If you visit the US, I can recommend a visit to a ball park (although dont expect too much if your in Florida!). As previously mentioned it can be a slow game, so can be dull to watch on tv, particularly if you don't know whats going on, but there is so much more to do at the ball park. I have been to the States on 2 occasions and have been to a few games in some truly amazing stadiums (and veterans field!) and have become hooked on the game. Having first visited Boston in 1999 and took in 3 games at friendly Fenway Park I am part of the nation, so 2004 was a truly remarkable year and we can now say what curse!

Chris Scott, Tamworth, UK

if i didnt grow up with it i might see how it could seem odd or boring, but its a beautiful game... it can be intense and it can also be calm and unexciting. Also very cerebral and strategic. Also, we call it our "Pastime", which is exactly as it sounds-- a way to pass the time.Most baseball games (unless they are towards the end of the season or against a rival) are just a good reason to go to a big beautiful stadium with beautiful grounds, bright green grass, and eat peanuts and drink beer and cheer and talk to people around you while watching a game that you know by heart. I suggest anyone from Blighty who visits the US to go to one of our revered ballparks to see game. These ballparks are our holy lands: places like: wrigley field in Chicago, Yankee Stadium in NYC, Fenway Park in Boston, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, etc. I've been to all of them and they make the hair on my neck stand up when I walked in.

andy fox, los angeles, california

With baseball, history and statistics of not only the teams, but the individuals who have played the game, are key featrues and the glue that binds the years the team has been in operation, and the fans to the game. Like this World Series. The Colorado Rockies are in their first one in their fifteen year history. The Boston Red Sox won the first one against the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 1903, and they play baseball in a ballpark, Fenway Park, that was built in 1912, the year the Titanic sunk. So Boston fans have a far richer history and connection to the game, than fans of a newer club, which explains the intensity of "Red Sox Nation", with the legacy of the great pitcher Cy Young (The Pitcher of the Year Award in both the American and National Leagues is named for him), the larger than life Babe Ruth, who began his career as both a pitcher and hitter, before geing sold to NY, and of course the greatest pure hitter of all, Ted Williams the last player to hit over .400.

jim johnson, framingham, USA

English? Can't get to a game? Check out the movie 'Bull Durham' .

It's a simple game, really.You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball......yeah right!

Former Brit.

Brian Connor, Lexington, U.S.A

Hi, I'm an American from Atlanta, GA, and I just want to say that baseball is not like soccer or even the other american sports, most fans of baseball are really quite intelligent and know the history of baseball and/or their team. If you know the history and the defining hits, plays, hitters, and pitches it makes the game alot more exciting, plus when baseball games are close, they are alot of fun to watch.

Andrew, Atlanta, GA, USA

As an Englishman living in New York for 27 years, it did take me a few seasons to fully appreciate baseball, but I urge all Englishmen who visit America to watch a game, and view it with an open mind. As with all sports, the more you watch and learn about it, the more fascinating it becomes. One game or a few innings is usually not enough. Cricket fans -- and I'm an avid one -- usually object that the hitting is one dimensional and lacks the aesthetics of batting in cricket. This is partially true, but is more than made up for by the tension and suspense generated by the back and forth 9 inning format, and the truly spectacular fielding and throwing, and close plays at the various bases. And the more you watch the batters the more you come to realize that not every swing is for the fences, and that directional hitting is every bit as important as it is in cricket. However, having said that, a 450 home run is one of the most thrilling moments in sport.

Neil Bostock, Middletown, New York, USA

If you are planning a visit to the USA, please attend a baseball game. It's a good way to mingle with Americans who, because they are doing something they truely enjoy, are typically in a good mood. The game can be very slow, but ask anyone seated next to you and they will gladly instruct you on the finer nuances of the sport. You'll notice that half the crowd is not paying attention to the game, anyway. Instead, they are talking to each other about daily events, politics and family gossip. The slow pace of the game allows for this and is also a great place to take children. In fact, baseball is the most kid-friendly major American sport. Most baseball stadiums have free children's activities in special locations. Try to eat before you go, as the prices are rather steep for plain food and beverages. And, please don't bother judging the sport on just one visit. Baseball has been a professional sport for 150 years, so the history of the game has as much to do with it's popularity.

Charles Brands, Seattle, USA