Rivalries are part of what makes sports so great, and baseball outside of the United States is no exception. Fans and franchises worldwide embrace long-standing rivalries full of tradition and history. Here are some of the best and most intense rivalries from around the world.
Àguilas Cibaeñas vs. Tigres del Licey
The two teams are members of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana. The two are the winningest franchises in LIDOM history. The Tigres have won 23 titles, while the Àguilas have won 22. This season, the two franchises got to display their talents at Citio Field in an exhibition series called the Titanes Del Caribe. Both teams have won five Caribbean Series.
Yomiuri Giants vs. Hanshin Tigers
Nippon Professional Baseball is different from LIDOM because it is not a winter league. It has a traditional season that features its stars trying to reach Major League Baseball. The two franchises are the oldest professional teams in Japan. The Tigers were once viewed as Japan’s dominant team, but the Giants have taken over the dominance. Part of their rivalry is that the Giants are constantly painted as “Japan’s team” by their media and ownership group. The Giants have won the most Japan Series with 22 titles. Meanwhile, the Tigers have won just two. The rivalry has featured players like Tomoyuki Sugano, Hideki Matsui, and Shintaro Fujinami.
USA vs. Japan
While this is not a club rivalry, it has recently become one of note. Japan is continuing to grow in baseball and has started to establish itself as the class of the baseball world. Japan has won three of five World Baseball Classics, most recently defeating the United States, who were reigning champions in the championship. The United States tried to send its best, while Japan was led by its stars like Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida. Japan’s rise in baseball has created a rivalry between them and the United States. With MLB and NPB being two of the premier leagues in the world, the games are full of talented players.
