ABSTRACT
Given the league's formation, history and tradition, this chapter analyzes why, when, where and how American-style professional baseball has gradually become a global sport, especially since the early 1990s. It discusses the significance of Major League Baseball's (MLB's) policies abroad with respect to the drug test programs administered to Latin American players, the expected development of an international player draft system, a World Cup of Baseball tournament, and the creation and suspension of the Canadian Baseball League. The chapter analyzes MLB's growing use of and dependence on foreign baseball player. The reader realizes that the various economic and social forces, issues, problems and trends that influenced the National Football League (NFL) are, to some extent, different than those that have affected, and will likely impact MLB, and the National Basketball League (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Soccer (MLS). The chapter concludes with a brief history of women's baseball leagues.
