

        none    1865      0       0      25	
        none    1866      0       0      29	
        none    1867      0       4      33	
        none    1868      0      11      37	
        none    1869      0      18      42	
        none    1870      0      27      47	
        NA(4th) 1871     21      37      53	
        NA(4th) 1872     34      43      57	
        NA(4th) 1873     38      45      61	
        NA(4th) 1874     41      46      65	
        NA(4th) 1875     51      49      69	
        NL      1876     50      51      72	
        NL      1877     43      53      76	
        NL      1878     43      57      80	
        NL      1879     60      62      84	
        NL      1880     60      66      86	American Association (AA) seasons
        NL      1881     60      70      88	(calculate your own 5,15yr-averages)
        NL      1882     60      76      90	AA     57 (difference negligible)
        NL      1883     70      82      93	AA     same
        NL, UA  1884     80      88      95	AA     79 (difference negligible)
        NL      1885     80      92      97	AA     same
        NL      1886     90      96      99	AA     100
        NL      1887     90      98      99	AA     100
        NL      1888    100     102     100	AA     same
        NL      1889    100     101     100	AA     same
        NL, PL  1890    100     100     101	AA     same
        NL      1891    100      99     101	AA     same
        NL      1892    110      97     102	
        NL      1893     94      94     102	
        NL      1894     94      97     103	
        NL      1895     94     101     104	
        NL      1896     94     102     105	
        NL      1897     94     103     106	
        NL      1898    110     104     107	
        NL      1899    110     102     107	

        League  Year  Games   5yr-Avg  15yr-Avg

        NL      1900    100     102     107	
        NL, AL  1901    100     104     108	
        NL, AL  1902    100     106     109	
        NL, AL  1903    100     108     109	
        NL, AL  1904    110     110     109	
        NL, AL  1905    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1906    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1907    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1908    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1909    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1910    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1911    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1912    110     110     108	
        NL, AL  1913    110     110     108	
        N/A/FL  1914    110     106     108	
        N/A/FL  1915    110     104     108	
        NL, AL  1916    110     104     108	
        NL, AL  1917    110     104     108	
        NL, AL  1918     90     104     108	
        NL, AL  1919    100     108     109	
        NL, AL  1920s   110     110     110     (length of season stable after 1920)

        League  Year  Games   5yr-Avg  15yr-Avg

Length of Early MLB Seasons: Relative to Benchmark 140 Games

Length of Early MLB Seasons:
Relative to Benchmark 140 Games