As a baseball fan in Arizona, you may have wondered if the State has a baseball team that you could support as you browse the Internet checking MLB ticket prices 2023. Well, what if we told you there’s an official team for Phoenix baseball events right in Arizona? And what if we also told you this team competes in Major League Baseball?
If you’re not familiar with this team, worry no more! This article answers all of your burning questions about MLB baseball in Arizona.
What to know about the American MLB
Before you head into the gaming arena, there are a number of interesting facts about Major League Baseball that you should know.
In the history of sports, baseball has been ranked among the top played sports in the world, alongside soccer, football, basketball and other sports. This is thanks to the contribution of the Major League Baseball events that made baseball a popular sport, especially in the United States.
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest and major professional sports league in the United States and Canada, with its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. The league comprises 30 teams, which are separated into two leagues – the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). Initially, NL and AL were separate leagues until 2000, when the Commissioner of Baseball merged them into the MLB.
However, only one of the 30 teams is based in Canada, while the rest are in various states in the United States. The MLB teams in the American League include:
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Guardians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Minnesota Twins
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Oakland Athletics
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
For the National League, a different baseball team represents the participating states. These teams are:
- San Francisco Giants
- Miami Marlins
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Washington Nationals
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- San Diego Padres
- Atlanta Braves
Unfortunately, not every state in the United States has a team in the MLB.
MLB in Arizona
Prior to the year 1995, Arizona was exempted from participating in either the National League or the American League. This was a heartbreaking situation for Arizona, among the largest US states. However, the official establishment of the only Arizona-based baseball team – Arizona Diamondbacks – in 1998 liberated Arizona from the list of non-playing baseball states.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks, also known as D’Backs or The Snakes, is Arizona’s only baseball team in the National League Division of the American Major League Baseball. The D’Backs’ stadium or Ballpark “Chase Field” – or Bank One Ballpark as it was previously known – is in Phoenix, Arizona, and it was commissioned just before the team’s first expansion game in 1998. The stadium is known for being among the open baseball stadiums. This is a result of the high temperature in the city of Phoenix during baseball season.
Brief History of Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks were founded in 1998 as an expansion team in Major League Baseball’s National League West Division (MLB). Following a shaky start in their first game as an expansion team in 1998, the team acquired pitcher Randy Johnson, who helped them to their first postseason berth in 2001. The same year, the Diamondbacks won the National League West division championship and went on to win the World Series in a tough struggle against the New York Yankees.
The Diamondbacks have consistently succeeded throughout the years, winning the National League West division in 2002 and 2007 and reaching the playoffs in 2011. Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Luis Gonzalez, Brandon Webb, Paul Goldschmidt, and Zack Greinke have all played for the squad over the years.
While not always being at the top of the league, the Arizona Diamondbacks have established themselves as a competitive National League club with one World Series championship and several playoff appearances, making them a respected team in the baseball world.
Achievements of Arizona Diamondbacks
The Phoenix-based baseball team has gained some achievements over the years, and here is a list of them:
- 1 World Championship Series win in 2001
- 1 National League win in 2001
- 5 National League West divisional title wins in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, and 2011
Besides the team winnings, some baseball stars have won various titles while playing in Dbacks. These baseball stars include:
- Randy Johnson – 2001 Cy Young Award.
- Curt Schilling – 2002 Cy Young Award.
- Luis Gonzalez – 2001 Silver Slugger Award.
- Paul Goldschmidt – 2013 and 2015 Gold Glove Award.
Current State of the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t been performing up to their best standards recently. However, they’ve been making steady advancements over the years. As a team that’s in the midst of rebuilding, these advancements are expected, and the team is presently experiencing its most stable level of growth during the 2022 MLB season.
They’re not deemed to be either the strongest or weakest team in the league, but instead an average team. Despite that, team members such as Zach Davies, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly have substantially enhanced their sportsmanship.
Future Of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Hope is not lost for Arizona’s D’backs as their pitchers – Merrill Kelly, Zach Davies, and Zac Gallen – are now ever hungry for the team to leave the middle standings in the MLB table and move to the next level. Besides the existing players in Arizona Diamondbacks, new entries such as Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Drew Jameson are outstanding baseball players who excelled at their debuts. The new D’Backs players definitely give hope to the Phoenix baseball team.
Conclusion
The Arizona Diamondbacks have become a source of pride for baseball fans in Arizona and a popular tourist attraction at Chase Field. The team’s success has generated significant income for the state, as fans from all over come to see their games. Although the team is currently facing some challenges, they have a history of winning the World Championship and have shown promise for future success. With a dedicated fan base and talented players, the Diamondbacks remain a competitive force in the world of baseball. techaapzon