As North American pro sports leagues work tirelessly to expand their sports internationally, plenty of work can be done stateside as well.
In the span of essentially two decades, international games across North American professional sports went from a rare novelty to a part of the yearly schedule as leagues look to expand the popularity of their brand and sport beyond the borders of the United States and Canada.
Though made the most apparent by the NFL, who routinely schedules games in London in addition to regular season games being played in Ireland, Germany and Brazil, similar efforts have been underway by other North American leagues, including MLB.
First playing a regular season game outside the U.S. and Canada in 1996 with a series between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres in Monterrey, Mexico, MLB has seen regular season games in Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and South Korea since introducing international games.
While these games have been instrumental in getting a new audience exposed to baseball and some of the league’s most recognizable franchises, there are also millions of fans within the confines of the U.S. who could use some more engagement from the league.
With that said, it’s a fact that can easily be overlooked in a country that is both the third-most populated on the planet but also the third-largest in land area. The U.S. is a fairly urbanized country, with the population clearly skewed towards the eastern half of the nation. Approximately half of the American population lives in the eastern time zone, a percentage that jumps to around 80% when considering Americans in either the eastern or central time zone.
I bring this up because it’s easy to put the responsibility on the fan in a state that doesn’t have a MLB team to travel to their nearest stadium, which may be multiple states away, to see a game.
Though most focus on expanding the sport’s audience has taken place internationally, MLB has not completely ignored areas that are without an MLB team. Beginning in 1997 with the Padres Paradise Series, a three-game set between San Diego and the St. Louis Cardinals in Honolulu, Hawaii, several games have been played at neutral sites within the U.S.
Though their states don’t host any MLB teams, regular season games have been played in North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa, Alabama and Tennessee, showing the promise of an effort to bring regular season baseball to fans across the United States.
In this piece, I’ll be making the case for MLB matchups in states that have yet to see a regular season game, offering a brief proposal of both a matchup and city where the game could be played in. Due to MLB constructing a stadium solely for a special game as seen in the 2016 Fort Bragg Game and the Field of Dreams games, I won’t be offering any specifics on a site for these games as the league has proven they can build one themselves.
Additionally, I’ll be omitting a few extra states from this – namely Nevada, Oregon and Utah. With Nevada expected to get a team in the form of the Athletics by 2028 while Portland and Salt Lake City dominate relocation rumors, it’s pretty easy to imagine what an MLB game would look like in those places.
For the rest of the states still waiting for baseball, here’s a look at what they could possibly be in for if this was ever something MLB entertained:
Alaska: Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks
Starting it off with perhaps the idea I feel the strongest about, it would be an absolute blockbuster if the league brought the iconic Midnight Sun Game tradition of the Alaska Baseball League to MLB.
Played yearly during the summer solstice, the game takes advantage of Alaska’s constant summer sunlight, typically being played from around 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. the following morning.
While the Mariners-Dodgers meeting pits the beloved team of the American Northwest against the west coast’s most recognizable brand, this could easily be a yearly game with different matchups each season.
Arkansas: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Texas Rangers in Fayetteville
This game would match up two regional powerhouses against each other, with both teams holding some degree of fandom in the area.
Playing this in northwest Arkansas would aid some Cardinals’ fans who chose their fandom thanks to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, while Rangers fans who feel they live too far away from the Dallas-Fort Worth area could have another option to see their team.
Additionally, this serves as a rematch of the iconic 2011 World Series, providing a little extra juice to what may appear to be just another interleague game.
Connecticut: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox in New Haven
This one felt obvious, but how could you not?
Long viewed as the black sheep of the New England family, Connecticut is known for its split allegiances between the New York-aligned western part of the state and the more New England-aligned eastern side.
Bringing perhaps the sport’s most recognizable rivalry to near the border of Yankees and Red Sox territory would bring an unforgettable atmosphere to a unique setting to the league. If there’s anything to unite Yankees and Red Sox fans across the region, it could be this.
Delaware: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals in Wilmington
Another one that felt obvious given the geography, a game in Delaware would provide a natural halfway point meeting for two franchises that are already among the closest to one another.
Situated between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., a game in Wilmington could provide a more intimate setting for an NL East rivalry that has noticeably ebbed and flowed over the past 15 years.
An iconic moment in a game like this could be what it takes to reignite some passion and fire between the two clubs.
Idaho: Seattle Mariners vs. Colorado Rockies in Boise
While Boise certainly doesn’t jump out to anyone as a baseball city, this interleague matchup with a beautiful mountain west sunset serving as the backdrop would certainly be hard to beat.
This game would bring the league’s two most geographically isolated teams together, with allegiances likely split throughout the region between the teams.
Although Boise does serve as the home of the independent Pioneer League Boise Hawks, an MLB matchup in the quietly growing city could serve as a sparkplug for the sport in a region where it noticeably lags behind football.
Indiana: Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds in Indianapolis OR Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox in South Bend
Perhaps the only state with two equally good and obvious options, the league couldn’t go wrong with a Hoosier State matchup.
The safer choice is to pit the division rival Cubs and Reds against each other, with a game played near the border of the two teams’ territories in a large city that baseball often overlooks in Indianapolis.
