The Most Famous Baseball Teams in the United States
The Major League Baseball season is well underway and for enthusiasts, the next six months are the best time of the year with games nearly every day. Regarded in the United States as the “national pastime” one must wonder which teams are the most famous. Several criteria could be used to measure fame, such as historical accomplishments, most recognizable players, overall popularity, and recognition from the general population. We considered those factors and presented the list of the most famous baseball teams in the United States.
1 - New York Yankees
Established in 1903, the New York Yankees are not only the most successful baseball team in MLB history but likely the most successful professional sports team in the United States. Among the Yankees many records are their 40 American League pennants and 27 World Series titles. Old Yankee Stadium was well known as the “House that Ruth Built”. From Babe Ruth to Lou Gehrig to Joe Dimaggio to Mickey Mantle to Reggie Jackson to Derek Jeter to Mariano Rivera to numerous others, the Yankees have 44 players in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
The Yankees have a huge fanbase and popularity across the United States and are valued at more than $7 billion, second only to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League in world value among sports franchises. Not only is their iconic logo a popular fashion item in the United States but it is seen across the world.
2 - Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are one of the founding eight American League franchises, dating back to 1901. One of the things that makes the team famous is their home stadium, the iconic Fenway Park with the legendary Green Monster left field wall. The Red Sox hold the distinction of winning the first World Series in 1903 and four more over the next 15 years. The Red Sox are also famous because of the “Curse of the Bambino” after selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920. The franchise then went 86 seasons without another World Series championship. The Red Sox have been excellent in the 21st century, winning titles in 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018. They have numerous famous players through the years that are in the Hall of Fame, including Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, David Ortiz, Jim Rice, and Pedro Martinez. Their longstanding rivalry with the Yankees is one of the best in professional sports.
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3 - New York Mets
The “other” New York baseball team is still among the most famous in the United States. The Mets is one of the first expansion teams, founded in 1962 to replace the Dodgers and Giants, who moved to California. The Mets were famous for the wrong reason during their inaugural season after posting a 40-120 record, the worst since the MLB moved to a 154-plus game schedule. The 1969 Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in a stunning upset in the World Series, dubbing the team the “Miracle Mets”. The Mets only other World Series title came in 1986 and have only a .482 winning percentage. Mostly the Mets are famous due to the fact they play in the most populated and well-known city in the United States and will likely always play second fiddle to the Yankees.
4 - Chicago White Sox
The White Sox is the first of the two MLB teams from Chicago to make this list. They were one of the charter teams in the American League, established in 1901. Part of their notoriety is linked to Comiskey Park, where they played from 1910 through 1990. The franchise won their first World Series in 1906 against the cross-town Cubs, also winning in 1917. The White Sox might best be known, unfortunately, for the Black Sox Scandal in 1919 when eight members were caught throwing games in the World Series against the Reds. Never a powerhouse franchise, the White Sox only made two World Series appearances over the last century, winning their last championship in 2005.
5 - Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were a founding member of the National League in 1876, known as the White Stockings until 1903. The 1906 Cubs won 116 games before falling in the World Series to the White Sox, but bounced back to win the title in 1907 and 1908. The Cubs are well known for playing its home games in iconic Wrigley Field, which features brick walls, ivy on the outfield fence, and the last stadium to install lights for night games. After having early success, the Cubs struggled mightily, until ending a 108-year World Series championship drought in 2016. The drought was the longest in all major sports across North America and is part of the reason the franchise is famous. In addition, the Cubs hold the record for the most games played in MLB history.
6 - Atlanta Braves
The Braves were founded in 1871 and originally were based in Boston, Massachusetts. After winning one World Series championship in more than eight decades in Boston, the franchise moved to Milwaukee. Legendary Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, and Eddie Matthews led the team to a title in 1957. The team moved to Atlanta in 1966 and had little success over the next quarter of a century. Under the dominance of pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, the Braves became one of the best teams in baseball during the 1990s. Add in Chipper Jones and the Braves won 14 straight division titles. Increasing their fame is the fact that the Braves are the only team to have won a World Series title in three different cities. On top of that, they have a very distinguishable and iconic logo and over 11000 franchise victories.
7 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Being based in Los Angeles alone makes the Dodgers one of the most recognizable teams in MLB. In addition they are one of the oldest teams in baseball, having been established in 1883. They originally played in New York and became famous for having the first African American player in MLB history in Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson. The Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles in 1958 and had great success in the 1960s behind pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. The Dodgers’ popularity increased in the 1980s when Fernando Valenzuela took the baseball world by storm, wining Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same season. After winning the 1988 World Series, the Dodgers went more than three decades without a title, finally winning it all in 2020.ALl totld, the Dodgers have won seven World Series and are among the most popular draws at the gate both at home and on the road. In fact, the Dodgers are the second most valued MLB team, valued at more than $4 billion.
8 - Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies were founded in 1883 and have the distinction of holding the record for most losses of any professional franchise, but also one of the few with at least 10000 victories. They were the last of the 16 pre-expansion teams to win a World Series, but have been one of the most successful teams since 1969, winning 11 divisional titles, eight NL championships and two World Series. In addition, the Phillies’ mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, is one of the most iconic in all professional sports. Their two most prolific players in history are also among the best. Mike Schmidt is arguably the best third baseman in MLB history and Steve Carlton is among the best left-handed pitchers of all-time. The franchise is also famous for its raucous, but extremely loyal fan base.
