The Most Popular Form of Baseball: Ranking the Favorites
Voting rules: Choose the form you think is the most popular!
Updated on Oct 1, 2023 08:01
Welcome to StrawPoll, your one-stop destination for exciting polls and rankings on a myriad of topics! Are you a baseball enthusiast or simply curious about the most popular form of America's favorite pastime? Join us in our latest ranking, "What is the most popular form of baseball?" Cast your vote for your favorite version of the game or suggest an option we might have missed. Be a part of this engaging and interactive journey as we pitch our way to discovering which variant of baseball truly captures the hearts of fans around the world. Don't just be a spectator, step up to the plate and make your voice heard!
What Is the Most Popular Form of Baseball? (October 2023)
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167votesThis is the most popular form of baseball in the United States and Canada. It features the best players from around the world and has a rich history dating back to the late 1800s.DescriptionMajor League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization in North America and the highest level of play in the sport. It consists of 30 teams, 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada, and is divided into the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The MLB regular season typically runs from late March/early April to late September/early October, with playoffs and the World Series taking place in October. It is widely regarded as the most popular form of baseball worldwide.
- Teams: 30
- Countries: 2 (United States and Canada)
- Divisions: 2 (American League and National League)
- Regular Season Duration: Late March/early April to late September/early October
- Playoff Format: Single-elimination Wild Card games, Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series
Major League Baseball (MLB) in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular professional sport in the United States
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219votes
Little League Baseball
Carl E. StotzThis is a youth baseball organization that was founded in 1939 and has grown to become a global phenomenon. It is played by millions of children around the world and has produced many top professional players.DescriptionLittle League Baseball is a youth baseball organization that focuses on teaching teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play to children aged 4 to 16. It provides an opportunity for young players to develop their baseball skills in a structured and competitive environment.- Number of players: Nine players per team
- Established: 1939
- Age groups: 4-16 years old
- Field size: 60-foot base paths, 46-foot pitching distance
- Pitching style: Underhand pitching for younger divisions, overhand pitching for older divisions
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318votesThis form of baseball is played at the college level in the United States and is a popular breeding ground for future MLB players. Many top college programs are highly competitive and attract large crowds of fans.DescriptionCollegiate Baseball is a form of baseball played at the collegiate level in the United States. It is one of the most popular variants of baseball and serves as a foundation for player development and talent scouting.
- Number of innings: Usually played in 9 innings.
- Field size: Similar to professional baseball fields, with dimensions including 60 feet 6 inches from the pitcher's mound to home plate and 90 feet between bases.
- Pitching distance: The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate is 60 feet 6 inches.
- Number of players: Each team typically consists of nine players, playing both offense and defense.
- Baserunning rules: Similar to professional baseball, including stealing bases, advancing on hits, and tagging up on fly balls.
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416votes
Cake6 (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0This is the highest level of baseball in Japan and has a huge following in the country. It features some of the best players in Asia and has produced several MLB stars.DescriptionJapanese Professional Baseball (NPB) is the most popular form of baseball in Japan. It is a highly competitive league consisting of two divisions: the Central League and the Pacific League. NPB combines elements of both American Major League Baseball (MLB) and Japanese traditional baseball.- Number of Teams: 12 teams
- Game Format: 9 innings
- Playing Season: April to October
- Playoff System: Climax Series (Unique to NPB)
- Pitching Style: Gyroball and Forkball are popular pitching techniques
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516votesThis is an annual tournament that features the top teams from the Caribbean region, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. It is a popular event that attracts fans from around the world.DescriptionThe Caribbean Series is a baseball tournament that showcases the best teams from various Caribbean countries.
- First Edition: 1949
- Format: Round-robin tournament
- Participating Countries: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
- Number of Teams: 4
- Hosted By: Different countries each year
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63votes
Peter Ellis · CC BY-SA 4.0This is the premier baseball league in Australia and features some of the top players from around the world. It was founded in 1989 and has grown in popularity in recent years.DescriptionThe Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. It is recognized as the premier baseball competition in the country and is considered the most popular form of baseball in Australia. The league is comprised of teams from various cities across Australia. It serves as a platform for top Australian talent as well as international players to showcase their skills.- Season duration: The ABL season typically runs from November to February, consisting of approximately 40 regular-season games.
- Teams: There are currently eight teams in the ABL, including the Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits, Canberra Cavalry, Geelong-Korea, Melbourne Aces, Perth Heat, Sydney Blue Sox, and Auckland Tuatara.
- Player development: The ABL provides a platform for player development, with many players going on to sign contracts with professional teams in the United States and other baseball leagues around the world.
- Import players: Each team is allowed to sign a limited number of international players, often consisting of professional players from various leagues around the world.
- All-Star Game: The ABL holds an annual All-Star Game, bringing together top players from each team to compete in a showcase event.
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76votesThis is the highest level of baseball in South Korea and has a large following in the country. It features some of the top players in Asia and has produced several MLB stars.DescriptionThe Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) is the highest level of professional baseball league in South Korea. It is widely regarded as the most popular form of baseball in the country, attracting a large fan base and significant media attention.
