25 ways the MLB has changed in the last 50 years

In 1973, the American League introduced the designated hitter, a batter whose sole purpose in a game is offense and who does not play on the field (replacing the pitcher's spot in the batting order). This increased offense in the AL, while the National League became known as a “pitcher's league.” While some of the game's best hitters have slotted into a DH role, the position still causes controversy—some Hall of Fame voters shy away from supporting DH candidates for not playing defense.

For more than 75 years, Wrigley Field in Chicago was known for its ivy-decorated outfield wall, and its day games. That all changed when in 1988 the home of the Chicago Cubs installed lights for night games. The Cubs were the last team to not hold night games, but now they've become a staple of hot summer evenings on the North Side of the city.

Old-time photos often captured players reaching over the dugout to greet fans or sign autographs, but that interaction has become largely subdued in favor of safety. After a spate of horrifying incidents involving foul balls striking fans, baseball stadiums began wrapping the areas behind the dugout with protective netting. However, some say these measures don't go far enough; in May, a young girl was hit by a screaming liner by Cubs batter Albert Almora, who was in tears through the mishap.

Long a staple of the National Football League, Major League Baseball instituted video replay on Aug. 28, 2008. Originally, the replay could only be initiated by the umpire on home run calls, but now the game includes manager challenges on everything from whether a defensive player actually caught a ball, or if a batter was hit by a pitch. While purists may bash technology's influence on the outcome of the game, MLB may not be done. 

In 1969, the American League and National League were split into two divisions, with each league's division winner meeting in the playoffs. In 1995, the playoff system instituted its first wild card teams to accompany three division winners in the playoffs. Today, two wild card teams meet in a one-game playoff to advance to the Division Series round.

Before 1997, the only time stars from the American League and National League faced off were in Spring Training, at the All-Star Game, or in the World Series. But still reeling from a disastrous strike in 1994, in an effort to increase interest in baseball, MLB created Interleague play. Today, because there are 15 teams in each league, every set of series throughout the season is guaranteed to have at least one AL-NL matchup.

With the advent of iPhones and the internet, voting for MLB All-Stars has changed dramatically. No longer can fans even stuff paper ballots at their local ballparks. Not only can they vote online for starters, but they also choose the last person for each roster in a special runoff election.

At the start of the 2019 season, MLB had 251 international players. Countries like the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Venezuela have led the charge of imports in recent years, while countries like the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia also have begun producing MLB talent. The first Dominican player didn't arrive to the majors until 1956, but there were 102 Dominicans on rosters to open this year.

While most sluggers 50 years ago didn't even wear batting gloves, today's players are equipped like soldiers headed into battle. The introduction of everything from shin guards to elbow pads have changed the way pitchers approach batters—throwing high and inside is no longer as intimidating if you're covered head to toe in padding. While old-school hardliners may have voiced their displeasure with the accoutrements at one time, protective gear is very much the norm today for every player.

During Spring Training 2019, MLB introduced a pitch clock for the first time. In recent years, fans have bemoaned the length of baseball games, and MLB has gradually rolled out new rules to speed the game along. This also includes limiting mound visits and shortening the time between innings.

Baseball players have long been associated with chewing tobacco, often seen on the field with large chaws in their mouth, or shown in the dugout spitting out brown wads of residue. While Americans have long known the dangers of tobacco, the use of smokeless tobacco didn't hit hard at home until the death of Tony Gwynn, a frequent user who succumbed to salivary gland cancer in 2014. Now, more than half of the ballparks in the majors ban the use of smokeless tobacco by fans and players.

Fifty years ago, as MLB began expanding to new cities, many locales began building dual-purpose stadiums, to host professional football and baseball teams. This resulted in many stadiums choosing artificial turf over natural grass, which could lead to more injuries, and less-than-optimal settings for baseball games. Beginning with Camden Yards in 1992, MLB teams began building baseball-only stadiums, creating much better accommodations. But the facilities remain controversial when cities have to foot large tax bills for their construction.

In 1969, there were 24 teams in the majors. Today, 30 teams comprise the landscape of professional baseball in North America. Fifty years ago, there were no teams in Florida—now there are two—while western locales like Denver and Phoenix also have become baseball-crazed cities.

On Aug. 16, 1996, MLB held its first regular season game outside of United States or Canada, in Monterrey, Mexico. Since then, games have been held in Japan and Australia, while the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 furthered the sport's spotlight around the globe.

Today's baseball fans can watch games on Facebook, cellphones, and tablets. While much of this is the norm thanks to ever-expanding technology, baseball was ahead of the game with the creation of MLB Advanced Media, which has become a pioneer in the online viewing experience.

Although the 1990s are often thought of as the heyday of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use in baseball, in the 1980s, several players admitted to using amphetamines to gain on advantage on the field. MLB has instituted stricter drug testing and penalties for players who use PEDs, but use of banned substances is not fully eradicated from the game.

In 1969, Curt Flood would not accept a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies. This kicked off a chain of events that saw Flood taking MLB to the U.S. Supreme Court, and even though he lost his case, it led to the creation of free agency in baseball. Today, free agency is how World Series winners are crafted and leads to unprecedented riches in the hundreds of millions for the game's top stars.

Back in the 1960s, black cleats were in vogue and few specks of individuality could be found amid the wardrobes donned by MLB players. Today, though, the diamond often resembles a fashion show, with customized cleats, trademark hat styles, and fluorescent colored sleeves that have becoming calling cards for the game's biggest stars. MLB has further encouraged individuality with its “Players Weekend,” during which each player chooses a nickname on the back of his jersey.

More frequently, women are breaking barriers in baseball. For many years, Kim Ng has been vice president of baseball operations with the league, after successful runs in the front offices of the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2019, Jessica Mendoza followed in Ng's footsteps, getting hired by the New York Mets after many years as a baseball broadcaster for ESPN. Still, more steps can be taken to further diversity in baseball.

Pitching staffs have consistently had five starters—although 50 years ago, pitchers frequently lasted longer in games. While the number of starters hasn't fluctuated much, the Tampa Bay Rays popularized the use of an “opener” in 2018, which is using a relief pitcher to begin the game and using bullpen strength over the hope a starter can go deep into a game.

As long as baseball has been America's pastime, there has always been room for improvement. This decade, the shift has become a fad permeating baseball strategy, whereby a team shifts its infield in the direction of where a batter most frequently hits the ball. Some players will try to beat the shift with well-placed bunts or by aiming to hit the ball to the opposite field, but the shift remains a crucial component of today's game.

Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier in 1947, and by 1969, about 14.5% of baseball players were black, according to the Society for American Baseball Research. By the 1980s, almost 19% of MLB rosters were comprised of black players, but in recent years, the number has hovered under 7%. MLB has recently created more initiatives in inner cities to increase enrollment among young black players.

The old ballpark menu of hot dogs, peanuts, and Cracker Jack can still be found at concession stands, but the live game experience has transformed completely. Stadiums now offer everything from fish tacos to gourmet pizzas, with wide ranges of craft beers and gluten-free options, to boot.

During the 2015 playoffs, Chase Utley used a hard slide into second base and ended up breaking the leg of Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. That led to a new “slide rule” to protect defensive players, nixing the old unwritten rule of expecting to be taken out on a double play at second base. Other rules have been made to protect catchers after collisions at home plate caused notable catcher injuries.

For years, the only way to meet a favorite ballplayer was by going to the ballpark, or a chance meeting in public. With the advent of social media, though, players can be accessed with the touch of a screen, and many ballplayers have used such interaction to their advantage, becoming fan favorites willing to interact with supporters and trolls, alike.