On the weekend of 29–30 June 2019, MLB held its first-ever European series. Hosted by Stratford’s London Stadium, home of West Ham United and the 2012 Olympic Games, the event featured 2 contests between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox – arguably MLB’s most historic rivals.
Strongly anticipated from the moment it was first announced, the London Series had a lot to live up to for baseball fans who had longed for MLB to visit Europe for decades. The spectacle did not disappoint. After all was said and done, by Sunday evening, the Yankees and Red Sox had played out the second-longest 9-inning game in MLB history (4 hours, 42 minutes), battled through the second-highest scoring game between the 2 sides, managed over 65 hits, scored over 50 runs, and entertained close to 120,000 people. The Yankees won both games: 17–3 and 12–8.
After a Covid-shaped spanner was thrown into the works in 2020, the London Series is back in 2023 when another classic rivalry will ignite for the first time on European soil. This time round, the NL Central will be in focus as the Chicago Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs and Cards met for the first time in April 1892, and have since gone on to forge one of MLB’s most hotly-contested rivalries. Through the years, highlights of the “Route 66 Rivalry” have included a vital NL Division Series win for the Cubs over the Cardinals in 2015, and the “Long Gone Summer” of 1998, in which Mark McGwire of the Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Cubs chased down the single-season home run record.
Looking ahead, the St. Louis Cardinals (beloved by the likes of Mad Men star Jon Hamm) will enter 2023 as reigning NL Central champions, with talented third basemen Nolan Arenado hoping to lead the Redbirds back to the Postseason. Over in the Windy City, the Chicago Cubs (who count Bill Murray among their famous fans) finished 3rd in the NL Central in 2022, and will be aiming for a more successful season next year with the help of stars like Seiya Suzuki.
The 2023 London Series makes for a dramatic new episode in the Cubs/Cardinals shared history, as well as another opportunity for European fans to enjoy a rare trip to the ballpark in their own backyard. Tickets for the series, which will take place on 24–25 June 2023, are on sale now.
For more information about the London Series, or to buy tickets, click here.
