<P> This account gives the length of the major league "championship season" schedule by league and year . It does not cover the curtailment of play by war (1918) or by strikes and lockouts (1972, 1981, 1994). The schedules for 1995 were revised and shortened from 162 to 144 games, after late resolution of the strike that had begun in 1994 required a delay in the season to accommodate limited spring training . </P> <P> The listed years are those in which the league revised its schedule . For example, the National League (NL) scheduled 84 games during 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1882--that is, four seasons from 1879, ending before 1883, the next listing . 1876 is listed here for convenience although the NL did not schedule games (see 1871 to 1876, below). </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Start year </Th> <Th> Total Games </Th> <Th> Schedule </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1876 </Td> <Td> 70 </Td> <Td> 10 games × 7 opponents--matches scheduled by the two clubs (as previously, below) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1877 </Td> <Td> 60 </Td> <Td> 12 games × 5 opponents--the first league schedule </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> 84 </Td> <Td> 12 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1883 </Td> <Td> 98 </Td> <Td> 14 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1884 </Td> <Td> 112 </Td> <Td> 16 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1886 </Td> <Td> 126 </Td> <Td> 18 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1888 </Td> <Td> 140 </Td> <Td> 20 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1892 </Td> <Td> 154 </Td> <Td> 14 games × 11 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1893 </Td> <Td> 132 </Td> <Td> 12 games × 11 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1898 </Td> <Td> 154 </Td> <Td> 14 games × 11 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1900 </Td> <Td> 140 </Td> <Td> 20 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1904 </Td> <Td> 154 </Td> <Td> 22 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1919 </Td> <Td> 140 </Td> <Td> 20 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1920 </Td> <Td> 154 </Td> <Td> 22 games × 7 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> 18 games × 9 opponents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1969 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> 18 games × 5 opponents in - division, 12 × 6 interdivision games (yielding 90 intra - and 72 inter-division games) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> expansion--13 games × 6 opponents in - division, 12 × 7 interdivision games (78 intra - and 84 inter-division) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> leagues split into 3 divisions--schedules based on 1993 alignments </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> inter-league play introduced--opponent schedules vary </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> expansion--opponent schedules vary </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> 162 </Td> <Td> 19 games × 4 opponents within same division (76 games), 6 or 7 games x 10 opponents interdivision within same league (66 games), 20 interleague games </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Start year </Th> <Th> Total Games </Th> <Th> Schedule </Th> </Tr>

When did the mlb start playing 162 games