Editing Baseball (section)

=== Western Hemisphere ===
American influence in the Western Hemisphere has meant that baseball grew significantly in the region.

==== In the United States ====
{{See also|Baseball in Canada}}
The major league game in the United States was originally targeted toward a middle-class, white-collar audience: relative to other spectator pastimes, the National League's set ticket price of 50 cents in 1876 was high, while the location of playing fields outside the inner city and the workweek daytime scheduling of games were also obstacles to a blue-collar audience.<ref>Riess (1991), pp. 69–71.</ref> A century later, the situation was very different. With the rise in popularity of other team sports with much higher average ticket prices—football, basketball, and hockey—professional baseball had become among the most popular blue-collar-oriented American spectator sports.<ref>Riess (1991), pp. 247–248.</ref>

[[File:Tigers2017Champions.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|The [[Tampere Tigers]] celebrating the 2017 title in [[Turku]], [[Finland]]]]
Overall, baseball has a large following in the United States; a 2006 poll found that nearly half of Americans are fans.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Jeffrey M.|date=April 4, 2006|title=Nearly Half of Americans are Baseball Fans|url=http://news.gallup.com/poll/22240/nearly-half-americans-baseball-fans.aspx|access-date=May 31, 2018|publisher=Gallup}}</ref> This led to baseball being granted the title of "America's favorite pastime" by many American baseball fans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-14 |title=America's Favorite Pastime |url=https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/baseball-and-the-archives |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=National Archives |language=en}}</ref> The game was historically seen as contributing to the [[melting pot]] society of the nation, encouraging immigrants to integrate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Missimer |first=Katy |date=2019-03-18 |title=American Immigration and Baseball: A Parallel Pastime |url=https://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/the_histories/vol5/iss2/5/ |journal=The Histories |volume=5 |issue=2}}</ref> In the late 1900s and early 2000s, baseball's position compared to football in the United States moved in contradictory directions. In 2008, MLB set a revenue record of $6.5&nbsp;billion, matching the NFL's revenue for the first time in decades.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kercheval, Nancy|date=October 1, 2008|title=Major League Baseball Revenue Reaches Record, Attendance Falls|publisher=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=asFEMjfiKA5s|url-status=dead|access-date=February 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629051650/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=asFEMjfiKA5s|archive-date=June 29, 2011}} {{cite news|author=Battista, Judy|date=December 9, 2008|title=Feeling Pinch, N.F.L. Will Cut About 150 Jobs|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/sports/football/10nfl.html|access-date=February 8, 2009}} {{cite web|author=Haudricourt, Tom|date=October 20, 2007|title=Bases Loaded|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/29405374.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706194429/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/29405374.html|archive-date=July 6, 2009|access-date=February 8, 2009|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]}}</ref> A new MLB revenue record of more than $10&nbsp;billion was set in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 22, 2017|title=Report: MLB revenues exceed $10 billion for the first time|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/22/mlb-revenues-exceed-10-billion/890041001/|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> On the other hand, the percentage of American sports fans polled who named baseball as their favorite sport was 9%, compared to pro football at 37%.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bonesteel|first=Matt|date=January 10, 2018|title=Despite all the bad news, poll shows football still is America's favorite sport by a wide margin|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/10/despite-all-the-bad-news-poll-shows-football-still-is-americas-favorite-sport-by-a-wide-margin/|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> In 1985, the respective figures were pro football 24%, baseball 23%.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 27, 2009|title=Professional Football Continues Dominance over Baseball as America's Favorite Sport|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/sports-recreation/sports-games-outdoor/11762627-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110073300/http://www.allbusiness.com/sports-recreation/sports-games-outdoor/11762627-1.html|archive-date=January 10, 2011|access-date=September 15, 2010|work=Business Wire|publisher=AllBusiness}}</ref> Because there are so many more major league games played, there is no comparison in overall attendance.<ref>{{cite news|last=McGinty|first=Jo Craven|date=April 10, 2015|title=Popularity Contest: Baseball vs. Football|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/popularity-contest-baseball-vs-football-1428679449|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref> In 2008, total attendance at major league games was the second-highest in history: 78.6&nbsp;million, 0.7% off the record set the previous year.<ref name="MajorAtRec" /> The following year, amid the U.S. recession, attendance fell by 6.6% to 73.4&nbsp;million.<ref name="Brown10">{{cite web|author=Brown, Maury|date=February 25, 2010|title=MLB Sees a Record $6.6 Billion in Revenues for 2009|url=http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4124:mlb-sees-a-record-66-billion-in-revenues-for-2009&catid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027080204/http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4124%3Amlb-sees-a-record-66-billion-in-revenues-for-2009&catid=30%3Amlb-news&Itemid=42|archive-date=October 27, 2010|access-date=September 17, 2010|publisher=Biz of Baseball}}</ref> Eight years later, it dropped under 73&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff Passan|date=April 16, 2018|title=10 Degrees: MLB's enormous attendance drop due to bad weather or something far worse for baseball?|work=Yahoo Sports|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/10-degrees-mlbs-enormous-attendance-drop-due-bad-weather-something-far-worse-baseball-152051024.html|access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> Attendance at games held under the Minor League Baseball umbrella set a record in 2008, with 43.3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 9, 2015|title=Minor League attendance tops 42.5 million|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/gcs-148297748|access-date=June 16, 2018|publisher=Minor League Baseball}}</ref> While MLB games have not drawn the same national TV viewership as football games, MLB games are dominant in teams' local markets and regularly lead all programs in [[primetime]] in their markets during the summer.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hayes|first1=Dade|date=February 14, 2020|title=Baseball Returns As Playoff Format Debate, Houston Astros Cheating Scandal Raise Questions About Future Of ESPN, Turner TV Rights|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/baseball-houston-astros-playoff-format-changes-tv-rights-1202859213/|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref> After multiple years of declines since 2017, Baseball attendance has grown slightly in recent years. In 2024, attendance was 71.3 million, the highest since 2017.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 1, 2024|title=MLB Finishes 2024 Season With Highest Attendance in Seven Years|work=Major League Baseball|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-finishes-2024-season-with-highest-attendance-in-seven-years|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>

