Baseball World Series

[ThePlumsofWrath]

Why is it called a 'World Series' when it is demonstrably not?

Cheers.

 

[Neroon]

Consider how long it's been around. For the longest time the US would have been the only place that played the sport in a professional and organized fashion. So in essence ... they were the world asfar as baseball was concerned.

 

[Canadave]

Consider how long it's been around. For the longest time the US would have been the only place that played the sport in a professional and organized fashion. So in essence ... they were the world asfar as baseball was concerned.

Exactly. In the 1860s, when the name first appeared, there really was no high-level baseball being played outside of North America. And I believe that during the 19th century, professional baseball actually did search outside NA for a suitable challenger, but never had any success. And, at the end of the day, the moniker just stuck.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

What other country plays a decent amount of organized baseball? Except for Japan? I realize that many countries have teams in the World Baseball Classic, but they don't all have leagues of their own, do they?

 

[Neroon]

Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic... all have more than healthy baseball programs as the MLB rosters can attest

 

[Chaos Descending]

Don't forget South Korea.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Why is it called a 'World Series' when it is demonstrably not?

Because "Americans, Canadians, and Assorted Caribbean and East Asian Dudes Series" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue or fit nicely on a giant foam #1 hand.

In other news, the Superbowl does not involve a piece of Tupperware from the planet Krypton given extraordinary powers by our yellow sun. Discuss.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

What other country plays a decent amount of organized baseball? Except for Japan? I realize that many countries have teams in the World Baseball Classic, but they don't all have leagues of their own, do they?

You're entirely right. Every team other than the US and Japan stock their WBC teams with guys picked from their country's versions of beer leagues. That's the same reason why so many players in major league baseball have hispanic surnames. There's a whole army of scouts doing nothing but scouring the sandlot, pickup, and beer league games for talent.

 

[RAMA]

Because its the USA and if we think something is good we think it must be good for the whole world.

In this case at least, we are right.

RAMA

 

[SmoothieX]

Because you're determining the top team in the world's top baseball league. The top players from around the world come here to play.

And don't make WBC comparisons. It's a bunch of teams that have about a week of practice time together, and many big league clubs are reluctant to let their stars participate for fear of injury and fatigue, so you're getting watered down clubs.

 

[Starbreaker]

Because of the Blue Jays.