Complete history of MLB games played abroad
Baseball is a world sport and solely rising all over the world. So whereas the 30 Major League groups are all based mostly within the continental United States and Canada, MLB has made an effort through the years to convey its video games to a broader viewers with video games performed internationally.
This is the historical past of MLB video games performed overseas.
International MLB video games started in 1996, when the Mets and Padres traveled to Mexico to play a three-game collection in Monterrey, Mexico, and since have expanded to different international locations like Japan, Australia and the UK (in addition to Puerto Rico, which competes as its personal staff in worldwide baseball competitions just like the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics).
Here’s a rundown of the regular-season MLB video games and collection to happen exterior the U.S. and Canada. (This would not depend exhibition video games.) Games are separated alphabetically by nation and listed in chronological order.
March 22-23, 2014: Dodgers vs. D-backs — Sydney Cricket Ground
Major League Baseball went to Australia for the primary time in 2014, with the Dodgers and D-backs beginning their common season with two video games in Sydney.
Clayton Kershaw handled the 38,266 followers to a glowing pitching efficiency on Opening Day, permitting just one run in 6 2/3 innings whereas putting out seven. Scott Van Slyke’s two-run homer supplied a lot of the offense as Los Angeles gained, 3-1.
“We came a long way to get one [win]” Dodgers supervisor Don Mattingly mentioned after the sport. “You like to start off on the right foot.”
The Dodgers swept the mini-series with a 7-5 win in Game 2, with 38,079 followers in attendance. Puig led the way in which with a 3-for-5, two-RBI day, and though Arizona pulled inside two runs within the ninth after Mark Trumbo launched a house run off Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers held on for the victory.
March 29-30, 2000: Mets vs. Cubs — Tokyo Dome
MLB went abroad for the primary time on Opening Day 2000, when the Mets and Cubs performed within the Tokyo Dome for the primary of a two-game season-opening set in Japan.
In entrance of a crowd of 55,000 followers, the Cubs beat the Mets, 5-3, in Game 1. The massive hitters for each groups confirmed up, with Sammy Sosa going 2-for-3 with a double for Chicago and Mike Piazza going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for New York.
Because the Mets have been a part of the inaugural Mexico collection in 1996, this collection made them the primary Major League staff to play video games in two totally different international locations exterior the U.S. and Canada. “We were saying that it felt like a regular-season game,” Piazza mentioned. “We were the home team, but we felt like an away team. Once you got between the lines, it was just a regular game.”
The Mets gained a dramatic second sport, 5-1, in 11 innings to finish the Japan collection with a bang. The go-ahead hit was a pinch-hit grand slam by Benny Agbayani within the high of the eleventh.
March 30-31, 2004: Yankees vs. Devil Rays — Tokyo Dome
The Tokyo Dome once more hosted on Opening Day in 2004, when the Yankees and Rays took the sector.
The Yankees had Japanese celebrity Hideki Matsui, who’d simply come to the large leagues from Nippon Professional Baseball a 12 months earlier in 2003. Matsui was returning to his own residence stadium — he’d spent a decade with the Yomiuri Giants, who play within the Tokyo Dome.
Matsui was coming off a wonderful rookie season in MLB, and he could be even higher in 2004. It all began in his residence nation, to wild fanfare. The Yankees misplaced the opener, 8-3, however Matsui recorded the very first hit of the MLB season, a double within the first inning. Then he led the Bronx Bombers to a blowout 12-1 win within the collection finale, going 2-for-5 with a two-run homer. Attendance was listed at 55,000 for every sport.
“I’m just glad Matsui’s a Yankee and not a Giant,” mentioned Kevin Brown, who gained his Yankees debut within the second sport. “He did an unbelievable job of handling everything he’s had to go through over here.”
March 25-26, 2008: Red Sox vs. A’s — Tokyo Dome
Four seasons after their rivals did, the Red Sox made the journey to Japan to start out the 2008 season. The defending World Series champions performed a two-game set in opposition to the A’s, once more on the Tokyo Dome.
Like the Yankees in 2004, the Red Sox had a star Japanese participant who’d just lately made the NPB-to-MLB bounce: Daisuke Matsuzaka, who performed for the Seibu Lions earlier than coming to Boston and serving to the Red Sox win their second championship in 4 seasons.
