The Top 5 Best Baseball Leagues in the World
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A lot of people know about Major League Baseball but there are other great baseball leagues around the world. Here are the top 5 best baseball leagues in the world.
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Often considered the best baseball league in the world, MLB is made up of 30 teams. These teams are split into two leagues, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), each containing three divisions. The AL has 14 teams and the NL has 16 teams.
Japan’s Nippon professional baseball (NPB)
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is Japan’s top baseball league and is widely considered to be one of the best Baseball Leagues in the world. The NPB was founded in 1936, and currently consists of 12 teams. The NPB season runs from late March/early April to early November, with each team playing 144 games. The NPB is perhaps most famous for its unique rules and regulations, which are designed to promote fair play and competitive balance. These include a salary cap a limit on the number of foreign players allowed on each team, and restrictions on the length of contracts.
Korea’s KBO League
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is the highest level of baseball in South Korea Founded in 1982, the KBO consists of 10 teams and plays a 144-game schedule from March to October. The league is widely considered to be the best Baseball League outside of North America as its level of play is on par with minor league baseball in the United States
Several KBO players have gone on to have successful careers in Major League Baseball including pitchers Ryu Hyun-jin and Kimbrel, infielders Park Byung-ho and Jung Ho- Kang, and outfielder Shin-soo Choo.
Taiwan’s CPBL
Taiwan’s CPBL is one of the best baseball leagues in the world. It is home to some of the best players in the world and has a rich history. The league is also very competitive, with teams regularly contending for the title.
Cuba’s Serie Nacional de Béisbol
Cuba’s Serie Nacional de Béisbol is widely considered to be the best baseball league in the world that is not affiliated with major league baseball The league was founded in 1878 and has been in operation ever since, making it the oldest Baseball League in the world that is still active. The league consists of 16 teams, all of which are located in Cuba.
The level of play in Cuba’s Serie Nacional de Béisbol is incredibly high, with many of the players being scouted by MLB teams. In fact, a number of Cuban players have gone on to have successful careers in Major League Baseball including José Abreu, Aroldis Chapman Yoenis Céspedes, and Yasiel Puig
While Cuban players are not allowed to sign with MLB teams directly, many have defecting to pursue their careers in America. In recent years however, the Cuban government has been working with MLB teams to create a new process that would allow Cuban players to sign with MLB teams without having to defect from their home country.
The Serie Nacional de Béisbol is an incredibly competitive league and is definitely one of the top baseball leagues in the world.
The Netherlands’ Honkbal Hoofdklasse
The Netherlands’ Honkbal Hoofdklasse is widely considered to be one of the top baseball leagues in the world. The league consists of eight teams, all of which are based in the Netherlands. The league has produced many Major League baseball players including Jairo Asencio, Druw Jones and Jurickson Profar.
Italy’s Serie A1
Italy’s Serie A1 is considered one of the top 5 professional baseball leagues in the world. The league consists of 8 teams, with the top 4 teams qualifying for the playoffs. The level of play is very high, with many foreign players coming to play in the league.
Australia’s Claxton Shield
Australian baseball is on the rise, and the Claxton Shield is one of the top leagues in the world. The Shield is the Premier Baseball competition in Australia, and it features some of the best teams in the country. The league is home to six teams: the Brisbane Bandits, Sydney Blue Sox Adelaide Bite, Perth Heat, Canberra Cavalry, and Melbourne Aces. These teams compete against each other in a round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.
South Africa’s SAB League
The South African national Baseball League nicknamed the SAB League, is one of the top 5 best Baseball Leagues in the world. The league comprises of 24 teams that play each other in a double round-robin format.
Venezuela’s Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional
Venezuela’s Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is widely considered the best Baseball League in the world outside of MLB. The league consists of seven teams, all based in Venezuela, and each team plays a total of 60 games per season. The league’s regular season runs from October to December, and the playoffs are held in January.
Venezuelan baseball players have historically been some of the most successful in MLB, and many current MLB stars got their start in the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. Some of the most famous examples include Miguel Cabrera Felix Hernandez, Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana.
