History Of MLB: Our Nation's Pastime

The MLB didn’t start until 1876 with the National league and then they brought in the American league in 1901. The first World Series was held in 1903 with the Boston Americans beating the Pittsburg pirates 5-3. Baseball hasn’t always been glorified as it was though. It experienced rough times in the 1940’s when African Americans weren’t allowed to play in the major league but thanks to Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby, they eliminated the racial discrimination in baseball and outside the baseball world. Baseball has also experienced rough times during the WWII and Vietnam era. During the time of war, players would go and serve in the military and baseball would have to replace them with less talented players. But Upon return, baseball returned to its once prestige self.

Searles (2)30 year-old minor leaguer was called up from the minor leagues to begin the season and lead the league with a 2.28 earned run average to go along with a 19-7 record and 13 saves. This staff also lead the league in earned run average by nearly a full run and had the top three slots in ERA. Four out of the eight American League players who batted in at least 100 runs were from the Yankees. The team averaged six and a half runs per game and outscored their opponents by nearly 400 runs. (Frommer, 20) The Yankees lead the American League in all offensive categories except stolen bases and doubles. (Marshall, 9) The New York Yankees of 1927 were more than just a team. They were an organized collection of men working for their money.

Everyone has heard of the American sport, baseball. We have heard of all its ups and how it has always been played no matter what, but we never hear about what baseball had to do to overcome conflicts over the years. There was many things that occurred to almost end baseball back in the day and even baseball in the present. Over the first few decades of the beginning of baseball there were many things that threatened the game. Three things that really threaten the game of baseball were World War one and what the players went through, the Reserve Clause, and the Big Fix. Each event created many issues throughout the history, making a bigger impacts that needed to be fixed ocnce again.

When asked who broke the “color line” in baseball, most people would think of Jackie Robinson. An advocate for civil rights as well as an outstanding baseball player, he became a significant figure in American history, and is widely recognized as the first black baseball player in the Major Leagues. However, a lesser known player named Moses Fleetwood Walker was a player in the Major Leagues six decades before Robinson. Although faced with similar trials in each of their integration into the white-dominated sport, their attitudes were far from similar. Walker wasn’t quite as likable as Robinson and was not as exceptional in his playing. Walker’s actions after baseball, including the murder of a man and his support of the “Back to Africa” movement,

Many people disagreed with the Dodgers decision to sign Robinson; not because he wasn't good enough, but because he was African American. During Jackie’s time, all black ball players had to play in a league called the Negro League which was established in 1880. Robinson had a great career with the Dodgers, winning Rookie of the Year in 1947 and winning the World Series in 1955. Robinsons number(42) is officially retired by all 32 baseball clubs in Major League Baseball. He was elected to baseball’s prestigious Hall Of Fame in 1962 and is one of the most universally known players in all of the baseball's history.

At the time, I was not impressed with the “American” sport, but now that I have read Stephen Jay Gould’s essay, “The Creation Myths of Cooperstown,” I will have something to say when the subject arises. Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t like America’s baseball then

Hank Greenberg was the most courageous player coming out of the league and enlisted into the army. This essay is also about how Greenberg and WWII affected the game of baseball. Baseball as a league didn't just have struggles, more than 500 major league players swapped flannels for khakis during World War II players also had to leave the sport they loved. This caused all talent to drained from the league during the war, this dropped the entertainment in the league. Minor leagues were also dropped, 12 leagues only stood this limited young and new talent coming into the league. Hank Greenberg was the most courageous player who came out of the league for the army, he was the first jewish baseball player to enlist to fight during WWII.This essay will explain the struggles of baseball during the war. How the game bounced back from WWII is also explain. Also, the essay will explain how WWII began and what took place.This next paragraph talks about Hank Greenberg and his impact on the game.

When the topic of baseball comes up in a conversation, what do you think of? The field, a bat, the ball, or amazing plays, crucial games, and game winning performances. What about American history? Does World War II come to mind; most likely not. According to an article called “Food for Thought: Baseball and American History,” John P. Rossi quotes Jacques Barzun saying, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” Negro League Baseball can be used to shed light on the historical experience of African American’s in the United States.