==== Latin America ====
{{See also|Latin America–United States relations}}
Baseball is very popular in Venezuela; in 2011, 95% of people surveyed claimed it to be the national sport.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lang |first=Jack |title=Baseball is Venezuela's national sport – but the 2024 Copa America shows why that might be changing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5615753/2024/07/05/venezuela-copa-america-baseball-soccer/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In Nicaragua and Panama, baseball is also considered the national sport.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adler|first=David|date=March 7, 2023 |title=The history of baseball in Nicaragua |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/nicaragua-baseball-history |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=Major League Baseball |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 18, 2025 |title=Over 200K fans show up for Panama's U-18 National Baseball Championship as Coclé repeats championship run |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/over-200k-fans-show-up-for-panamas-u-18-national-baseball-championship-as-cocle-repeats-championship-run |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=WBSC |language=en}}</ref> While soccer is still more popular, baseball is a fast growing sport in Mexico. In 2024, top [[Mexican League]] baseball teams outdraw some [[Liga MX]] teams in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez|first=Carlos|date=April 16, 2025 |title=Mexican Baseball League eager to build on growing attendance|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/apr/16/mexican-baseball-league-eager-to-build-on-growing/ |access-date=April 16, 2025 |website=Chattanooga Time Free Press |language=en}}</ref> Baseball also is somewhat popular in Colombia, though secondary to soccer, especially in coastal areas such as [[Barranquilla]] and [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]] near the Caribbean.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul Morosi|first=John|date=September 24, 2020 |title=Next baseball juggernaut? Colombia has case|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/colombia-becoming-baseball-powerhouse |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=Major League Baseball|language=en}}</ref> In recent years, Baseball has grown in popularity in Colombia, especially in the capital of [[Bogotá]], due an increase of Venezuelan immigrants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner|first=James|date=November 24, 2023 |title=Baseball Flourishes in Colombia’s Capital. But Not Because of Colombians|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/24/sports/baseball/baseball-colombia-bogota-venezuela.html# |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> In Brazil, baseball fan popularity has grown in last few years, thanks to MLB broadcasts in [[ESPN (Brazil)|Brazilian ESPN]] and the historic silver medal in [[Baseball at the 2023 Pan American Games|2023 Pan-American games]]. However, it still lags behind [[Basketball in Brazil|Basketball]] and [[American football in Brazil|American Football]] in the list of most played sports in Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pessôa |first=Lucas |title=Impulsionado por força econômica da MLB, beisebol mira expansão no Brasil |trans-title=Driven by MLB's economic strength, Baseball aims for expansion in Brazil |url=https://www.lance.com.br/lancebiz/mercado-do-esporte/pais-do-beisebol-impulsionado-por-forca-economica-da-mlb-esporte-mira-expansao-no-brasil.html |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=[[Lance!]] |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-23 |title=How Baseball Became Brazilian |url=https://defector.com/how-baseball-became-brazilian |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=defector.com |language=en}}</ref> Baseball has also grown in popularity in Argentina and Peru in recent years due to Venezuelan immigrants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zea|first=Tibisay|date=June 24, 2024 |title=Baseball rises in Argentina thanks to Venezuelan migration |url=https://theworld.org/stories/2024/06/24/baseball-rises-in-argentina-thanks-to-venezuelan-migration |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=The World |language=en}}</ref> Costa Rica has also seen a growth in the popularity of baseball. Since 1987, baseballs have exclusively been made in the Costa Rican town of [[Turrialba (district)|Turrialba]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Llorca Castro|first=Fernando|date=October 25, 2021 |title=Turrialba Makes, the World Series Takes|url=https://www.wsj.com/opinion/turrialba-makes-the-world-series-takes-baseball-costa-rica-11635195464 |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en}}</ref> The sport's overall popularity in Latin America has assisted in integrating [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latin American migrants to the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chamberlain |first=Craig |date=2020-10-12 |title=Capturing the story of Latinos and baseball {{!}} College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois |url=https://las.illinois.edu/news/2020-10-12/capturing-story-latinos-and-baseball |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=las.illinois.edu |language=en}}</ref>

