This is probably a language question more than it is a baseball question, but I'm always somewhat amused when Americans are speaking of ballclubs when talking about MLB teams.

The way I figure MLB is an agency for temporary labor in the entertainment and advertising industries, with 30 local franchises throughout North America.

A club is something you can become a member when paying a membership fee, regardless of age or sex (except if all men or all women.

If you can explain how a ballclub is a club, or define the word ballclub or club better than me, then feel free to answer.

Of course, I have two mention the smaller local franchises that constitute the minor leagues as well.

Baseball is designated a club because not everyone can be on a baseball team. Also, the club designation comes because baseball is exempt from anti-trust legislation. In other words, Major League Baseball is allowed to be a monopoly.

One of the meanings of the word is "a group of people organized for a common purpose," and I guess you could make the argument that most baseball "clubs" exist for the purpose of winning games.

Personally, though, I prefer "team" because "club" makes it sound like 25 guys are going to sit around in a treehouse, or maybe in someone's kitchen playing D&D.

It's because a bat is a kind of club, of course!