In good times and in bad, baseball has long been known as America's national pastime.
But while the game of bats, balls, gloves and bases is as synonymous with the states as apple pie and fireworks on the fourth of July, baseball, believe it or not, is a sport played elsewhere around the world.
The game has roots in Canada too, with Major League Baseball arriving in Montreal ahead of the 1969 season. These same roots continue growing to this day with the Toronto Blue Jays still flying the Maple leafed flag.
However, the game has gone global numerous times, either venturing to posts where Major League Baseball was already popular or into growth markets further from Cooperstown.
On the eve of the #SeoulSeries, here is a look back at other MLB international season-openers. pic.twitter.com/vjjWiCZh9y
— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024
With the Padres and Dodgers recently battling it out in Korea, here are the six countries to have hosted regular-season games outside of Canada and the United States.
Australiaย
March 22-23, 2014 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Game 1 - LAD 3-1
Game 2 - LAD 7-5
Japanย
March 29-30, 2000 - New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs - Tokyo Dome, Tokyoย
Game 1 - CHI 5-3
Game 2 - NYM 5-1
March 30-31, 2004 - New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
Game 1 - TB 8-3
Game 2 - NYY 12-1
March 25-26, 2008 - Boston Red Sox vs Oakland Athletics - Tokyo Dome, Tokyoย
Game 1 - BOS 6-5
Game 2 - OAK 5-1
March 28-29, 2012 - Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics - Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
Game 1 - SEA 3-1
Game 2 - OAK 4-1
March 20-21, 2019 - Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics - Tokyo Dome, Tokyoย
Game 1 - SEA 9-7
Game 2 - SEA 5-4
Korea
March 20-21, 2024 - San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers - Gocheok Sy Dome, Seoul
Game 1 - LAD 5-2
Game 2 - SD 15-11
Mexico
August 16-18, 1996 - San Diego Padres vs New York Mets - Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
Game 1 - SD 15-10
Game 2 - NYM 7-3
Game 3 - SD 8-0
April 4, 1999 - San Diego Padres vs Colorado Rockies - Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
Game 1 - COL 8-2
May 4-6, 2018 - San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers - Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
Game 1 - LAD 4-0
Game 2 - SD 7-4
Game 3 - SD 3-0
April 13-14, 2019- Cincinatti Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals - Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
Game 1 - CIN 5-2
Game 2 - STL 9-5
May 4-5, 2019 - Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels - Estadio de Beisbol, Monterrey
Game 1 - HOU 14-2
Game 2 - HOU 10-4
April 29-30, 2023 - San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants - Estadio Alfredo Harp Helรบ, Mexico City
Game 1 - SD 16-11
Game 2 - SD 6-4
Puerto Rico
April 1, 2001 - Toronto Blue Jays vs Texas Rangers - Estadio Hiram Bithorn, San Juan
Game 1 - TOR 8-1
June 28-30, 2010 - Florida Marlins vs New York Mets - Estadio Hiram Bithorn, San Juan
Game 1 - FLO 10-3
Game 2 - FLO 7-6
Game 3 - NYM 6-5
April 17-18, 2018 -ย Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Indians - Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan
Game 1 - CLE 6-1
Game 2 - MIN 2-1
*The Montreal Expos also played 43 games in Puerto Rico during the 2003 and 2004 seasons before the franchise shifted to Washington in 2005.
United Kingdom
June 29-30, 2019 - New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox - London Stadium, London
Game 1 - NYY 17-13
Game 2 - NYY 12-8
June 24-25, 2023 - St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs - London Stadium, London
Game 1 - CHI 9-1
Game 2 - STL 7-5
