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BALLDONTLIE

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Comprehensive sports data and analytics API covering NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and 6+ other major leagues

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Updated Jan 5, 2026
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API Development Analytics and Data
Comprehensive sports data and analytics API covering NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and 6+ other major leagues

HTTP HEADERS — Authorization (BALLDONTLIE API key)

  1. Click the "Install Now" button in FastMCP, then open the FastMCP connection interface for the balldontlie MCP server.
  2. Obtain your BALLDONTLIE API key:
    1. Visit https://app.balldontlie.io and sign up or sign in to your account.
    2. In your account/dashboard look for the API key or "API Keys" section and create or copy an existing key. (If prompted, give the key a descriptive name such as "FastMCP Integration".)
  3. In the FastMCP connection interface → Headers, add a header named:
    • Key: Authorization
    • Value: YOUR_API_KEY_HERE
    • Important: Enter the API key exactly as provided by BALLDONTLIE. Do NOT add the characters "<" or ">", and do NOT add a "Bearer " prefix — the server expects the raw API key string as the Authorization value.
  4. Save the connection. If you receive a 401 error, verify you pasted the full key correctly and that the key is active in your BALLDONTLIE account. If you need advanced endpoints, confirm your account tier (Free / ALL-STAR / GOAT) and upgrade in your BALLDONTLIE account if required.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES (fill under ENV in FastMCP connection interface)

  1. In the FastMCP connection interface → ENV (environment variables), set any variables you need. All of the following are optional unless you are running locally or enabling tracing/profiling:
    1. PORT — default: 3000
      • Purpose: Port used when running the server locally.
      • Example value: 3000
    2. BACKEND_API_URL — default: https://api.balldontlie.io
      • Purpose: Base URL for the BALLDONTLIE backend. Change only if you’re proxying or using a different backend.
      • Example value (hosted): https://api.balldontlie.io
      • Example value (local proxy): http://localhost:8080
    3. API_TIMEOUT — default: 30000
      • Purpose: Request timeout in milliseconds. Must be an integer.
      • Example value: 30000
    4. LOG_LEVEL — default: info
      • Purpose: Logging verbosity. Acceptable values: error, warn, info, debug.
      • Example value: info
    5. NODE_ENV — default: development
      • Purpose: Node environment. Acceptable values: development, production, test.
      • Example value: production
    6. ENABLE_DEBUG — default: false
      • Purpose: Enable debug logging. Acceptable values: true, false.
      • Example value: false
    7. ENABLE_TRACING — default: false
      • Purpose: Enable DataDog APM tracing. Acceptable values: true, false. If true, set DD_AGENT_HOST.
      • Example value: false
    8. DD_AGENT_HOST — default: (none)
      • Purpose: Hostname of the DataDog agent (required only if ENABLE_TRACING=true).
      • Example value: dd-agent.local
    9. DD_PROFILING_ENABLED — default: false
      • Purpose: Enable DataDog profiling. Acceptable values: true, false.
      • Example value: false
    10. SERVICE_VERSION — default: 1.0.0
      • Purpose: Service version label for tracing/profiling.
      • Example value: 1.0.0
  2. For each ENV you add, enter the name exactly and the value as shown (no surrounding quotes unless the FastMCP interface requires them).
  3. Save the ENV configuration in FastMCP and restart the connection if prompted.

NOTES & TROUBLESHOOTING

  1. The API key is the only secret required by the MCP server — it goes in the Authorization header, not as an ENV.
  2. If you plan to run the MCP server locally instead of using the hosted URL, set PORT and BACKEND_API_URL appropriately and ensure your MCP client URL points to your local server (e.g., http://localhost:3000/mcp).
  3. If you enable tracing/profiling, set ENABLE_TRACING=true and provide DD_AGENT_HOST; enable DD_PROFILING_ENABLED if needed.
  4. If you see 403 errors or missing data for advanced endpoints, check your BALLDONTLIE tier (Free vs ALL-STAR vs GOAT) and upgrade in your BALLDONTLIE account if necessary.

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