Globalization of Baseball and the World Baseball Classic

During the third week of class, there were discussion questions that dealt with the article by Klein about the World Baseball Classic and how to Globalize baseball.  The questions and my answers are as follows:

In the Klein article, they talk about “growing the game.” What does that mean? How effectively has the WBC enabled baseball to “grow the game?” How would you assess the effectiveness of the WBC compared to FIFA’s growth of soccer?

I believe Klein meant that “growing the game” means trying to make the sport more popular in nations where it is not well developed and played.  The WBC has enabled baseball to grow by letting any nation have an opportunity to be able to participate in the event. The WBC gives teams the opportunity to showcase their talents on an international stage, which will ultimately give citizens in other countries incentives to watch the sport.  I don’t think that the WBC is anywhere close to FIFA in terms of success and popularity.  FIFA has been established for much longer than the WBC, and I believe has much more support in terms of fans.  However, the WBC is gradually growing, and with the increase of exposure that the WBC gets from international media, I believe baseball has a chance at becoming just as globally popular as FIFA soccer.  

2.      At the end of the article, Klein outlines a way that you could have global competition in baseball. How well do you think that would work? What would be pros and cons of implementing international play? 

I believe it would be hard to be able to set up a schedule of competition between all the countries day after day.  Instead, I think they should do it how the LLWS does it, and just have the country winners play each other in a shortened tournament.

Pros of international play would be expanding baseball exposure to the world, and it would create a higher entertainment value since there are different styles of play throughout the world.

Cons of international play include: traveling conflicts, which would lead to shorter seasons, which would then lead to decreased revenues

3.      Based upon other sports’ efforts at globalization, what suggestions would you make to help baseball grow in the global marketplace?

In order for baseball to grow in the global marketplace, I think American (MLB) teams should go over to different countries and play.  This would spark interest in other countries.  The NFL has recently done this tactic, as they have played a few preseason (and maybe regular too) in Europe.