Why is baseball more popular than football in Venezuela, unlike with what is the case for the majority (almost all) of the South American countries? Is there a specific historical reason?

by [deleted]

I know that the situation slightly changes now, while football gains popularity there, but, if one looks the history of football in Venezuela, it is extremely poor compared to even not so successful national football teams like that of Chile.

tjcase10

The popularity of baseball in Venezuela is the result of two factors, geography and oil. Since it is located on the Caribbean, it has had more trade with the US since it is accessible directly by water. Therefore, there have been more American merchants in Venezuela to spread American culture.

The second factor is oil. When oil was discovered after WWI in Venezuela, the country sold the rights for oil extraction for the most part to American oil companies. Many American oil workers came to Venezuela to work, bringing along baseball as a pastime. Soon Venezuelans picked it up and it has been popular ever since.

A book that will be able to explain this all in more detail is:

Elias, Robert. The Empire Strikes Out: How Baseball Sold US Foreign Policy and the American Way. New York: New Press, 2010.