YEAR IN REVIEW : 2021 National League

Off the field...

The 2021 Major League Baseball regular season began on April 1, 2021, and ended on October 3, 2021. The World Series (Game 1) was played on October 26. The entire 2021 schedule was released by Major League Baseball on July 9, 2020.

On February 9, 2021, Major League Baseball announced that the following two temporary rule changes from the 2020 season would continue in 2021: Doubleheaders would be played as two seven-inning games, and, a runner will be placed on second base at the start of every half-inning of a game that goes into extra innings.

All thirty Major League Baseball teams celebrated the following special days during the 2021 season; Jackie Robinson Day (April 15, 2021 | #42 Patch), Mother's Day (May 9, 2021 | Pink Ribbons), Father's Day (June 20, 2021 | Blue Ribbons).

In the American League...

The 2021 season was the last where Cleveland's team competed as the Indians, replacing their 106-year-old team name. On December 14, 2020, the franchise announced they would unveil a new moniker, uniform, and stadium changes before the 2022 season.

On August 12, 2021, the MLB at Field of Dreams game, which was originally scheduled for 2020, but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured a matchup between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox at a purpose-built ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa.

During the Little League World Series, the MLB Little League Classic featured a matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and the Cleveland Indians at BB&T Ballpark in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 22, 2021.

In the National League...

Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, was renamed American Family Field after Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance outbid the Miller Brewing Company for the ballpark's naming rights renewal contract. Miller's 20-year contract expired at the end of the 2020 season.

The Atlanta Braves celebrated their 150th Anniversary Season in 2021, wearing special patches during the regular season, as well as In Memoriam patches for Hank Aaron and Phil Niekro. In July 2020, the franchise announced they had no plans to change their controversial moniker, telling fans, "We will always be the Atlanta Braves."

New York Mets president Sandy Alderson said in a 2021 conference call, "Having a DH in the National League is a good thing. The fact is, pitchers can’t even bunt anymore. So I'm in favor of putting a hitter in that additional slot. Ultimately it makes the game more exciting. More offense, or more opportunity for offense, a bigger challenge for the pitchers. I just think for the overall quality of the game, the excitement level of the DH is the right thing in the National League."

Around the League...

The ninety-first All-Star Game was scheduled for July 13, 2021, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. On April 2, 2021, Major League Baseball moved the game out of Atlanta, in protest of the passage of a controversial voting law. On April 6, 2021, MLB selected hitter-friendly Coors Field, in Denver, Colorado, as the new host of the Midsummer Classic.

ESPN Radio aired its 24th season of Major League Baseball in 2021, including Sunday Night Baseball Saturday Games, Opening Day games, and the entire postseason.

For the first time in sixty years, the National Baseball Hall of Fame did not induct a new group of electees in 2021. The Class of 2020s induction ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, so there is a possible event in Cooperstown in 2021.