Could interleague play have been meant to condition fans for an eventual major realignment?
Could interleague play have been meant to condition fans for an eventual major realignment? There was a time when the two major leagues were completely separate. They had separate rules. They hired separate umpires. They had a separate organization structure. American League owners met and voted on American League issues. Likewise for National League owners. They were two completely distinct organizations whose teams only met for the annual All-Star Game and in the World Series. This is the reason why baseball has two Rookies of the Year, two Most Valuable Players and two Cy Young Award winners; one for each league. When expansion happened in 1961, it was an American League issue. The American League owners voted on it, and two American League teams were added. Likewise, when expansion occurred again in 1962, it was a National League issue. National League owners voted on it, and two National League teams were added. ...