[natrass]

In trying to escape the snare of BetJamaica I bet on baseball ... I like stats (though I am no Ganchrow) .. and I did OK.

Anyway, while following ESPN's excellent web coverage (I wish we had such a thing for soccer) ... and getting all tense, it struck me how much I was aware of baseball even though I hadnt much of a clue as to the rules.

Such as ...

expressions such as "struck out", "three strikes and your out", "loaded bases", "getting past first base", "no ball", "home run", "pitch an idea", etc etc

'equipments' such as the baseball bat which the de rigour acoutriment pour 'les psycho'.

the baseball cap which is the headwear of choice of (in Glasgow) the ned, (in Edinburgh) the schemie, (in Luton) the chav, etc ... basically, your average loser in life wears one (with an attitude).... (in burberry)

However, basketball, AFL, etc .. seems to have no impact on the cultural language of where I live ('touchdown', 'slam dunk' aside).

Just seems strange that this one sport (which I have become quite partial to) should have had such an impact.

[RickySteve]

Does anyone give a shit about the British Basketball League over there?

[tacomax]

I think Natrass is asking for a prolonged beaning.

[natrass]

Does anyone give a shit about the British Basketball League over there?

Exactly

[RickySteve]

Exactly

No, I was asking. So noone cares about the BBL?

[natrass]

No, I was asking. So noone cares about the BBL?

I didn't know there was one to be honest.

I suppose that answers the question in a way. Shame as its a good game.

[Mudcat]

Baseball terminology is at the foundation of many things - including other sports/games. There is a World Series of Golf, and the Grand Slam. There is also the World Series of Poker of course.

Then again maybe I'm out in left field on this one.

[natrass]

We are amused that you can have a World Series involving just one country!!!

[Willie Bee]

We are amused that you can have a World Series involving just one country!!!

natrass, it was originally called the World's Championship Series when it first cranked up in the very early part of the 20th century. It got that name from a late 18th-century article in the old Spalding Guide.

http://roadsidephotos.sabr.org/baseball/name.htm

This usage can be traced through the annual baseball guides. Spalding's Base Ball Guide for 1887 reported the results of the 1886 postseason series between Chicago, champions of the National League, and St. Louis, champions of the American Association, under the heading "The World's Championship." As the editor noted, the two leagues "both entitle their championship contests each season as those for the base ball championship of the United States," so a more grandiose name was required to describe the postseason showdown between the two "champions of the United States."

But the Spalding Guide -- which, after all, was published by one of the world's largest sporting goods companies, with a vested interest in bringing baseball to other lands -- had grander ambitions. By 1890, the Spalding Guide was explaining that "[t]he base ball championship of the United States necessarily includes that of the entire world, though the time will come when Australia will step in as a rival, and after that country will come Great Britain; but all that is for the future."

[natrass]

Interesting stuff. Well, the Spalding Guide was actually half right ... except instead of Australia and the UK .. read Cuba and japan.

Incidently, how much do tickets for an 'avaerage' seat at an 'average' game cost? Just I like the way they playy ALL the time but it must cost a fortune if you are a fan.

[Willie Bee]

I haven't seen any info out yet regarding 'average' ticket prices for this year, natrass. The Astros still sell some seats for $15, at least I think that is the lowest they offer on a walk-up purchase. They've also had deals the past few years where you could get four tickets, four sodas, four hot dogs and a couple of caps for something like $50 on certain nights.

My guess is that $30+ per seat is your 'average' across all 30 MLB parks.

[Willie Bee]

Much cheaper across the board than I thought. I was probably adding in one of those $7.50 beers for each ducat

[onlooker]

Red Sox tickets ~$46
Royals ~$13

Well, not sure I would pay $13 to go see that terrible team play. It would have to be when a good AL team came to town. Like the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, or Angels. Something like that. But then again, the Tickets would probably go up to $26 from the bargin $13.

[Willie Bee]

Your suspicions of how the average ticket price is arrived at in MLB are spot on, Winston.

[RickySteve]

We are amused that you can have a World Series involving just one country!!!

Two countries.