Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional sports league in North America made up of 30 teams that compete in the American League and the National League. In 2023, just over ** percent of players within the league were Hispanic or Latino.

Major League Baseball is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in North America. The survey depicts the level of interest in the MLB in the United States and it showed that 36 percent of Hispanic respondents were avid fans of the league.

There were a total of 949 players on opening day rosters of Major League Baseball teams ahead of the 2024 season. Of these players, almost 28 percent were from countries and territories outside the United States, with the Dominican Republic being the most represented nation.

In 2023, the average of players within each MLB team was between around 26-30 years old. This is considered to be the prime of a player's career, as they are typically at their peak physical and athletic ability at this age.

Who is the oldest player in the MLB?

In 2023, the average age of the players on the New York Yankees' roster was 28.3 years. Out of all the teams in MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers had the highest average player age. In the same year, the Toronto Blue Jays' average player age was 29.6 years.

What is Major League Baseball? Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada. It comprises 30 teams, 29 of which are located in the United States and one in Canada. The teams are divided into two leagues: the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), and each league is further divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West. The teams play a 162-game regular season schedule, with the goal of earning a spot in the postseason, which consists of the AL and NL Championship Series, and the World Series. The team that wins the World Series is declared the champion of the MLB.

Fans watch at home and live in the stadiums There are many ways to enjoy MLB games, whether you are a die-hard fan, a casual viewer, or a player yourself. You can watch games on TV, or stream them live online. In 2022, the average TV viewership of MLB World Series games stood at 11.8 million. Additionally, many teams have their own websites, social media accounts, and mobile apps that allow fans to stay up-to-date with the latest news, scores, and player stats. It is also possible to purchase tickets to games and watch the action live at the stadium. In 2022, the average attendance at the games in the MLB was 26,808.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Major League Baseball Players Assn

Comparative Analysis of MLB Players wOBA Statistics

Analyzing Skillsets in The Old Ballgame

By Devi Ramanan [source]

About this dataset

This dataset features a comprehensive look into the performance of 311 professional Major League Baseball players. It comprises key batting statistics including name, team, age, plate appearances (PA), batting average (AVG), on-base plus slugging percentage - average (OBP-AVG), isolated power (ISO), stolen bases (SB), and ultimate zone rating per 150 games (UZR/150). Additionally, the dataset contains more detailed and complex metrics for each player such as weighted values for singles (1Bw), doubles (2Bw), triples(3Bw), home runs(HRw) unintentional walks(uBBw), hit by pitches(HBPw) ,stolen bases attempted/successful(SBW/CSW) and weighted On-Base Average(WOBA). All these data points create an effective way to measure the offensive performance that is both insightful and objective. Jeff Long's Spira Award winning article analyzed this very same data to compare MLB players who have similar skillsets than would otherwise be expected

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How to use the dataset

This dataset can be used to analyse the wOBA stats of MLB players with at least 250 plate appearances (PA). This dataset has data on 31 baseball players. The data includes the player's name, their team, age, PA, batting average (AVG), on-base percentage minus batting average (OBP-AVG), isolated power (ISO), stolen bases (SB), Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games (UZR/150), weighted value of singles(1Bw) , weighted value of doubles(2Bw) , weighted value of triples(3Bw) , weighted value of home runs(HRw) ,weighted value of unintentional walks(uBBw) ,weighted value of hit by pitches(HBPw )and stolen base attempt success rate (CSW). By using this dataset you can compare different MLB Players' stats in the same year.

Research Ideas

• Analyzing and predicting batting performance. With this dataset, researchers could create models to observe correlations between batting metrics such as strikeouts, walks, home runs, stolen bases etc and overall wOBA scores for the players. This could be used to generate insights into the most important batting factors that contribute the greatest benefit for a team's success.
• Comparing players from different teams in terms of their batting performance. By comparing two players with similar stats (for example two offensive power hitters) across different teams it would be possible to analyze whether certain teams consistently have better offensive players or if they just have higher quantity in particular positions of play.
• Creating a predictive model for MLB draft prospects or free agents signing potentials based on their stats and previous yearly changes in OBP-AVG or UZR/150 score could provide meaningful insight into which emerging talents are likely to see substantial improvement in their career trajectory over time when compared with aging stars who may gradually decline over time due to age related attrition factors such as injury and fatigue amongst others

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit the original authors. Data Source

License

Unknown License - Please check the dataset description for more information.

