MLB 2021 Season

The MLB (Major League Baseball) season is over, meaning that one of the most memorable campaigns in recent memory has ended. There were hundreds of unforgettable events this season, from a shocking trade deadline to the continued struggle of playing through a worldwide pandemic.

Starting with the 2021 trade deadline, the MLB faced a dramatic shift with 80 players trading teams as deals were consistently developing. As trades progressed, news updates were nonstop, with transactions left and right. Almost every star player who could have been available had secured a deal—some for more apparent reasons. A total of ten players had been through trades in the same season they were to be on the All-Star team, which was record-setting. Kris Bryant, Trea Turner, and Joey Gallo were among those that took part. The Chicago Cubs were one of the busiest teams during the trade deadline as they offloaded a staggering number of top players, including notable names like Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez.

As we all know, COVID-19 has affected every one of us one way or another, including the sports industry. Coming back from a brief 2020 season, during which no spectators were allowed at any MLB games, along with the risk of progressing throughout the season, 2021 sought improvement for both fans and players. Following 2020, stadiums implemented suitable procedures to effectively follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and accommodate fans/players, even to the point of many stadiums having the ability to carry out audience capacity. Although thorough protocols had been put into place, surges in covid cases throughout the season caused dozens of games to be postponed and became a health concern among numerous teams. An appropriate example is the 167 positive Covid cases that had reached players on 28 MLB teams, apart from the A’s and Rangers that had astonishingly achieved 0 throughout the season.

To wrap up this unpredictable yet exhilarating season, The World Series took place between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. It would later end in 6 games as the Braves claimed their second championship since relocating to Atlanta.