Dice-Ok began the 2008 season opener in Japan in entrance of a crowd of 44,628 and pitched 5 stable innings, permitting two runs and putting out six. The Red Sox pulled off an exhilarating comeback within the sport to win, 6-5, in 10 innings. With Boston down a run within the ninth, Brandon Moss hit the game-tying residence run off A’s nearer Huston Street, and within the tenth, Manny Ramirez belted a tiebreaking double. Hideki Okajima, who himself had simply joined the Red Sox from NPB and used to pitch for the Yomiuri Giants, picked up the win in aid.
“I actually had some nerves, even when I was on the mound,” Okajima mentioned after the sport. “But I was pumped up by the cheering and everybody was just playing so hard. So I thought I had to do the same as well.”
The A’s earned a collection cut up within the subsequent sport with 44,735 followers in attendance, beating the Red Sox, 5-1, on the energy of Rich Harden’s six sharp innings of one-run, nine-strikeout baseball.
March 28-29, 2012: Mariners vs. A’s — Tokyo Dome
In Ichiro’s remaining season with the Mariners — till his return in 2018 — the Japanese legend returned to the nation the place he’d starred for the Orix Blue Wave for this MLB season-opening collection in opposition to the A’s.
On Opening Day, in entrance of 44,227 followers, Ichiro lived as much as all of the hype, accumulating 4 hits within the Mariners’ 3-1, 11-inning win — together with driving in Seattle’s remaining run with a two-out RBI hit within the eleventh. The A’s gained the second sport, 4-1, in entrance of a crowd of 43,391, with Bartolo Colon pitching eight innings and permitting only one run.
“I’ve never been that nervous before,” Ichiro mentioned after the primary sport. “The warmth of the fans almost made me want to cry. … I felt the significance of the occasion. I knew it would only happen once in my life. I wanted to share a special moment and give something back to them.”
The collection had some further which means, too, as MLB and the MLB Players Association took the chance to help within the rebuilding efforts in Japan following the earlier 12 months’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
March 20-21, 2019: Mariners vs. A’s — Tokyo Dome
The AL West rivals met up once more in Tokyo seven years later in a collection marked by Ichiro’s fond farewell to followers from his native nation. The Mariners legend trotted out to proper discipline on Opening Day at age 45, turning into the second-oldest place participant to start out a season opener, and went 0-for-1 with a stroll earlier than he was pulled within the fourth inning. The two golf equipment mixed for 5 residence runs in a 9-7 victory for Seattle.
Ichiro suited up once more for Game 2, and news broke midway by the competition that he could be retiring from skilled baseball. He went hitless in 4 at-bats, narrowly lacking out on an infield single in his remaining plate look as a Major Leaguer. Suzuki then jogged out to proper discipline one final time to start the underside of the eighth earlier than exiting the sport alone in entrance of an emotional Tokyo crowd. Suzuki hugged every of his teammates and coaches — lots of whom, together with fellow Japanese native Yusei Kikuchi, had tears of their eyes — earlier than leaving the sector for good.
Aug. 16-18, 1996: Padres vs. Mets — Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
The first MLB regular-season sport performed exterior the U.S. or Canada got here greater than twenty years in the past because the Mets and Padres met for the primary of three video games in Mexico.
That first sport was performed in entrance of 23,699 followers, who packed the 25,644-seat stadium. Mexican baseball hero Fernando Valenzuela not solely threw out the ceremonial first pitch, however began the sport for the Padres. “With Fernando pitching we’re going to feel like the home team,” supervisor Bruce Bochy informed The New York Times.
The sport was a 15-10 slugfest in favor the Padres. Valenzuela picked up the win for San Diego, Tony Gwynn went 2-for-3 out of the leadoff spot, Ken Caminiti slugged a three-run homer and Greg Vaughn crushed a grand slam.
The following two video games additionally drew massive crowds, with 20,873 readily available for the second sport and 22,810 on the collection finale. The Mets gained Game 2, 7-3 — however the Padres took the collection, shutting out the Mets, 8-0, within the finale. Trevor Hoffman closed the sport.