Baseball back then and baseball now have some similarities. For example, since baseball was invented there has always been errors in the sport. There have always been errors because we always say that best team wins or the team that makes the fewest mistakes always wins, but that’s not always true. Another similarity is that baseball is a true reflection of life. Back then and now it was/is a true reflection of life because you always get what you deserve and deserve what you get. It also is a game of many emotions that are in life such as; elation, satisfaction, frustration, and pride. By comparison, the game has always been a cruel but at the same time extremely forgiving because, for example, one game you can go 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts and the next game you can go 3 for 3 with 3 doubles and a couple of RBIs. In the game of baseball, you never know what is going to happen, good or bad. Baseball back then has many differences from baseball today. In contrast, many players playing baseball back then played for the love of the game whereas many players today play for the money. For example, Pete Rose played for his passion of the game whereas Melky Cabrera, current White Sox outfielder, plays for the money and doesn’t play for his passion of the game. This difference leads to another difference. Baseball back then wasn’t a business as opposed to baseball today is a business. Players back then didn’t care about money, they just played because they loved the game but on the other hand baseball today is a business because players want those big contracts and care about the big bucks. Another difference is that players back then played with their bare hands and weren’t softies where as players now play with gloves and all that armor so they don’t get hurt. In

Unfortunately, United States history has an inhumane past with regards to African Americans. African Americans have been subject to segregation, prejudice, discrimination, and other unfair practices imposed up until the latter half of the nineteenth century. These same factors even permeate into American baseball where African American baseball players were segregated and treated unfairly despite many of them being more talented than their white counterparts. However, despite decades of injustice toward African American baseball players, the integration of black players into the Major Leagues eventually occurred. By analyzing the effects of World War II for African American baseball players, Branch Rickey’s motives and signing of Jackie

Baseball’s color barrier was broken after fifty years when Jackie Robinson stepped up to the plate in 1945 (Kenny 33). Overcoming many hardships, Robinson changed not only the game of baseball, but also the way African American baseball players were looked at forever. However, his game-changing accomplishments did not come easy. Robinson, his team, and the organization that recruited him faced a long battle of discrimination and hatred from other teams as well as his own team’s fans. Jackie Robinson was athletic and gracious however he accomplished more than just breaking the color barrier for baseball. Jackie Robinson also made a crucial civil rights breakthrough for America that is overshadowed by his athletic ability (Kinsman 1).

Like any other sport, baseball developed over an extended period of time spanning way back to the 1600’s. The first evidence

Baseball is a game of skill that is played with a hard ball and a bat between two teams of nine players each at a time on the playing field at once. Although many different people play Baseball all over the world it is most popular in the United States. It is so popular in fact, it is referred to as the national pastime of the United States because of the tradition and popularity associated with the game. Baseball consists of many complicated rules. It also has a very elaborate history. One can not fully understand the game America has grown to love until learning about not only the rules but also the history.

The sport is such an integral part of our culture today that we Americans sometimes take for granted its significance in our everyday lives. Contemporary baseball is so closely related with American ideals and identity that it often has served as an expression of patriotism. In times of national hardships, baseball has been used to encourage and rally the nation. In speaking of the emergence of America's nationalism in the historic and contemporary playing field, there are several key issues that surface. Of these issues I will specifically address the long residuals of how baseball has helped to establish our (Americans) national spirit and identity. That is the links between our heritage and national institutions and the game of baseball as a cultural and political representative abroad and unifying tradition at home. I will also address ideals and injustices. That is how baseball's acceptability has changed over time, and how this acts as a microcosm for America's changing attitudes about equality and opportunity.

In April of 1947, Jackie reported to the Brooklyn Dodgers. “ while Jackie Robinson play for the Dodgers, the team won six National League pennants, and each time they played the New York Yankees in the World Series”(King,210). “ in 1965, the Dodgers became the major league baseball world champions”(Alder,90). During the year of 1956, Robinson retired, and was label one of the best players in baseball. “ in 1962, he was the first African-American inducted into the baseball Hall of fame”(Alder,190). In the years following his retirement from baseball, Robinson worked as a vice President of Chuck full o’nuts restaurant. He was active in the efforts to get equal rights for African-Americans, and he helped establish the freedom national bank in Harlem, New York City. Jackie Robinson was later stricken with diabetes and heart disease. He died of a heart attack on October 24, 1972. He was just 53 years