Baseball-Reference Most-Watched MLB Player in All States

I spend a lot of time on Baseball-Reference. Besides being my job to research and get player stats right to you, I like to look at old names from the late 90s and 2000s to see if they were as good as I thought. remember it in my head. Casey Blake? Better than I remember. Mark Teahen? Much worse than I remember. Jack Cust? Baller!

I couldn’t tell you who my most watched player is. I spend a lot of time comparing elite level players to Mike Trout. Maybe it’s him. Maybe it’s Bryce Harper because I spend every moment of my day trying to convince myself that he’s not as good as people think. I do not know. Luckily, Baseball-Reference has been tracking this sort of thing.

It’s interesting. You may not be interested in this, but this is my article. I can write about anything that tickles me. Haha! Neener Neener!

In Albert Pujols’ final year, it makes sense that 25 states would want to seek him out. I know I have done a lot this year. He’s a living legend who was presumed to be well past his prime before 2022. He was, however, incredible this season, much better than what he had achieved in recent years with the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. For more than a few articles this year, I had to compare this season to his last five years in Los Angeles, to understand exactly how he regained his swagger at 42. Also watch Aaron Judge. With how incredible his season has been, it makes sense that so many people wanted to seek him out — 15 states sought out the American League MVP more than anyone.

There are others that make sense too. Barry Bonds was a freak of nature, and even though he had no connection to Wyoming, it makes sense that people would seek him out. Matt Olson wasn’t as good his freshman year with Atlanta as he was with Oakland, but he was a pretty big rookie, and probably relatively unknown in Alabama. Considering most people in Alabama gravitate to the Braves — especially after winning the 2021 World Series — Olson’s popularity in the Heart of Dixie makes sense.

Christian Yelich in Wisconsin, Miguel Cabrera in Michigan, Gio Urshela in South Dakota (at least bordering Minnesota) and even Freddie Freeman in New Mexico (although he is unrelated) are all examples of top players watched in states with an active fanbase of each player’s respective team. As odd as it may seem to see George Brett’s name on any 2020s chart with the word “popular,” he’s still a Hall of Famer and widely regarded as the best Kansas City Royal of them all. the temperature. It’s strange, yes, but not totally absurd, you see? Then there are the two black sheep.

Why the hell does Hawaii look up Dylan Moore? Was he born in Hawaii? No. Did he play college football in Hawaii? No. Did he play in an amateur or collegiate league in Hawaii? No. Is he an amazing baseball player worth watching? Not really. I mean, his batting eye is amazing. Its 13.3% walking rate in 2022 ranked 15th in 2022 among players with at least 250 plate appearances. He’s also fast enough for someone who walks as often as he does. That said, does he look like a player Hawaiians would be captivated by? I do not think so.

I have a theory though. You see, when you search for “Dylan Moore Hawaii” on Google, the results of a economics teacher at the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization. Yeah, I know that’s a bit of a stretch, but how do you think Dylan Moore was such a wanted baseball player in the Pacific Islands, huh? I listen to theories, because that’s as good as I can get. I think when students or people in economics search for Dylan Moore in Hawaii, they click on the first link they find. Lo and behold, the first link that pops up when you Google “Dylan Moore” is his Baseball-Reference page. Chance? I do not think so!

Dylan Moore is at least one active baseball player. At least it’s a name people could toss around a bar while telling about random athletes. You know who will never get into these kinds of conversations? Pete Browning!

Ties to Delaware? No. Hall of fame ? No. Played this century? No. Played in the last century? No. Spent a full season in a team that still exists? (That includes the oddly named Cleveland Infants.) No. Browning was a three-time batting champion in 1882, 1885 and 1890. Additionally, in 1887 he became the first player never reached more than 0.400 in 600 or more plaque appearances. Coincidentally, he did not win the batting title that year. That’s all Browning has going for it.

I don’t even have a theory as to why Browning is so popular in The First State. The only Google results that show up when you search for “Pete Browning Delaware” are people on Twitter wondering why Pete Browning is such a popular baseball search in Delaware. That’s one hell of a circular Google search, huh? Maybe Baseball-Reference itself is headquartered in Delaware and there was an inside joke about Browning? No. Sports Reference, LLC is located in Philadelphia, so it really doesn’t make sense.

Guess that’s appropriate for baseball. Sport doesn’t make sense, so it’s logical to assume that baseball search results wouldn’t either. Still, I’m perplexed by Delaware’s infatuation with Browning. What is it about this late 19th century baseball player that draws everyone to Dover? I haven’t a clue, but I’m definitely not going to have a baseball fight with anyone over there anytime soon. They probably know a lot more about baseball history than I do.