April 4, 1999: Padres vs. Rockies — Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
Major League Baseball returned to Mexico three years later. This time it was just for a single sport — however it was Opening Day, quite than a midseason collection.
The crowd was the most important but for a sport in Mexico: 27,104. The Padres have been the house staff once more, however the Rockies got here away with the win, an 8-2 victory. Mexico native Vinny Castilla was one of many stars of the sport, ripping 4 hits for Colorado. Dante Bichette additionally had 4 hits, together with a sixth-inning residence run.
“It was a good night for me,” Castilla mentioned after the sport. “I tried my last two at-bats to hit a home run. It didn’t happen, but I’m happy for the win … I feel really excited I played in front of fans in my own country.”
May 4-6, 2018: Padres vs. Dodgers — Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
It took 19 seasons for MLB to return to Mexico, and when it did, the Dodgers made historical past.
In the primary sport of the collection — with Valenzuela once more throwing out the ceremonial first pitch — the Dodgers pitched the primary mixed no-hitter in franchise historical past behind rookie flamethrower Walker Buehler.
“To fly here and to fly outside of our country, where the atmosphere is different, to perform the way we did, it’s almost humbling in a way, because you’re able to put it together and it makes it a little bit sweeter,” Buehler mentioned.
The Padres did win the following two video games by scores of 7-4 and 3-0 to earn the collection victory.
April 13-14, 2019: Reds vs. Cardinals — Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
In the opener of the two-game collection between NL Central opponents, Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, calling up recollections of the Dodgers’ no-hitter in Monterrey the 12 months earlier than. But the Reds’ Jesse Winker broke up the bid with a game-tying solo homer within the backside of the sixth, Derek Dietrich slugged a go-ahead shot within the seventh, and Cincinnati went on to win, 5-2.
The Cardinals broke out within the second sport, profitable a 9-5 slugfest to separate the collection. Marcell Ozuna homered twice for St. Louis, and Matt Carpenter broke a 4-4 tie with a go-ahead blast within the high of the seventh inning. Yasiel Puig hit his first residence run in a Reds uniform within the loss.
May 4-5, 2019: Astros vs. Angels — Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
The Astros erupted for twenty-four runs in a two-game sweep of the Angels in Monterrey, profitable the primary sport, 14-2, and the second sport, 10-4. Fans have been handled to some main fireworks — the groups crushed 12 complete residence runs within the two video games.
In Game 1, Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman homered twice, teammates George Springer, Yuli Gurriel and Michael Brantley added one every, and Albert Pujols launched a homer for the Angels. In Game 2, Bregman and Brantley homered once more for Houston — Bregman’s was a go-ahead grand slam within the fifth inning — as did Carlos Correa. Jonathan Lucroy hit a pair of homers for the Angels, and David Fletcher added one other.
April 29-30, 2023: Padres vs. Giants — Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú, Mexico City
In the primary MLB common season video games performed in Mexico City, the Padres swept the Giants in a pair of high-altitude slugfests.
Playing 7,300 toes above sea degree — far greater than even mile-high Coors Field — the 2 groups mixed for 27 runs and 11 residence runs within the Mexico City Series opener, as San Diego gained, 16-11. The 11 homers have been two shy of the Major League report and hit by 10 totally different gamers, Manny Machado going deep twice and Xander Bogaerts homering in his fourth totally different nation.
“It’s incredible, to be honest with you,” Bogaerts mentioned after the sport. “It’s something I never thought of … It’s a pretty neat accomplishment.”
The second sport was barely calmer, however there have been nonetheless 4 extra homers within the Padres’ 6-4 win. There was additionally a late-game rally by San Diego, which entered the underside of the eighth inning trailing 4-3 however scored three runs off Giants nearer Camilo Doval. Nelson Cruz had a memorable collection for the Padres, because the 42-year-old had 5 hits, a homer and even a stolen base in Game 1 … then hustled for a triple in Game 2.
There have been 49 MLB video games performed in Puerto Rico at San Juan’s Estadio Hiram Bithorn. Forty-three of them have been performed by the Expos throughout the 2003 and ’04 seasons, the franchise’s remaining two seasons earlier than shifting to Washington and turning into the Nationals.
