Time to Rename the World Series?

[bryanac625]

Personally, I don't have any issues with baseball as it is or the yearly MLB championship being called "The World Series." But I saw this on TV this morning and it got me thinking:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/weather/w...-series-110209

And of course, for many years, the "baseball world" was only as far north and east as Boston; as far south as Washington, DC and as far west as St. Louis- not even the entire US. Ultimately, it all comes down to $$$... MLB has more money in it than Japan or Venezuela or the DR. So it can be called whatever MLB wants it to be, much like the use of the term "greatest _________ ever!". But what are the possibilites that baseball really could become a true World Series? Will there ever come a day when an International WS will be played between different countries, or is the WBC what that is now?

The other question is, why did baseball let the term "World Series" get away? You have the WS of Poker, WS of Golf, and so on. Did baseball never buy the rights to the term to keep other competitions from using it? I believe the name will eventually be changed to "The (year) World Series Chapionship of Major League Baseball (and maybe that already is the offical name)," and will have to be said that way every time by Jack Buck and Tim McCarver.

[Seattle1]

I don't think you're supposed to think about it or analyze it that much. It's just the title that became popularized, so we all go with it. Just say "World Series" and don't think about it. Everyone knows what you're referring to.

If you thought about the title "Super Bowl" too much you might start thinking that that's a dumb or corny name, but you're not supposed to think about it that much.

There is a player for the Packers named Atari Bigby. But you're not supposed to say "why did your parents name you after a video game?" Just say "hi Atari how are you today" as normal as can be, just as if he was named Frank or Steve.

[cardsfanatic]

Couldn't it be considered the "World Series", and legitimately so, if there was an international representation of the best players from all over the planet in the league? Why must a team be located in Japan for Japanese players to have a say in the World Series? While the representation of Japense, Korean etc... players may not be huge, the talent pool comes from around the globe.

If you have the best talent in the world with multiple nationalities represented then why can't it be a World Series? What, is there some unwritten rule that for there to be a World Series that teams must, under all circumstances, be divided by nationality?

[White Knight]

Originally Posted by Seattle1

There is a player for the Packers named Atari Bigby. But you're not supposed to say "why did your parents name you after a video game?" Just say "hi Atari how are you today" as normal as can be, just as if he was named Frank or Steve.

That's awesome, I wish my parents named me after a video game.

[UnderPressure]

The winner of the NBA Finals are often called "World Champions." I don't get it.

Also, why is it Stanley Cup Final, not Stanley Cup FinalS?

[Milt on Tilt]

I think the winning team should go back to wearing "World's Champions" on their jerseys.

[spark240]

Originally Posted by Milt on Tilt

I think the winning team should go back to wearing "World's Champions" on their jerseys.

I think Milt is having fun today, but it would be kinda cool if there actually was an official designation that players from the champion team could wear until a new champion arose. Maybe a jersey patch.

As for the OP, of course the answer is that for most of the Series' tenure, it has not been seriously arguable that the WS-winning team is, in fact, the champion team of the whole baseball world. No other organization was fielding teams which even belonged in the conversation.

That is no longer true. Bobby Valentine said a few years ago that his Japanese championship team could take the WS winner. (I believe the teams of the moment were the Chicago White Sox and the Chiba Lotte Marines.) I'm not saying he was necessarily right--but I definitely agree that the Japanese leagues are playing at a high enough level that the suggestion is not ridiculous. Other leagues around the world are also making significant advances.

I know it's a fantasy, but I would love the see the winners of all the best foreign leagues seeded into the same postseason tournament with the winners of the MLB divisions (hey, this could be the way to ditch the wild cards!), so that those other teams would actually have the opportunity to prove themselves on the field against the MLB organizations. Whether they succeeded or not, the World Series that resulted from that tournament would truly be worthy of the name.

[Milt on Tilt]

Didn't the Giants or some other team in the 1900's wear a uniform that actually said World's Champions?

[ol' aches and pains]

Yes, John McGraw's 1906 NY Giants.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/fr...5_NYM-2005_TOT

[baseball junkie]

If MLB stops using the term World Series, it will have killed its brand.

[JaysExpos]

MLB is the highest level of baseball played in the world, so naturally the series to determine who is the champion would be called the World Series. Has nothing to do with other countries participating or not.

[DownUnderDodger]

I have learned to live with the term "World Series" for the final series of a game played between North American teams only (I did not say USA because Toronto is not in the USA) however I cringe every time I here a commentator who states a certain team are the World Champions. To become World Champions one has to beat teams who play the sport from all over the world (not just one other team from Canada).

As previously mentioned by UnderPressure

The winner of the NBA Finals are often called "World Champions." I don't get it.

These teams are not, and will never be "World Champions".

As for the "World Series" of Baseball in North America I know that will probably never change (we can't have reality take over from a perceived image) however if it ever does change perhaps "Champions Series" or "Commissioner's Series" could be an alternative for the final playoffs, and the ultimate champions receive the Champions Trophy or the Commissioners Trophy.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by baseball junkie

If MLB stops using the term World Series, it will have killed its brand.

