I think it's called the World Series for the same reason we have the "World Heavyweight Champion" in boxing. In the early decades of the last century, Americans were, believe it or not, even more insular and jingoistic than they are now. (I don't know when the first World Series was played, and don't feel like looking it up at the moment, but it must have been before 1919, the year of the "Black Sox" scandal.) Since nobody else in the world was playing baseball, it was clear to any American that the best team in the U.S. was the best team in the world. And since then, we've kind of gotten used to the name.

I was 6 when I watched Mazeroski's home run, so I didn't quite know what was happening. All I remember is seeing lots and lots of confetti flying through the air on the TV! Four years later, though, I suffered through the Phillies' agonizing final 10-game losing streak when the pennant was in their grasp.

When I lived in Hilo, our local radio station broadcast the Giants games, so I became a Giants fan (they were always my second favorite team anyway). Here in Honolulu I haven't found MLB on the radio....and you know what? I don't miss it. I only liked listening to the games because it reminded me of being a kid.

Aloha,
Mark