Unit 11: Sports in America

Baseball

A Baseball Player

Baseball may still be the great American game, even though many other countries are deeply involved with the game. It is very popular, for instance, in Japan, in Cuba, and in the Dominican Republic. In America, many children (not only boys these days) still play informal, "sandlot" baseball in their neighborhoods. Small towns and cities still maintain organized Little League or (for older children) Babe Ruth baseball teams. In many cities, young adults organize into informal "softball" leagues, and universities still maintain varsity baseball teams. Finally, professional baseball is still "big business".

The Anaheim Stadium

Earlier, before television and air travel, professional baseball was confined to a few cities mostly, but not exclusively, on the East coast . Baseball parks were located near the urban centers and were small compared to football fields. Even today, the largest baseball stadium is the home field of the California Angels, Anaheim Stadium, which holds almost 65 000 spectators, while older Fenway Park, the

Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox Logo

home of the Boston Red Sox, holds only 34 000 fans. The activity involved in baseball is not as intense as that in other sports, hence games can be played one day after another, and even two games on one day—a doubleheader. Baseball used to be played only in the daytime, but after World War II, parks began to install massive lighting systems, and night baseball increased in popularity.

The less intense activity on the playing field also means that spectators can watch the game in a more relaxed and lazy way, an ideal way to fritter away a hot summer afternoon. Beer and soft drinks are available in addition to such snacks as peanuts, popcorn and Cracker jacks (popped corn covered with a crisp coating of dried molasses). Fans will undoubtedly eat at least one of the American sausages called a Frankfurter (Hot Dog, Frank, Red Hot), with pickles, onions, relish and slathered with mustard or ketchup.

Early Baseball Cards

Before World War II, there were two major leagues, or groupings, of baseball teams, The older National League and the American League. A third professional grouping, located in the South and attended almost entirely by African Americans, was the Negro League, a reflection of the segregation policies prevalent then even in Northern cities. Players usually were identified over long periods of time with one team. As a result there was much fan loyalty not only to the team but also to individual players. Fans could quote the performance records of their favorite players, readjusting the figures every day after reviewing the newspaper accounts of the previous day's game. Children (at this time, boys) would collect Baseball Cards, 2 x 3 inch cards having a posed picture of a player on one side, and information about him on the other. These cards were only available in packages of chewing gum marketed particularly for children. (Later these cards were sold separately from the chewing gum. Early cards are collectors items, and command high prices in the souvenir business.

This was the period of hero worship, the era of the Lone Eagle, Lindbergh）, who conquered the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps, as industrialization spread through America, people felt they were losing control of their lives, that they were becoming buried and lost in a mass, faceless society. To return to some mythical past, where woodsmen and cowboys supposedly conquered nature and wild savages through personal effort and courage, was one way to preserve the notion of individual triumph. And in the present, sports heroes could also serve to remind Americans that talented individuals can succeed through hard work.

Reagan as Sports Announcer

The radio announcers broadcasting descriptions of the games, and newspaper columnists (who frequently were masters of the short colloquial essay or story) writing about the games, exaggerated the exploits on the field and idealized the personal lives of players, thus actually creating many of the colorful heroes of this time. Sportswriter Westbrook Pegler became later in life a conservative political columnist, and sports radio announcer Ronald Reagan also became involved in politics later in his life.

 

Jackie Robinson

Dodger Logo

After World War II, great changes in the game took place. First, there was the demolition of the color barrier, starting slowly with the hiring of the superb athlete, African-American Jackie Robinson, by Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey. At first Robinson was booed whenever he appeared on the field. But several of his respected teammates showed their solidarity with him. Then a few other teams hired African-Americans who had demonstrated their abilities with the Negro Baseball League. Still there were problems with segregated transportation facilities and with segregated dining and housing regulations in some cities. Gradually all teams have become integrated. The courage and determination of Jackie Robinson (and Branch Rickey) will never be forgotten.

Improved transportation led to the wider distribution of teams; cities that formerly had two teams lost one to cities that had no local baseball team. Television too brought in increasing revenues, and players began to negotiate for higher salaries. Players themselves began to be traded to other teams almost as easily as children traded the players' cards. Even then there were not enough baseball teams to locate in every city that wanted one, so a modest number of new teams were created. This necessitated a longer playing season, which in turn led to the desirability of covered stadiums, especially in the far northern part of the country.

The baseball season now begins with Spring Training in February at places such as Florida and Arizona, where the weather is mild at that time of year. The regular season begins at the beginning of April, and ends in October. The World Series between the leading teams in their respective leagues takes place in the latter part of October, when it is frequently uncomfortably cold for the players. This best four out of seven games determines the annual World Series Champions, and marks the end of the baseball season. The World Series is an occasion for neighbors and co-workers to engage in some minor wagering on the outcome of the games. Betting on baseball games has always been present, even leading once to a scandal of players affecting the outcome of a game on direction by big money gamblers (The Black Sox' scandal of 1919). Yet until recently the amount of money wagered had been relatively small. Now, gambling on sporting events such as baseball (and football and basketball, too) represents a sizable amount of money, as more and more Americans wager larger and larger amounts on these events.

Major league baseball stadiums have gotten larger and larger in recent times. The price of tickets has also risen considerably. Thus, more and more Americans are turning to minor league baseball played in some of the smaller cities around America. The minor league teams are supported by the major league owners as a place where new players can gain experience and improve their skills. Frequently a young player is called up to play in the major league, and sometimes a player in the majors who is not performing well may be sent down to the minors.

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