In 1901, the American League declared itself a competitor to the NL, jumping up from its minor league status (where it had been called the Western League). The two leagues agreed to play a World Series in 1903, and for the next 90-odd years the leagues served as heated rivals. The NL's dominance in the All-Star Game from 1963 to 1982 -- it won 19 of the 20 contests -- was offered as proof of its superiority, certainly by its players and fans.
Sutton United have signed Hartlepool United's Grenada international winger Jermaine Francis for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old, who has won 15 international caps for the Caribbean nation, is the 10th new player to join the club since Chris Agutter took over as head coach in October. Francis, who has also had spells at Braintree and Chelmsford, scored three goals in 22 National League appearances for Hartlepool after joining them last summer.
All National League fixtures on 15 November will kick off three minutes late as part of a campaign to grant fifth-tier clubs a third promotion place to League Two. The English Football League (EFL) has resisted previous calls for an extra promotion spot, but the National League is continuing to push for change and will highlight the issue again next month, with all 12 fixtures on the day kicking off at 15:03 GMT.
Starting with the hosts, watching their extended purple patch come to an end over the weekend as they eventually fell to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Carlisle, Scunthorpe are desperately seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, despite only making their National League return this season, Andy Butler's men have enjoyed a stellar start to proceedings. Getting Tuesday's return to Lincolnshire underway sat in the play-off places, the Irons have their sights set on mounting another promotion charge this year.
While Boston might have clinched a much-welcomed 2-0 victory against Braintree last week, Graham Coughlan's men have failed to find any kind of stability so far this season. Opening the midweek fixtures holding just a three-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Lincolnshire-based outfit could find themselves at the heart of another relegation scrap this year. Despite enjoying an impressive National League Cup romp, the Pilgrims have mustered just a single win from any of their previous seven showdowns against fifth-tier opposition.
The MLB playoffs are just around the corner and shaping up to be a wide-open affair. For the second consecutive season, there is not a single team on pace to win 100 or more games. That means there is plenty of parity across the majors, which is bound to carry over to October.
Josue De Paula hit a three-run homer in a four-run fourth inning leading the National League to a 4-2 victory over the American League in the All-Star Futures Game.
Former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker Andy Carroll has joined sixth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer. Carroll has signed a reported three-year deal with the National League South outfit after leaving Bordeaux last month.
