Why is it called the "world series" when only teams from the USA compete in it?

Question

I assume if a foreign team comes to the states and lives, trains, plays there, they would be elegible to play in the world series?

Answer 1

Because baseball is a world game.

Answer 2

You have two questions here.
Q1) Why is it called the "World Series" when only North American Teams play in it?

Baseball's first openly all-professional team, the original Cincinnati Red Stockings, were founded in 1866, and became fully professional in 1869. The Red Stockings won 130 straight games throughout 1869 and 1870, before being defeated by the Brooklyn Atlantics.

A post season series between the two League Champions began in 1884 when the Providence Grays (NL) defeated the New York Metropolitans (AA). The series itself was unofficial (technically an exhibition game) at that time.

The phrase and series became official in 1902 when the Boston Americans (AL) bested the Pittsburgh Pirates (NL). Except for 1904 and 1994, we've had a World Series every year.

from wikipedia:
The title of this championship may be confusing to some readers from countries where baseball is not a major sport (or even where it is), because the "World" Series is confined to the champions of two baseball leagues that currently operate only in the United States and Canada.

The explanation is that when the term "World's Championship Series" was first used in the 1880s, baseball at a highly-skilled level was almost exclusively confined to North America, especially the United States. Thus it was understood that the winner of the major league championship was the best baseball team in the world. The title of this event was soon shortened to "World's Series" and later to "World Series".

The United States continued to be the zenith of professional baseball some decades into the 20th Century. The first Japanese professional baseball efforts began in 1920. The current Japanese leagues date from the late 1940s. Various Latin American leagues also formed around that time.

Q2) if a foreign team comes to the states and lives, trains, plays there, they would be eligible to play in the world series?

No. The league is closed. It does not allow foreign teams to enter. Baseball is growing around the world so things may change someday.

Answer 3

There is a Canadian team eligible for the World Series (used to be 2 Canadian teams but one moved to Washington D.C.). Anyways, there are players from all over the world on every team - it's not just Americans playing the game. The name World Series actually comes from way back in the day when the World Newspaper sponsored a series of games between the best teams from 2 different leagues. The newspaper is no longer the sponsor and hasn't been for ages, but the name stuck. So it could just as easily be named the New York Times Series as it is the World Series.

If a foreign team was admitted into Major League Baseball they would be eligible to play in the World Series, yes. They wouldn't even necessarily have to live and train in the states.

Answer 4

Those are all lovely answers but the term "World Series" does not refer to location. It dates back to its inception (The inaugural was in 1903) and at the time it was called the "World Championship Series" to emphasize the grandiose of the American League Champion playing the National League Champion. At the time, 1903 (shortened to World Series in 1912) there were no foreign teams (ie Toronto and formerly Montreal), also there were no black players and few if any foreign born players. The name was merely a ploy to sell tickets and create hype. Hence the term, Super Bowl. While both teams may be champions from their respective leagues. It is not often the best football game of the year, but it does receive the most publicity largely in part to its legacy and also due its name.

Answer 5

We have the best baseball players and teams in the world. Besides, you forgot about the Toronto Blue Jays, who play in Canada.

Answer 6

Check where Toronto is on a map, do.

Repeat checking the location of Toronto until you get the right answer (Canada) at least two times in a row.

Also, please research and report back, the nationality of every player on the 2007 40-man rosters, with appropriate histograms.

Answer 7

Because the USA buys all the good players from around the world like Daisuke Matsuzaka and makes them play here, so it is like the world's best players playing for us haha

Answer 8

For the same reason that they call them "apartments" when they're all stuck together. They just do.