Why do they play 162 games in MLB?

Why do they play 162 games in MLB? The closest a team could come to a 154 game season would be to play each of their 9 opponents 17 times, but that math only worked out to a 153 game season. So baseball decided to add 8 additional games to the season so one team could play all 9 of their opponents 18 times (9 opponents x 18 games = 162 games).

The closest a team could come to a 154 game season would be to play each of their 9 opponents 17 times, but that math only worked out to a 153 game season. So baseball decided to add 8 additional games to the season so one team could play all 9 of their opponents 18 times (9 opponents x 18 games = 162 games).