Columns

File: Batting Key Stats2.csv | Column name | Description | |:--------------|:--------------------------------------------------| | Name | Name of the player. (String) | | Team | Team the player is on. (String) | | Age | Age of the player. (Integer) | | PA | Plate Appearances. (Integer) | | AVG | Batting Average. (Float) | | OBP-AVG | On-Base Percentage minus Batting Average. (Float) | | ISO | Isolated Power. (Float) | | SB | Stolen Bases. (Integer) | | UZR/150 | Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games. (Float) |

File: 2014 wOBA Stats 3.csv | Column name | Description | |:--------------|:-----------------------------------------------| | Name | Name of the player. (String) | | Team | Team the player is on. (String) | | PA | Plate Appearances. (Integer) | | 1Bw | Weighted value of singles. (Float) | | 2Bw | Weighted value of doubles. (Float)...

Major League Baseball is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in North America. The survey depicts the level of interest in the MLB in the United States and it showed that 33 percent of respondents aged 35 to 44 were avid fans of the league.

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Major League Baseball Youth Foundation

The Major League Baseball (MLB) market stands as a cornerstone of American sports culture, merging a rich history with substantial economic impact. As of 2023, the MLB market is valued at billions of dollars, showcasing a substantial increase over the past decade, driven by factors such as media rights deals, mercha

Basic statistics for the MLB and NBA Twitter networks using mathematica.

During a March 2022 survey in the United States, some 46 percent of respondents with a favorite MLB team stated that where they grew up influenced which team they supported. Meanwhile, only eight percent of respondents chose their favorite team based on the team's record.

Baseball Equipment Market Outlook

The global market size of the baseball equipment market was valued at approximately USD 7.45 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around USD 10.11 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period. The growth factors driving this market include increasing participation in baseball across various regions, technological advancements in equipment design, and rising popularity of baseball as a professional sport globally.

One of the primary growth factors for the baseball equipment market is the increasing participation in baseball, especially among younger demographics. This surge in participation can be attributed to various grassroots initiatives and youth development programs aimed at promoting the sport. Countries with emerging economies are also seeing a rise in disposable incomes, which translates to higher expenditure on sports equipment. Additionally, the integration of baseball into school curriculums and the popularity of youth leagues are significant contributors to the growth of the market.

Technological advancements in the design and manufacturing of baseball equipment have significantly contributed to market growth. Companies are investing in research and development to create innovative products that offer enhanced performance, safety, and durability. For instance, advancements in materials such as composite bats and protective gear made from high-impact resistant materials are attracting both amateur and professional players. These innovations not only improve player performance but also reduce the likelihood of injury, thereby making baseball a more appealing sport.

The professionalization and commercialization of baseball at both national and international levels further drive the market for baseball equipment. The sport has seen significant media coverage, sponsorship, and investment, particularly in regions like North America and Asia Pacific. Major leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), have a substantial influence on the market, boosting demand for high-quality equipment. Furthermore, international tournaments and the inclusion of baseball in multi-sport events like the Olympics have expanded the sportÂ’s reach, fostering market growth.

Baseball Protective Gear plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of players on the field. With the increasing awareness of sports-related injuries, there has been a significant focus on developing protective gear that not only offers maximum protection but also enhances player performance. Manufacturers are investing in advanced materials and technologies to create gear that is lightweight, durable, and comfortable. This includes helmets with enhanced padding, chest protectors, and leg guards made from high-impact resistant materials. The emphasis on safety has led to a growing demand for protective gear among both amateur and professional players, contributing to the overall growth of the baseball equipment market.

