If you’re a baseball fan living in London or planning to visit the city, you may be wondering if there’s a baseball team to root for. Unfortunately, the answer is no – London does not have a professional baseball team.
Why doesn’t London have a baseball team?
There are several reasons why baseball hasn’t taken off in London like it has in other parts of the world. Firstly, the sport isn’t as popular in Europe as it is in North America and Latin America. While football (or soccer) is the most popular sport in Europe, baseball struggles to gain traction.
Another reason is the lack of infrastructure for baseball in London. There aren’t many fields or facilities that are suitable for playing and training for baseball. This means that there aren’t as many opportunities for young people to get involved with the sport and develop their skills.
Baseball history in London
Despite the lack of a professional team, there is still a rich history of baseball in London. The first recorded game of baseball played outside of North America was actually played in England, back in 1755.
In more recent years, there have been attempts to bring professional baseball to London. In 2019, Major League Baseball (MLB) staged two regular season games at London Stadium between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The games were a huge success, with both selling out within hours of tickets going on sale.
- The future of baseball in London
While there may not be a professional team based in London yet, there are still opportunities for fans to get involved with the sport. There are several amateur teams based around the city that play regularly and welcome new players.
The success of the MLB games at London Stadium has also raised hopes that more regular season games could be played in the city. In fact, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that he hopes to establish a permanent team in London within the next five years.
Conclusion
In summary, while there is currently no professional baseball team in London, the sport still has a rich history and there are opportunities for fans to get involved. With the success of the recent MLB games and plans to establish a permanent team in the city, it’s possible that we could see baseball become more popular in London in the coming years.