Which Countries Play Baseball?

The game of baseball is widely considered America’s pastime. But which other countries also play baseball?

North America

Baseball is a sport that is popular in North America. It is played in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport that is played between two teams of nine players each. The aim of the game is to score runs by hitting a ball that is thrown by the opposing team’s pitcher and then running around four bases.

United States

The United States has a long and rich history with baseball. The game was first played in the country in the early 1800s, and it quickly became a popular pastime. Professional baseball leagues began popping up in the late 1800s, and by the early 1900s, baseball was one of the most popular sports in the country.

Today, baseball is still very popular in the United States. There are professional teams in every state, and many cities have minor league teams as well. Baseball is also widely played at the collegiate level, and there are numerous amateur leagues across the country.

Canada

There are two professional baseball leagues in Canada, the National League and the American Association. Both of these leagues are considered minor leagues. However, some of the teams in these leagues are affiliated with Major League Baseball teams.

Central America

Baseball is a widely played sport in Central America. The countries of Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua all have professional baseball leagues. Baseball is also popular in Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.

Cuba

Cuba is a country located in the Caribbean. The official language of Cuba is Spanish and the capital is Havana. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and has a population of over 11 million people.

The economy of Cuba is a socialist planned economy and its system is based on the Soviet model. The government owns all land and most housing, and most production facilities are state-owned.

The Cuban national baseball team is one of the strongest in the world and has won multiple World Baseball Classic championships. Baseball is by far the most popular sport in Cuba.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has a rich baseball tradition dating back to the nineteenth century. Some of the game’s greatest players have come from the Dominican Republic, including such Hall of Famers as Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero. The Dominican Republic has its own professional baseball league, the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Profesional (LIDOM), which was founded in 1955. The league currently consists of six teams who play a fifty-game regular season schedule followed by a best-of-seven playoff series.

Mexico

Mexico is a founding member of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the world governing body for the sport of baseball. The Mexican national team has made eight appearances in the Baseball World Cup, winning two silver medals and two bronze medals. Mexico has also competed in the Caribbean Series, winning five times.

South America

Baseball is a sport that is widely played all over the world. Though it is especially popular in North America, there are many countries in South America that also play the sport. In this section, we will take a look at some of the countries in South America that either have a professional baseball league or have national teams that compete in international tournaments.

Venezuela

Venezuela is a country located in South America. Baseball is the most popular sport in Venezuela.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a rich baseball history and has produced some of the game’s biggest stars. The island has its own professional league, the Puerto Rican Winter League, which runs from October to January. Baseball is also very popular at the collegiate level, with many schools fielding teams in the NCAA’s Division I.

Puerto Rico has been a regular participant in the World Baseball Classic, making it to the semifinals in both 2013 and 2017. The island has also hosted several Major League Baseball games, including the 2017 MLB All-Star Game.

Asia

There are countries all throughout Asia that have a long tradition of playing baseball. In Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, baseball is one of the most popular sports. These countries have professional baseball leagues and produce some of the best players in the world. Baseball is also popular in China and India.

Japan

Japan has a long baseball tradition dating back to 1872, when an American educator named Horace Wilson introduced the game to his students at the Kaisei Academy. Baseball quickly became popular among the young people of Japan, and by 1903, there were many amateur teams.

In 1920, Japan’s first professional team was founded, and by 1936, there were six professional teams in the country. Baseball became even more popular after World War II, when American servicemen stationed in Japan introduced the game to even more people.

Today, baseball is one of Japan’s most popular sports, and the country even has its own professional league, called Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The NPB is made up of two smaller leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League. Each league has six teams, and each team plays a 144-game season.

South Korea

Since the 1950s, baseball in South Korea has been a popular summer sport. Along with softball, it is currently one of the two official sports of the country.

The history of baseball in South Korea can be traced back to 1905, when American teachers working in the country introduced the game to their students. It quickly became popular, and by 1920 there were already several professional teams in operation.

Today, baseball is one of the most popular sports in South Korea, with a professional league that features 10 teams. The season runs from March to October, and games are typically played before sellout crowds.

South Korea has also been successful in international competition, winning a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and finishing as runners-up at both the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic tournaments.

Europe

Not many people know that baseball is played in Europe. In fact, baseball is quite popular in a few European countries. Let’s take a look at which countries play baseball.

Netherlands

The Netherlands has a long baseball tradition. The first baseball game in the Netherlands was played in 1911, and the first official Dutch baseball league was founded in 1922. The Dutch national team has won the European championship 20 times (as of 2019), and has also medaled in multiple World Baseball Classic tournaments.

Italy

Baseball is not a very popular sport in Italy. However, there are a few leagues and teams in the country. Baseball first came to Italy in the late 1800s, and the first professional league was founded in 1948.

Germany

Germany may not be the first country you think of when it comes to baseball, but the sport has a long history there. Baseball was first introduced to Germany in the late 1800s by American soldiers stationed there, and the first German baseball league was founded in 1902. The game continued to grow in popularity, and by 1938 there were over 100 baseball clubs in Germany.

However, the sport took a hit during World War II, as many baseball fields were destroyed and many of the players drafted into the military. After the war, baseball slowly started to make a comeback, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the sport really began to take off again. Today, there are over 200 baseball clubs in Germany, with nearly 8,000 players.