As American as Apple Pie and Baseball?

Baseball has stood alongside football and basketball as the face of American athletic culture for decades. The spread of this past time has only recently gained a spot on the international stage. The best example of the spread of international baseball lies in the foundation of the World Baseball Classic. Albeit, players have come into the MLB for years from overseas (i.e. Sammy Sosa), the focus in the development of youth baseball has only recently found a foothold with major corporations like ESPN through programs highlighting the Little League World Series.