10/15: Yankees Viewed as World Series’ Favorite

They’ve steamrolled the Minnesota Twins and are getting ready to battle the Los Angeles Angels in the ALCS.  Now, more than four in ten baseball fans nationwide think the New York Yankees will go all the way and clinch their 27th World Championship.

baseball and American flag

©istockphoto.com/alancrosthwaite

41% of baseball fans report the Bronx Bombers have the best chance of winning the World Series this year.  The Philadelphia Phillies come in a distant second with 10% of fans thinking they will repeat.  Joe Torre’s Los Angeles Dodgers are the pick of 8%, and Mike Scioscia’s Los Angeles Angels are regarded the likely winners by 5%.  Nearly a quarter of baseball fans — 24% — chose a team who has already been eliminated from the playoffs.

How big of a deal is baseball, though, to U.S. residents?  Just 18% of Americans indulge in the National Pastime at least a good amount.  32% say they watch the game a little, and half do not watch the game at all.  Not surprisingly, men tend to check out the game more than women.

Table: World Series Champions?
Table: Watch Baseball?

Marist Poll Methodology

Related Stories:

10/9: Baseball’s Bond