Updated

Even though a plurality wanted the Chicago Cubs (search) to win this year’s World Series, the New York Yankees (search) are seen as the team that will win.

Twice as many Americans say they wanted the Cubs to win the World Series (search) as say the Yankees (41 percent and 18 percent respectively) in this week’s FOX News poll. Thirteen percent say they want the Boston Red Sox (search) to win, while four percent say they are rooting for the Florida Marlins (search). Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted this national poll on October 14 and 15. (Note: polling was conducted prior to the end of the National League Conference Series (search) Game Seven, which the Cubs lost to the Marlins.)

When the question was changed to “which team do you think WILL win” the World Series, the order reverses and a 35 percent plurality says the Yankees will win and 25 percent thought the Cubs. The Cubs have not played in a World Series since 1945, while the Yankees have played five times in the last seven years — winning four of those times. Few expect the Red Sox to win (eight percent), and hardly any think the Marlins will claim victory in this year’s series (three percent).

Finally, it looks like baseball has some competition for the title of “great American pastime.” Almost equal numbers say they think of baseball as America’s greatest pastime as say football (43 percent and 41 percent). Only five percent say basketball, three percent auto racing, and one percent for both golf and soccer.

Polling was conducted by telephone October 14-15, 2003 in the evenings. The sample is 900 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.

(Note: polling was conducted prior to the end of the National League Conference Series Game Seven, which the Cubs lost to the Marlins.)

1. Which sport do you think of as America’s greatest pastime? (OPEN)

2. Which team do you want to win this year’s World Series?

3. And which team do you think WILL win this year’s World Series?