The USA has tons of sports fans that are interested in all kinds of things. The country is famous for having unique sports, such as American football, but most people are interested in something else.

According to www.simon-shaheen.com, around 50% of U.S. adults follow baseball, making it one of the country’s most popular sports. Interestingly, the difference between the U.S. and other countries worldwide is jaw-dropping, especially regarding Europe. “The fact that so many people in the States are interested in baseball shouldn’t be surprising because the country is home to the best in the world. As for the results in Europe, everyone knows that football/soccer is the go-to option”, said Kristiyan from NB.

Considering that half of U.S. adults are interested in this sport, most of you are probably interested in why this is the case, so let’s discuss it.

Overview of Baseball in the USA

When it comes down to baseball in the USA, we have to point out that the sport has a rich history in the country. In fact, the first game ever took place in 1862, which is impressive. As you can expect, the U.S. is home to many old baseball teams. Still, the Philadelphia Phillies is the oldest in the MLB because it was founded in 1883.

Speaking of Major League Baseball (MLB), the latter is the most prestigious baseball league in the States. Once the matches there are over, the best teams take part in the World Series, which is the annual event of the MLB that began its existence in 1903. In this event, the champions from the National League and the American League have to go up against each other in a best-of-seven format.

What’s interesting about MLB is that it’s the oldest professional sports league in the USA. Nowadays, this competition has 30 teams, 15 of which are from the American League, whereas the other 15 are from the National League. These two merged into one in 2000.

The teams in the MLB play 162 matches each session, which explains why so many people are interested in the sport. Some sources claim that more than 74 million people spectated the MLB matches in 2013, which is impressive.

Why is Baseball so Popular in The USA Compared to Other Countries

As mentioned, around 50% of adults in the States are interested in baseball, making it one of the most popular sports in the country. However, this isn’t the case if we look at other parts of the world.

Mexico, which is next to the USA, also has a fairly large baseball following because around 30% of adults are interested in it. Yet, if we take a look at Europe, this percentage is significantly lower. In the UK, for example, only 7% of adults follow this sport, whereas the percentage in Germany drops to 6%, and in France, it goes down to 5%. In other words, baseball has fewer followers in Europe than in North America.

Some people may find it interesting that baseball has a fairly big following in some Asian countries, such as India. The latter is definitely more focused on cricket. Still, a portion of the population also pays attention to things like the MLB. China is another big Asian country where around 14% of adults follow baseball.

Of course, the situation in South America is similar to that in Europe. A quick look at the biggest country there, Brazil, reveals that only around 7% of adults follow this sport. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because everyone knows Brazilians are more interested in soccer.

Considering the substantial difference between baseball’s popularity in the USA and in other parts of the world, some may wonder why this is the case. Well, you can find some of the reasons below.

The top sports TV channels broadcast baseball in the U.S.

People watch sports on their TVs all the time, and this is especially true in the USA. Aside from basketball, American football, and other popular sports in the country, a quick look at some of the most popular sports TV channels review that they also broadcast baseball matches. This is not something you will find in most European countries, which explains why the sport has substantially more fans in the States.

The world’s best baseball players and teams are a part of the MLB

Even though there might be different baseball leagues worldwide, when it comes down to the best of the best, people know that the MLB is on another level. Teams like New York Yankees, LA Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and several other big names have been home to the world’s top baseball players. Needless to say, many of them are superstars in the U.S. and have a positive impact on the sport’s popularity.

When talking about the best baseball players in the world has seen, we have to include the likes of Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and many more.

Baseball betting also has an effect on this sport’s popularity

Online betting has become incredibly popular in many parts of the world, and the U.S. isn’t an exception. After the famous Supreme Court ruling, many parts of the country opened their doors to different iGaming operators that allow people to bet on sports. Unsurprisingly, many punters choose baseball because they follow this sport up close.

Although betting on this sport is risky (similar to everything else), baseball offers a lot of betting markets and high odds. Many top-tier sports betting operators even offer exclusive bonuses and other perks to people who bet on it. As you can imagine, those things have an impact on this sport’s popularity and are one of the reasons why it has so many fans among adults.