As we wrap up our celebration of Independence Day, filled with
parades, fireworks, hot dogs and apple pie, it got me wondering: Is
there anything more American than baseball?
As we wrap up our celebration of Independence Day, filled with parades, fireworks, hot dogs and apple pie, it got me wondering: Is there anything more American than baseball?
Baseball, long referred to as America’s pastime, truly has it all.
It was a sport invented in America, perfected by Americans and in time was passed on to nations all over the world and turned into a multicultural game.
So multicultural that in this spring’s inaugural World Baseball Classic, the United States failed to advance even as far as the semifinals and two of America’s rival nations, Japan and Cuba, battled in San Diego for the championship.
Of the four major professional sports, baseball is the only one in season on the Fourth of July and it seems to fit right in.
Hot dogs and barbecues go hand in hand the Fourth of July and the same can be said for baseball.
Take a walk through a parking lot at a ball game and the aroma of tailgate parties fill the air. Ditto for a walk through a park on the Fourth of July.
Baseball has proven that it knows its place in American culture.
Throughout the past few days, during the seventh inning stretch at parks across the country, fans have stood and sung along during the playing of “God Bless America.”
Taking a look back, baseball proved its patriotism after the tragedy of Sept. 11 when the sport immediately halted games for a week.
There was never a question of if play should be stopped, despite the fact that many teams were in the middle of a pennant race and it would result in the season and the playoffs having to be pushed back.
Baseball knew its place and knew what was more important. And, when play resumed, it again knew its place as a true part of American culture as it provided some relief to help repair a stricken nation.
Barry Bonds continued on his record home run pace and finished the season with 73 home runs.
Even if a cloud now hangs over that record, it provided some exciting moments for fans all over as they got to forget, if only for a short moment, of the tragedy that had occurred just a few weeks prior.
The city of New York also was truly inspired by the play of the Yankees.
With much of the city still in shambles and months of work to repair it still ahead, the Yankees advanced to the World Series.
The team that many in this country love to hate because of their record-setting payroll and numerous world championships, was all of a sudden embraced by everyone.
The Arizona Diamondbacks upset the Yankees in the Series, but for that month of October, New Yorkers were able to finally cheer for something.
Other sports have grown in popularity. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport and we’re seeing evidence of that during the World Cup.
The National Football League gets more profitable year by year and basketball has become an enormous sport internationally.
But baseball, where you eat hot dogs and enjoy a leisurely day in the sun, is truly representative of everything that makes America so great.