Regional outlook indicates North America remains the dominant market for baseball equipment, primarily due to the deep-rooted popularity of the sport in the United States and Canada. Asia Pacific is emerging as a significant market due to increasing participation rates in countries like Japan, South Korea, and China. Europe and Latin America are also showing promising growth, albeit at a slower rate, driven by the rising interest in baseball and supportive government initiatives promoting sports. The Middle East & Africa region is expected to witness moderate growth due to the nascent stage of baseball development, but ongoing efforts to popularize the sport could yield positive results in the long run.

Product Type Analysis

The baseball equipment market is segmented by product type, which includes bats, gloves, helmets, protective gear, footwear, and others. Each of these segments plays a vital role in the overall market, catering to the specific needs and preferences of baseball players.

The bats segment holds a significant share in the market, driven by continuous innovations and technological advancements. Modern baseball bats are designed using composite materials that offer superior performance and durability compared to traditional wooden bats. These advancements are not only catering to professional players but also to amateurs who seek enhanced performance. Companies are focusing on developing bats that comply with league standards

This paper examines salaries given to arbitration eligible players in Major League Baseball from 2008-2013 and compares them to free agent contracts from the same period. Anecdotal evidence suggests that simpler statistics are more successful in Major League Baseball's final offer arbitration setting as legal experts tasked with handling the league's cases may not have a deep knowledge of player valuation. I examine the effects of wins above replacement, a complex but comprehensive metric, and traditional statistics, such as runs batted in, on salaries decided in both settings. Wins above replacement is significant in each case, but with a much higher coefficient in free agency suggesting a greater impact. There is no evidence of individual traditional statistics being especially significant in arbitration; I attribute this to parties framing their offers with whichever statistics portray them in the most favorable light. Finally, I look to statistics in the season following contracts to determine if either market is more effective in getting value at a low cost, but results are similar in each case and limitations with the data restrict the efficacy of conclusions in the section.

Recent baseball scholarship has drawn attention to U.S. professional baseball’s complex twentieth century labor dynamics and expanding global presence. From debates around desegregation to discussions about the sport’s increasingly multicultural identity and global presence, the cultural politics of U.S. professional baseball is connected to the problem of baseball labor. However, most scholars address these topics by focusing on Major League Baseball (MLB), ignoring other teams and leagues—Minor League Baseball (MiLB)—that develop players for Major League teams. Considering Minor League Baseball is critical to understanding the professional game in the United States, since players who populate Major League rosters constitute a fraction of U.S. professional baseball’s entire labor force. As a digital humanities dissertation on baseball labor and globalization, this project uses digital humanities approaches and tools to analyze and visualize a quantitative data set, exploring how Minor League Baseball relates to and complicates MLB-dominated narratives around globalization and diversity in U.S. professional baseball labor. This project addresses how MiLB demographics and global dimensions shifted over time, as well as how the timeline and movement of foreign-born players through the Minor Leagues differs from their U.S.-born counterparts. This project emphasizes the centrality and necessity of including MiLB data in studies of baseball’s labor and ideological significance or cultural meaning, making that argument by drawing on data analysis, visualization, and mapping to address how MiLB labor complicates or supplements existing understandings of the relationship between U.S. professional baseball’s global reach and “national pastime” claims.

Major League Baseball has a minimum player salary in place to ensure that its athletes are fairly compensated for the work they do. The MLB minimum salary in 2024 stood at 740 thousand U.S. dollars annually, representing a steady increase each year over the last 15 years. Money to be made in the MLB MLB players are known to receive generous yearly salaries, in addition to performance incentives, such as prizes for games won. The average player salary in 2024 was over six times higher than the minimum salary, at around five million U.S. dollars. This also represents almost double the average player salary from 2005, illustrating the rapid boom of money in baseball. MLB's biggest earners Certain positions in the MLB, such as first base or starting pitcher, are usually better paid due to the important roles they are considered to have in the game. The highest paid players in the MLB in the 2023 season include Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani and Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer. In 2024, the New York Mets were the best-paid baseball team in the MLB, with an opening day payroll of 305.62 million U.S. dollars. The Oakland Athletics, on the other hand, were the most thrifty franchise, with an opening day payroll of just over 60 million U.S. dollars.