However, given northwest Indiana’s cultural ties to the South Side of Chicago and status as a bastion for White Sox fandom, a Crosstown Classic played in South Bend would be an incredible experience for Chicago baseball fans who aren’t quite able to make it to the Windy City while still providing a true split-crowd atmosphere.
Kansas: Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers in Wichita
Once again reminding everyone that the Royals do in fact play in Missouri, including them in the Kansas game is certainly a no-brainer – but picking their opponent is a bit tougher.
While Wichita does host the Texas League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, a matchup with the Rangers makes a bit more geographical sense here, especially with the Twins-Royals meeting making a bit more sense in a different state.
Although Kansas is surely Royals territory through and through, Wichita’s relative proximity to the Rangers and their recent World Series title help make this a little more interesting than if it were played in Kauffman Stadium.
Kentucky: Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Louisville
Another safe but fun choice, this would bring a classic rivalry matchup to around the meeting point of the two teams’ territories while also exposing the game to a large city without a pro sports team.
Though one would have to think a crowd in this game would skew towards the Reds, the Cardinals’ legacy of success throughout their franchise history surely expanded their fanbase’s footprint throughout the region, aided by the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds one state south.
While Louisville won’t be floated as a MLB expansion city anytime soon, bringing the area’s two most prominent teams to the city once a year could help ignite baseball in a state where it takes a clear back seat.
Louisiana: Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros in New Orleans
A rematch of the 2021 World Series, this matchup would pit the team of the south in the Braves against the Astros, while also paying homage to the ties between Houston and New Orleans that were forged in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Though never hosting an MLB team, New Orleans has a proven reputation as a fantastic sports city with their support of the Saints and Pelicans and experience routinely hosting major events such as the Super Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
The setting would provide a lively atmosphere and a logical meeting point for two passionate fanbases across the American South.
Maine: Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays in Portland
While not the most exciting of matchups, imagining an MLB game on a summer day in picturesque Portland, Maine is certainly hard to beat.
Long serving as the host of the Red Sox Double-A affiliate Portland Sea Dogs, this setting would allow nearby Red Sox fans to see their team locally while taking in a division matchup.
Though not particularly close to Toronto, Maine’s cultural ties to Canada, particularly in the northern reaches of the state, make this an ideal neutral spot for the two teams to meet.
Mississippi: Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Oxford
It may seem random and easy to overlook, but an atmosphere of a game like this would be truly electric.
While Mississippi is firmly Braves territory, long cemented by the former presence of the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, there are certainly some Cardinals fans in the state as well.
Although Jackson is the state’s largest city, playing this game in Oxford would allow for a more even crowd, as northern Mississippi is a bastion for Cardinals fandom due to its proximity to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. If these two teams were good, on top of it all? It would feel like an SEC football game.
Montana: Colorado Rockies vs. Minnesota Twins in Missoula
A game that would bring baseball to a region where it’s perhaps the most overlooked, a Montana game would simply be a matchup of the two fanbases that seem to geographically collide in the Rockies and Twins.
Similar to a game in Boise, this has the potential to be executed to perfection with a beautiful mountain west surrounding and summer daylight lasting longer than in typical MLB cities.
In addition to helping local baseball fans see the game up close, a game like this could also help both franchises establish a footprint of fandom in the area, much like what has been seen in London with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
New Hampshire: Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies in Manchester
Perhaps the matchup and setting I feel the least emphatic about, there’s a few different directions one could go with a game in New Hampshire, all of which include the nearby Boston Red Sox.
With the Phillies, it makes for a marquee interleague matchup pitting two historic, big-market teams that are typically competitive against each other for a new audience.
Additionally, with northern New England serving as a common vacation spot for Americans across the Northeast, it provides another reason to follow through with the weekend getaway.
New Jersey: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies in New Brunswick
Similar to Yankees and Red Sox in Connecticut, this feels like a perfect midway point for a feverish rivalry with two well-traveling fanbases.
With New Jersey being culturally split in some regards between the more Philadelphia-aligned southwest and New York-aligned northeast, a game in New Brunswick could help create more of a neutral environment as opposed to Newark, located just outside New York City.
With games between these two teams already providing intense atmospheres and sellout crowds, bringing the heat of the rivalry to a new audience would be a welcome twist for both teams.
New Mexico: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies in Albuquerque
A Mountain West duel, this would bring a division matchup to a city and state that could certainly use some more baseball.
Baseball allegiances run in several different directions in Albuquerque, but this matchup probably makes the most sense when considering geography and existing fandoms. Serving as home of the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate Albuquerque Isotopes for a decade now, Colorado has been able to establish a presence while many fans simply align with Dallas or Phoenix teams.
Though these two teams aren’t known as fierce rivals, perhaps a new setting for the clubs could help knock out two birds in one stone for MLB: increase presence and popularity in a market without an MLB team while igniting a new rivalry between two clubs in the same division.
North Dakota: Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays in Fargo
Certainly not the most exciting of matchups, this would still provide a fun opportunity to expand the sport to an audience that doesn’t see a ton of baseball – or anything else for that matter.