- Number of teams: Currently, the KBO consists of 10 teams.
- Schedule: The regular season typically runs from late March or early April to October.
- Playoffs: The top five teams from the regular season participate in the playoffs to determine the KBO Champion.
- Game format: KBO games are typically nine innings long, and ties are not allowed during the regular season.
- Pitching system: The KBO uses a unique system where each team can have up to three foreign pitchers.
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87votesThis is the top baseball league in Cuba and features some of the best players in the country. It has a large following in Cuba and has produced several MLB stars.DescriptionThe Cuban National Series is the highest level of baseball competition in Cuba. It is a professional league, consisting of a series of tournaments contested annually since 1961.
- Format: The league consists of two stages: the regular season and the postseason, with the top 4 teams advancing to the playoffs.
- Number of Teams: The number of teams has varied over the years, but it typically ranges from 16 to 18 teams.
- Season Duration: The regular season usually lasts around 90 games, starting in November and ending in the following March or April.
- Playoff Format: The playoffs consist of a quarterfinal round, semifinals, and a championship series, all played in a Best-of-Seven format.
- Team Names: The teams in the Cuban National Series have unique names, often representing the provinces or cities they represent, such as Industriales, Santiago de Cuba, or Pinar del Rio.
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95votesThis is a winter baseball league that is played in Mexico and features some of the top players from around the world. It has a large following in Mexico and has produced several MLB stars.DescriptionThe Mexican Pacific League (Liga de Béisbol del Pacífico or LMP) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is considered the top winter baseball league in the country and one of the most popular forms of baseball in Mexico. It attracts both national and international players, including many Major League Baseball (MLB) prospects.
- Season duration: The league's regular season runs from October to December, followed by a playoffs series and a championship series in January.
- Teams: The LMP currently consists of ten teams: Águilas de Mexicali, Algodoneros de Guasave, Cañeros de Los Mochis, Charros de Jalisco, Mayos de Navojoa, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Sultanes de Monterrey, Tomateros de Culiacán, Venados de Mazatlán, and Yaquis de Obregón.
- Game format: Teams play a 68-game regular season schedule, with each team playing each other 20 times.
- Playoff format: The top eight teams at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs, which consist of various series leading up to the championship series.
- Player recruitment: The LMP allows both national and international players to participate, with many MLB prospects using the league as a way to develop their skills during the offseason.
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106votesThis is the highest level of baseball in Taiwan and has a large following in the country. It features some of the top players in Asia and has produced several MLB stars.DescriptionThe Taiwan Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is the most popular form of baseball in Taiwan. It is a four-team professional baseball league consisting of the Chinatrust Brothers, Fubon Guardians, Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, and Rakuten Monkeys. The league was established in 1989 and has since become an integral part of Taiwanese sports culture.
- Number of Teams: 4
- Established: 1989
- Game Format: Nine innings
- Season Duration: Approximately six months
- Playoff System: Top 2 teams compete in a best-of-seven series
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular form
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Number of players and participantsThis includes not only professional players but also amateurs and youth participants. A larger player base generally indicates a more popular form of baseball.
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Audience and fan baseThis includes both the number of fans attending games and the wider audience reached through television broadcasts and social media. A larger fan base and audience generally signifies a more popular form of baseball.
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Media coverageThe level of attention given to the sport by news outlets and the volume of written and visual content produced about the sport can be an indicator of popularity.
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Sponsorship and commercial interestA higher level of investment from sponsors typically reflects a more popular form of baseball, as sponsors tend to invest in sports with higher visibility and appeal to a wider audience.
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Professional leagues and tournamentsThe existence of well-established professional leagues and tournaments in various countries contributes to the popularity of a particular form of baseball.
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International competitionsA more popular form of baseball is likely to have a greater number of countries participating in international competitions, such as the World Baseball Classic.
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History and traditionForms of baseball with deeper roots and long-standing traditions in various countries may be seen as more popular than newer or less established variations of the sport.
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Geographic spreadA form of baseball that is played and followed across a larger number of countries and regions can be considered more popular than one that is limited to a smaller geographic area.
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Accessibility and inclusivityA more popular form of baseball is likely to be more accessible to people of different age groups, genders, and skill levels, and to have a more inclusive culture.
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Institutional supportThe level of support and resources devoted to a particular form of baseball by sports governing bodies, educational institutions, and local and national governments can indicate the popularity of the sport.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular form of baseball. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or your favorite form is missing from the list, feel free to help us improve the ranking.
Statistics
- 1581 views
- 163 votes
- 10 ranked items
Movers & Shakers
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each form once every 24 hours. The rank of each form is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular form of baseball
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it has been played for over a century. There are many different forms of baseball, each with its own unique rules and gameplay. The most popular form of baseball is Major League Baseball (MLB), which is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada. However, there are also many other popular forms of baseball, such as college baseball, high school baseball, and amateur baseball leagues. Regardless of the level or form of baseball, the game remains a beloved pastime for millions of people around the world.
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