Celebrate, baseball fans, baseball season is finally here! The Major League Baseball season in America is beginning. Opening Day features all 30 MLB teams in the competition.
So, where do our allegiances lie in terms of fandom in Iowa? Iowa is a sizable state that differs a little from north to south and from east to west. The fact that Iowans’ allegiances are divided among numerous teams, like in other professional sports, won’t come as a surprise to them. Let’s see which MLB team is the most followed in Iowa this season.
A Little Bit About MLB
The National League (NL) and American League (AL), each with fifteen teams, are divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West.
The majority of states do not have an MLB franchise, although there are thirty teams overall made up of twenty-nine teams spread over 17 states, and one team in Canada (the Toronto Blue Jays).
The Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants are among the MLB teams that call California home, the most in a single state.
As for the states with two MLB teams, there are only seven:
- Florida (Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins)
- Illinois (Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox)
- Missouri (Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals)
- New York (New York Mets and New York Yankees)
- Ohio (Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians)
- Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Texas (Houston Astros and Texas Rangers).
Additionally, there are nine states with one MLB team:
- Colorado (Colorado Rockies)
- Georgia (Atlanta Braves)
- Maryland (Baltimore Orioles)
- Massachusetts (Boston Red Sox)
- Michigan (Detroit Tigers)
- Minnesota (Minnesota Twins)
- Washington (Seattle Mariners)
- Wisconsin (Milwaukee Brewers)
- Arizona (Arizona Diamondbacks)
One team, the Washington Nationals, play in the District of Columbia.
Most Followed MLB Teams in Iowa
Kansas City Royals
Head west! The Kansas City Royals are pretty much the favorite among the citizens in Hawkeye State. Nebraska also adores them. As a matter of fact, 45 of Iowa’s 99 counties, including the entire Des Moines metro region, lay claim to this team.
Despite the team’s recent struggles, Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, is a breathtaking ballpark to visit. It, plus Iowa sports betting bonuses, will be just as enjoyable as the game itself.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are next, with 27 counties encompassing the eastern portion of the Iowan state. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Iowa Cubs, their Triple-A club, now play in Des Moines.
The second reason is that they have a longer history than most other midwestern teams. Iowa is not that far from Chicago, and it’s simple to listen to or watch the games.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins inevitably cover the northern portion of Iowa; they reach 22 counties and start to encroach on the western portion of the state, which is occupied by the Royals.
Additionally, the Twins have a sizable fan base in northern Iowa. While still strong in the Cedar Valley, it significantly weakens as you travel farther south. Particularly as you move closer to the Quad Cities, where the White Sox, rivals to the Cubs and Twins, are more well-liked. In the Dakotas, the Twins have a far larger foreign fan base.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are divisional rivals and fierce opponents of the Cubs. In Iowa, The Cards are incredibly well-liked. However, the closer you get to the Missouri border, the majority of their fan base seems to be more southern.
In the Cedar Valley, Cedar Rapids, and even Des Moines, they are still in great supply. In Iowa, the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry is a way of life. Cardinals supporters are currently in 286 counties nationwide.
