The Symbolism Of Baseball In The 1920's

Like the bald eagle, baseball has become an icon for the term “American”. It was the nation’s first major sport and quickly was coined America’s pastime. It was created from a combination of other games during the 1840’s and became increasingly popular during the years of the Civil War (Brinkley 392). In their

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.

The start of the game of baseball is unknown, but some people believe they know when it started. The game of baseball believes to start in England. The start of baseball was around 1760, the game was called Rounder. Rounder had the same rules as baseball today, but it had its difference. The biggest difference was that a fielder had to throw the ball at the runner to get them out. The game changed in 1845. A group of people got together to talk about the game. They wanted to make the game safer. They changed the rules of the fielder. He would not throw at the baserunner anymore; they must tag the baserunner with the ball. The equipment changed as well when they made the rule change. They started to use a harder ball.

The sport of baseball has been a staple in American culture since the 1800s and has been deemed America’s past time for many years. The addition of African Americans into Major League Baseball has made it a richer game. The United States of America is known as a huge melting pot as many immigrants and refugees would come to America as a new home and beginning. Baseball was a game that brought happiness to all Americans, despite their color, ethnicity or background. Major League Baseball began in about 1867 and prior to the 19th century, we all know that the United States of America was built on slavery. Even after the slaves were emancipated racial tensions still ran high. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery

Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York (30). Along with establishing the first baseball club, he added a set of written

The article “America’s Pastime” by Robert S. Fay and Tom Pfannoch, teaches readers about the history of baseball. The first unofficial baseball games were played in the early 1800’s, these games otherwise known as “town ball”. One of the earliest organizations to influence modernized baseball was the knickerbockers, the knickerbockers put together a set of rules and gave the game structure which helped standardize how the game is played today. Soon after, the game spread throughout the country and gained popularity among players and spectators as well, which led to the professional sport of baseball. Following the professionalization of the sport many leagues were formed, the present day MLB (Major League Baseball) has been considered America’s

During the 1930s and 1940s, sports were changed forever with the development of new equipment, diversity, and great athletes. Many teams, all along the country, changed with new and exciting players, who without sports would have not ever been known, like Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth who once said “ The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they do not play together, the club will not be worth a dime. Baseball was, is and always to me the best game in the world. If it wasn’t for baseball I’d be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery”

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.

The earliest known reference to baseball as we know it in America was in 1791 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. There was an ordinance banning the play of the sport within 80yds a town meeting center. No one is exactly sure of the origins of baseball but many believe it to be a variation of the English game of “rounders”. The very first team to play the sport of baseball

The first game that is recorded in the hall of fame is in September of 1845 were the rules were first used in a game with the knickerbockers, led by a bank clerk named Alexander Cartwright. The first game was played in June against a team in Hoboken, New Jersey. But there is still some controversy between the two cities as who is the birthplace of baseball. But a lot of people still don’t understand the origin of the game before the Cartwright rules in 1845, as referred to by he baseball hall of fame.

For over one hundred years, Americans young and old have enjoyed the sport of baseball. Some are actively and some leisurely. No matter which role the person has, he or she enjoys America’s favorite pastime, baseball, but is it originally an American sport? Over the many years that the sport has existed, there has been a variety of theories. The origin of baseball is unclear because some believe it began in England, others claim Abner Doubleday originated the sport, and a third faction claims it evolved in New York.

The Negro Leagues, baseball leagues for merely black players, allowed urban communities to “pass down the tradition of ‘their’ game 25.” As the Negro leagues ended, baseball’s popularity diminished because it no longer acted as a unique and individualized aspect of African-American culture. The Negro Leagues and the black baseball movement inspired hope as a part of the larger civil rights movement of the 20th century and the black community utilized baseball “as a means of collective identity and civic pride 26.” African- American’s racial advances in baseball signaled the long term success of the larger civil rights movement of the 20th century. As a result, baseball became essential in identifying the progress and identity of African-American culture. Baseball lost its social prevalence after the African-American civil rights movement due to the emergence of other

Baseball is easily described as America’s pastime. Personally, baseball is my favorite sport to play and attend. It is pure irony that the earliest known mention of baseball in the United States occurred in my home state of Massachusetts in Pittsfield in 1792. It was recorded because a law was made banning the playing of a baseball game within eighty yards of the town meeting house. It is important to note that the first mention of baseball in history was in reference to a political matter. The game was played under modern day rules by upper middle class white men in the 1840’s by the New York Knickerbockers. In 1857, baseball officially was in full swing with sixteen New York ball clubs joining the first ever chapter of the National Association of Baseball. (Baseball Reference).

Baseball was called the “the national pastime” for the first time in December of 1856, years before the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, even came into existence in the year 1869. Baseball continued to develop and gain popularity throughout the end of the 19th century. Baseball spread after the Civil War by prisoners of war and soldiers where it was encouraged by officers as a way to pass the time and it allowed soldiers to take their minds off the situation at hand. The soldiers went home and brought their new knowledge with them, spreading the newly popular game to their children. Thus, baseball found its roots and started to grow into its title of “national pastime”.

The photo displayed above provides some of the people who introduced baseball in America. These are individuals in the American history that have a substantial significance to lives of Americans today; they introduced baseball that some American depend on as a career to earn money to cater for their daily necessities (Panacy, 2017). Development of baseball by G. Wright, Alison, C, Leonard L.F, among others promoted entertainment in every part of the continent. Baseball development identified America has a continent with innovative change through various aspects of social life such as entertainment. In this manner, America shows advancement in some areas of life than other countries. America is identified by its nurturing value represented by the invention of the baseball, which has gone through