The different six Puerto Rico video games have been performed in 2001, ’10 and ’18 as a part of particular person MLB occasions, listed beneath.
April 1, 2001: Blue Jays vs. Rangers — Estadio Hiram Bithorn, San Juan
The first sport performed in Puerto Rico was an Opening Day affair between the Blue Jays and Rangers in 2001 — so MLB video games had already been performed in Mexico and Japan by this level.
Both groups had star Puerto Rican gamers: Ivan Rodriguez for the Rangers and Carlos Delgado for the Blue Jays. Toronto gained the sport, 8-1, with an introduced crowd of 19,891 at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. Delgado roped an RBI single within the seventh inning.
June 28-30, 2010: Marlins vs. Mets — Estadio Hiram Bithorn, San Juan
Six years after the Expos’ run of video games in San Juan, Major League Baseball returned to Puerto Rico with a three-game collection between the Marlins and Mets. The Marlins’ interim supervisor on the time, Edwin Rodriguez, was the primary Puerto Rico native to handle within the Majors.
The Marlins gained the primary two video games, 10-3 and 7-6. The second sport was an thrilling walk-off win — after the Mets rallied for 2 runs to tie the sport within the high of the ninth inning, Dan Uggla delivered the game-winning hit within the backside of the ninth.
New York took the collection finale, 6-5. David Wright led the way in which for the Mets with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. Crowds of 18,073, 18,373 and 19,232 have been introduced for the three video games.
April 17-18, 2018: Twins vs. Guardians — Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan
Eight seasons handed earlier than one other MLB sport was performed in Puerto Rico, and with Guardians ace Corey Kluber on the mound, the collection opener didn’t disappoint.
The Cleveland right-hander spun 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts and the Guardians crushed 4 homers — one by Puerto Rico native Francisco Lindor — en path to a 6-1 victory over Minnesota.
The second sport of the two-game collection surpassed all expectations. The two golf equipment entered the 14th inning in a scoreless tie, earlier than Cleveland’s Edwin Encarnación went deep for a solo homer. But the Twins’ Miguel Sanó knotted the rating at 1 with a solo blast of his personal within the backside half of the body.
In the underside of the sixteenth inning, Ryan LaMarre singled residence Eddie Rosario — who hails from Puerto Rico — to ship the Twins residence winners. The wild five-hour and 13-minute sport additionally overshadowed a stellar efficiency from native Puerto Rican José Berríos, who accomplished seven scoreless frames within the no-decision.
June 29-30, 2019: Yankees vs. Red Sox — London Stadium
For MLB’s first foray into Europe, the league despatched two of its most iconic franchises, and baseball’s most well-known rivals. The outcome was two of essentially the most offense-happy video games you will ever see on any continent. The Yankees gained the primary sport by a soccer rating (American soccer, that’s) of 17-13 and the second by an solely barely extra modest 12-8. The two groups handled spectators — greater than 118,000 complete — to a mixed 65 hits and 10 residence runs at hitter-friendly London Stadium.
The Yankees held on to the primary sport regardless of a six-run seventh inning from the Sox, then rallied from a 4-2 deficit to seize management of the second sport with a nine-run explosion within the seventh. New York’s DJ LeMahieu was the most important hit throughout the pond, going a mixed 7-for-12 with three doubles, 4 runs scored and 7 RBIs throughout the 2 video games. J.D. Martinez put collectively a pair of three-hit video games for Boston, with two doubles and a homer.
June 24-25, 2023: Cardinals vs. Cubs — London Stadium
The London Series returned in 2023 with two video games between the NL Central rivals. The Cubs took the primary sport, 9-1, however the Cardinals bounced again to win the second, 7-5, and earn a collection cut up.
Ian Happ’s two residence runs off Adam Wainwright sparked Chicago to a rout within the collection opener, and Dansby Swanson tacked on a homer late within the sport to punctuate the win. But within the second sport, St. Louis rode a four-hit day from former Cub Willson Contreras and massive hits from Brendan Donovan, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman and reigning MVP Paul Goldschmidt to victory.
Over 100,000 followers in complete turned out to look at the London Series, with an attendance of 54,662 for Game 1 and 55,565 for Game 2.