==== Caribbean ====
Since the early 1980s, the Dominican Republic, in particular the city of [[San Pedro de Macorís]], has been the major leagues' primary source of foreign talent.<ref>Bjarkman (2004), pp. 159–165.</ref> In 2017, 83 of the 868 players on MLB Opening Day rosters (and disabled lists) were from the country. Among other Caribbean countries and territories, a combined 97 MLB players were born in Venezuela, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web|title=Opening Day Rosters Feature 230 Players Born Outside the U.S.|date=April 6, 2015 |publisher=Major League Baseball|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/opening-day-rosters-feature-230-players-born-outside-the-us/c-116591920|access-date=April 24, 2018}}</ref> Hall-of-Famer [[Roberto Clemente]] remains one of the greatest national heroes in Puerto Rico's history.<ref>Bjarkman (2004), p. 487.</ref> While baseball has long been the island's primary athletic pastime, its once well-attended professional winter league has declined in popularity since 1990, when young Puerto Rican players began to be included in the major leagues' annual first-year player draft.<ref>{{cite news|author=Castillo, Jorge|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/sports/baseball/puerto-rico-traces-decline-in-prospects-to-inclusion-in-the-baseball-draft.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/sports/baseball/puerto-rico-traces-decline-in-prospects-to-inclusion-in-the-baseball-draft.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Puerto Rico Traces Baseball's Slide to the Draft|date=January 16, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2012|work=The New York Times}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In Cuba, where baseball is by every reckoning the national sport,<ref>González Echevarría (2001), pp. 76, 133, 278–279, 352.</ref> the national team overshadows the city and provincial teams that play in the top-level domestic leagues.<ref name="WW">{{cite news |author=Weissert, Will |date=March 5, 2009 |title=Cubans' Baseball Dreams Take Root on Rocky Fields |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2009-03-05-3277668016_x.htm |access-date=April 28, 2009}}</ref> Baseball is also one of the most popular sports of [[Aruba]] and [[Curaçao]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Belson|first=Ken |date=March 7, 2017 |title=With Talent From Two Small Islands, the Netherlands Is a W.B.C. Favorite |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/sports/baseball/wbc-netherlands-win.html |access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref> and a growing sport in [[The Bahamas]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Yates|first=Clinton|date=January 24, 2022 |title=Baseball and the Bahamas: A deeper bond than you may realize |work=Andscape|url=https://andscape.com/features/baseball-and-the-bahamas-a-deeper-bond-than-you-may-realize/ |access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>