The live-ball era, also referred to as the lively ball era, is the period in Major League Baseball which began in 1920 and continues to the present day. It contrasts with the pre-1920 period known as the "dead-ball era". The name "live-ball era" comes from the dramatic rise in offensive statistics, a direct result of a series of rule changes (introduced in 1920) that were colloquially said to have made the ball more "lively". The live-ball era was the era in which baseball regained relevance and exploded in popularity.