A game or series between these two clubs feels like a slam dunk – North Dakota sports fans typically align with Minnesota teams, with this setting perhaps allowing Blue Jays fans in the Winnipeg area to make the drive down to see their team much closer to home than ever before.
While the Twins and Blue Jays do not share a division, a game in Fargo could help create a unique atmosphere for two teams that would otherwise not be rivals, similar to Blue Jays-Mariners games in Seattle due to Seattle’s proximity to Vancouver.
Oklahoma: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Oklahoma City
A matchup between two marquee NL franchises in what would almost certainly be a split crowd, this is one of the more sneaky fun games or series’ to imagine.
While the Cardinals’ long history of success and relative proximity to Oklahoma have helped the franchise establish a foothold in the state’s urban areas, the Dodgers’ unprecedented success and presence of the Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Comets have given them a clear tie to the region.
With already plenty of history between the two clubs, a tradition of playing games in a true neutral site for both clubs could help establish a new chapter in this rivalry.
Rhode Island: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Mets in Providence
With plenty of teams and states in the American Northeast, there are once again plenty of options in Rhode Island that all involve the Red Sox, who have long ties to the region strengthened for years by the former Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.
Though Rhode Island is firmly New England and Red Sox territory, a game in Providence would still provide New York fans with a slightly closer spot to see their team with the allure of a marquee interleague matchup adding a bit more juice to it.
With the history of the 1986 World Series forever tying these two clubs together, a new setting like this could serve as a logical next step in developing a modern interleague rivalry.
South Carolina: New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves in Charleston
A top-dollar interleague matchup with plenty of history, a Yankees-Braves game or series in South Carolina would provide a riveting split-crowd environment and playoff atmosphere.
The two clubs’ fanbases certainly converge in South Carolina, with the Braves’ dominance across the south challenged by the Yankees fan diaspora that has long been established down the Eastern Seaboard, with the Carolinas being a particular stronghold.
In a state more known in the sports world for college football and NASCAR, this interleague meeting that catches eyes across the country every year could have its own time and place that fans circle dates on the calendar for.
South Dakota: Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals in Sioux Falls
Though not one of the more exciting matchups on this list, it checks all the boxes for what something like this should be all about – two division teams meeting near a halfway point of their fanbases’ territories while showcasing the game to a new audience.
With the Great Plains often neglected by baseball sans the College World Series in Omaha, a game like this could help broaden the Twins’ and Royals’ fanbases and perhaps inspire kids who otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to the game to pick up baseball.
While you’ll never see a pro sports team in South Dakota, establishing a tradition of individual games played in a smaller, more intimate environment could be a major building block in growing the game at home.
Vermont: Boston Red Sox vs. Washington Nationals in Burlington
So my reasoning for this may be quite the stretch, but this is also a state where you really can’t go wrong with several different matchups as long as it involves the Red Sox, so I’m not going to die on this hill.
While I’d be surprised to find out if there were any Nationals fans in Montreal following the Expos’ departure in 2004, a series like this in the closest American city to Montreal could help the Nationals pay homage to what is still technically their franchise history.
Though I’m sure the specifics of how far an Expos tribute could go would have to be ironed out, it could both bring the sport to a new state and audience while serving as a trial run in gauging interest in the region for a potential MLB return to Montreal.
Virginia: Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals in Alexandria
Yeah, I admit I’m not thinking too hard on this one – but it’s also a pretty obvious choice and I don’t see too many people complaining about something like this.
While the Beltway rivalries in the NFL and MLB have been concentrated to just Maryland and Washington, D.C., a game like this would simply bring the rivalry over to the Virginia side, where a D.C. sports team has still yet to permanently set up shop.
The crowd split likely wouldn’t be much different than the existing one at Nationals Park, while fans from further out in Virginia would have more of an opportunity to make it to a game.
West Virginia: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds in Huntington
An Appalachian battle between two long-time rivals, it’s hard to think of a better matchup the last week of the regular season than with the quaint, forested mountain surrounding provided in Huntington (and really much of West Virginia for that matter).
In addition to the picturesque location, Huntington or Charleston would both serve as logical meeting points for the two clubs’ fanbases, with there sure to be a split crowd in a potential matchup.
In a state that seldom gets attention from the pro sports world, a Pirates-Reds series in West Virginia can establish a unique tradition in a division rivalry while bringing baseball to a population that likely feels forgotten in several cultural pastimes.
Wyoming: Colorado Rockies vs. Kansas City Royals in Cheyenne
Though these two teams hardly have any history between each other, a meeting like this is certainly what can help establish a unique interleague rivalry.
The least populous state in the country, an MLB game in Wyoming would feel unlike anything else as the state remains true uncharted territory for professional sports. While the area is Rockies territory with relative proximity to Denver, a meeting with the Rox in Wyoming could help in a westward expansion of the Royals’ fanbase and audience.
Perhaps the biggest allure of a game in Wyoming are the sheer possibilities it presents – with vast expanses of open land, imagining a Wyoming take on the Field of Dreams game feels both eerie and incredible. Why not make it happen?
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