Analysis of ‘Hitters Baseball Data’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from https://www.kaggle.com/mathchi/hitters-baseball-data on 30 September 2021.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

Baseball Data

Description

Major League Baseball Data from the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

Usage

Hitters

Format

A data frame with 322 observations of major league players on the following 20 variables.

• AtBat: Number of times at bat in 1986

• Hits: Number of hits in 1986

• HmRun: Number of home runs in 1986

• Runs: Number of runs in 1986

• RBI: Number of runs batted in in 1986

• Walks: Number of walks in 1986

• Years: Number of years in the major leagues

• CAtBat: Number of times at bat during his career

• CHits: Number of hits during his career

• CHmRun: Number of home runs during his career

• CRuns: Number of runs during his career

• CRBI: Number of runs batted in during his career

• CWalks: Number of walks during his career

• League: A factor with levels A and N indicating player's league at the end of 1986

• Division: A factor with levels E and W indicating player's division at the end of 1986

• PutOuts: Number of put outs in 1986

• Assists: Number of assists in 1986

• Errors: Number of errors in 1986

• Salary: 1987 annual salary on opening day in thousands of dollars

• NewLeague: A factor with levels A and N indicating player's league at the beginning of 1987

Source

This dataset was taken from the StatLib library which is maintained at Carnegie Mellon University. This is part of the data that was used in the 1988 ASA Graphics Section Poster Session. The salary data were originally from Sports Illustrated, April 20, 1987. The 1986 and career statistics were obtained from The 1987 Baseball Encyclopedia Update published by Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.

References

Games, G., Witten, D., Hastie, T., and Tibshirani, R. (2013) An Introduction to Statistical Learning with applications in R, www.StatLearning.com, Springer-Verlag, New York

Examples

summary(Hitters)

lm(Salary~AtBat+Hits,data=Hitters)

Dataset imported from https://www.r-project.org.

--- Original source retains full ownership of the source dataset ---

Context

The top ranked 144 hitters in MLB during 2017's regular season.

Content

The data for each player includes:
Team - MLB Team Pos - Field Position G - Games Played AB - At Bats R - Runs Scored H - Hits 2B - Doubles 3B - Triples HR - Home Runs RBI _ Runs Batted In BB - Walks SO - Strike Outs SB - Stolen Bases CS - Times picked off while trying to steal AVG - Batting Average (hits/At Bats) OBP - On Base Percentage (H+BB+HBP)/(AB+BB+HBP+SF) SLG - Slugging Percentage (TB/AB) Total bases divided by at bats
OPS - On base percentage plus slugging (OBP + SLG)

Acknowledgements

Major League Baseball makes a lot of statistics available for you at: http://mlb.mlb.com/stats

Inspiration

This is just a fun data set to play with for nebies. Inspired by the fun of Baseball.

Annual sponsorship revenue for Major League Baseball teams amounted to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. This marked an increase of more than 23 percent on the previous year's figure.

As one of the biggest sports leagues in America with TV viewers reaching into the millions, Major League Baseball can afford to pay its players handsomely. The average salary for a player in the MLB stood at 4.98 million U.S. dollars in 2024. This marks a twofold increase on the average salary in 2005. Highs and lows of MLB salaries While the stars of every MLB team take home millions every year, there is still a minimum player salary in place to ensure that all players are compensated for their efforts. The 2024 MLB minimum player salary was set at 740 thousand U.S. dollars, a significant increase on the minimum of 300 thousand U.S. dollars in 2003. The league’s top earners The highest earner in the MLB in 2024 was the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani. The three-time All-Star took home an annual base salary of 70 million U.S. dollars in the 2024 season. Due to their prominent role on the team, it is unsurprising that a majority of the top earners in the MLB were pitchers.