Why should the change it. How many times is this one going to come up. It was never meant declare, we are the best in the world when they named it World Series.



It's just a name, don't hold your breath, it's not going to change.

[bob]

Like DownUnder, im not from North America. Being a Brit it does kind of irritate me that American sports all seem to call themselves "World Champions" when in fact the best they could be called is "continental champions".

[Trickyhop]

Originally Posted by JaysExpos

MLB is the highest level of baseball played in the world, so naturally the series to determine who is the champion would be called the World Series. Has nothing to do with other countries participating or not.

Exactly. This was a sport invented here, and every other country knows that America is the mecca for professional baseball. Can you imagine if some other country came up with the name World Series and America/Toronto had a lesser name!? That'd be blasphemy! The World's baseball series, the most important baseball series remains in America/Toronto. If they want to join in on the fun and tradition, they need to come here where they will be welcomed with open wallets.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Non issue, this one comes around to the board, same time, WS time.

May I remind one more time. When they named it the WS long, long ago, no one declared it meant we were the best in the world, even though at that time we were.
It's just a name, don't let it bother you.

[bryanac625]

Originally Posted by Trickyhop

Exactly. This was a sport invented here, and every other country knows that America is the mecca for professional baseball. Can you imagine if some other country came up with the name World Series and America/Toronto had a lesser name!? That'd be blasphemy! The World's baseball series, the most important baseball series remains in America/Toronto. If they want to join in on the fun and tradition, they need to come here where they will be welcomed with open wallets.

But where the sport was invented doesn't give one claim to be the best at it. After the airplane flew in North Carolina in 1903, the French and Germans had done more with it than the US. And the first jets were flown by Germany in WWII.

As I said, I personally have no problem with the name "World Series" as it is. The only issue I have is that so many other events are using the term, that it's lost its uniqueness. I hope the name will never change, but with the revising of so many names etc, I would not be surprised.

[bob]

Originally Posted by Trickyhop

Exactly. This was a sport invented here, and every other country knows that America is the mecca for professional baseball. Can you imagine if some other country came up with the name World Series and America/Toronto had a lesser name!? That'd be blasphemy! The World's baseball series, the most important baseball series remains in America/Toronto. If they want to join in on the fun and tradition, they need to come here where they will be welcomed with open wallets.

In most international sports with many foreign professional leagues the term "world Champions" refers to the international team that wins the one major tournament in which most countries from all continents compete (such as football/soccer World Cup).
Winning a National championship and being called "world champions" seems wrong, regardless of how popular the sport is in other nations.

Im not proposing that it should be renamed since its part of the culture, tradition and image of MLB. But if you were starting a new league/sport and wanted to only let teams from a single country compete for the title of "world champions" i would suggest a rethink.

[CandlestickBum]

Originally Posted by White Knight

That's awesome, I wish my parents named me after a video game.

Like Duck Hunt?

(say it to yourself out loud)

[AstrosFan]

Originally Posted by CandlestickBum

Like Duck Hunt?

(say it to yourself out loud)

Of course, Atari is a console, so he doesn't have to take the game rout. People have made it big in the console-name world. See Super Nintendo Chalmers.

[White Knight]

Originally Posted by CandlestickBum

Like Duck Hunt?

(say it to yourself out loud)

How about Toad, Link, or Yoshi?

[Trickyhop]

Originally Posted by bob

In most international sports with many foreign professional leagues the term "world Champions" refers to the international team that wins the one major tournament in which most countries from all continents compete (such as football/soccer World Cup).
Winning a National championship and being called "world champions" seems wrong, regardless of how popular the sport is in other nations.

What other nations?!

Originally Posted by bob

Im not proposing that it should be renamed since its part of the culture, tradition and image of MLB. But if you were starting a new league/sport and wanted to only let teams from a single country compete for the title of "world champions" i would suggest a rethink.

If you're the only ones in the world playing the sport, and you're the champions, this also qualifies you as being the Worlds Champions of the sport. And even still, fans of the sport of baseball know that this is the championship series of all of them. I'd pit MLB against any international team. Why? Because the MLB has the best of the worlds elite players.

[rantanamo]

don't listen to these guys. On SkyscraperCity they call it the "Queen's Envy syndrome" No different than F-1 calling their champion the World Driver's Champion when there are multiple series out there.

[Roundin' third]

Yes, John McGraw's 1906 NY Giants.

Plus the 1921 Indians, and the 1927 Cardinals, albeit they were a bit more creative.
Not sure why the images attached in the opposite order, but oh well.

[Squeeze Play]

Actually...what we just finished watching was another disgusting, unsanitary display by little boys in funny-looking uniforms trying to show how grown-up they are.

In New York and many other cities, it is unlawful to spit in public places. It is also unhealthy, especially in this era of the H1N1 flu epidemic. The message it sends to the millions of children and adults watching the game is that this affectation is normal and acceptable behavior.

It would be easy to rid the leagues of this awful habit. A spit could be ruled a strike. A batter steps up to the plate, spits. Strike 1. The batter steps off the plate, spits. Strike 2. Three spits you’re out.

Until that happens, the Fall Classic should accurately be re-named The World Series of SPITTING!