Should the MLB expand and feature all countries willing to participate in it?

United States
January 4, 2010 8:03pm CST
I am just wondering because I do not get why the championship game is called the World Series if the whole world is not in it. It just doesn't seem right.
3 responses
• United States
10 Jan 10
No I don't think so for a couple of reasons: 1. Do you think other countries want to participate? It would literally cost them more money than it would make them, with having to send their team to the States pretty much every day in the summer. 2. Most of the best players in the MLB are not American-born. Other countries do participate in the MLB : on American teams. When countries play as a team, that is what the World Baseball Classic is for. Players who want to play Major League Baseball come here and get signed. 3. It would make everything more complicated. Baseball is complicated enough as is...I doubt anyone wants to try to figure out a playoff system featuring teams from nations other than the US, Canada, Puerto Rico (thats an ok possibility) and Mexico (maybe...). 4. In boxing in the old days I'm pretty sure they still called it "World" Heavyweight Championship, but it wasn't international until other countries proved they could field competitors who could make a decent challenge for the title. Case and point, if another country started a franchise, they would need to be good and willing to pay the money to play in the league. To respond to your point, it isn't "right" but there isn't any way to make it any better, other than changing the name from "World Series" to "MLB Championship Series." Yep, World Series sounds cooler.
• United States
11 Jan 10
I get what you're saying, but when you said that it would be hard for them to think of a playoff system I think it would actually be pretty easy. They could branch off the little league system in Williamsport (they have teams from everywhere).
@MJay101 (710)
6 Jan 10
I don't think there are enough countries that seriously play baseball to make it a truly global sport. It would most likely be the central and southern American nations who play, and Japan. Even then, the vast majority of star players are in the American system - so it would be hopelessly one-sided. 'World Series' is just a name. There are plenty of teams who play in the 'Champions League' (football) that are not, in fact, Champions - just ask any Liverpool fan!
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Jan 10
It is international as there are teams from Canada. Unfortunately only one is left, the Toronto Blue Jays. I think for it to be international is to grow the market in Mexico. A lot of the baseball players are spanish speaking anyway, so I think, a well managed team south of the border should be feasible. Then at least it would be a real world series if this Canadian or Mexican team goes in the finals.