America's Favorite Pastime

I've been thinking about baseball. I recently watched an episode of The X Files (all nine seasons are on Hulu, if you're interested.) which posited that all the really good players, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, were aliens.

But that's The X Files.

I have fond memories of the game. I remember watching the Yankees in the 70's, and would fall asleep to the sound of the crowd and generally wake up in the seventh inning. Back then, too, I knew the players. Not so much today.

Searching for the origins of baseball, I thought I'd confirm the Abner Doubleday story. But not so. According to History.com, the game developed from cricket and rounders, two English games.

• In September 1845, a group of New York City men founded the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club. One of them—volunteer firefighter and bank clerk Alexander Joy Cartwright—would codify a new set of rules that would form the basis for modern baseball, calling for a diamond-shaped infield, foul lines and the three-strike rule. He also abolished the dangerous practice of tagging runners by throwing balls at them.

The first baseball game was played the following year. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Why do I like baseball? I find baseball very relaxing. Some sports keep me totally on edge, like hockey, during which I can NEVER follow the puck. Others are exciting in fits and spurts like football. With basketball, there can be a lot of running back and forth. Not a good idea to sit mid court. Oy, my neck! But baseball is comforting, soothing. I know the game and can follow it. My brother played for years in Little League and high school. I went to every game.

My family watched Yankee baseball games together. My mother loved the game as much as my father did. During the World Series, she'd keep score, noting hits, runs and so forth. The Yanks have won 27 times since 1923. (Last time in 2009) They have also been in more series (40) than any other team, defeating the NL team 4-0 eight times! For stats on other teams, click here.

Baseball has been called "America's Favorite Pastime." But apparently, recent polls have sports fans favoring football. Here's a link to a fun article stating 20 reasons why baseball has it over football.

Let me point out also that there are a lot fewer concussions in baseball. For comprehensive stats on concussions, click on the link. In fact, baseball has the lowest rate of head injuries in boys sports. Because, how many players actually get beaned? So while football will have to change or go the way of the dodo, baseball is in no such danger.

We not only like to watch the game, we like movies ABOUT baseball. A Google search revealed 50 movies about baseball, not including documentaries such as the one produced by Thomas Edison in 1898. No kidding! The first feature-length film was Elmer the Great (1933), a comedy starring Joe E. Brown. But the more popular Pride of the Yankees (1942), the story of Lou Gehrig, ranked No. 3 on the IMDb list of 100 baseball flicks. My favorites are The Rooky (2002), starring Dennis Quaid and Mr. Baseball (1992) starring Tom Selleck.

• Incidentally, there are only 53 movies about football.

Baseball Statistics are mind boggling for the variety and quantity of acronyms. But true lovers of the game memorize their favorite players stats. It's an art.

Most kids like to play baseball. By the time my son was playing, girls were on the teams. Whether they stick with it is another matter, but the draw of standing at the plate with a big stick in your hand, just waiting for the pitch, so you can whack that ball as hard as you can . . . well, who wouldn't want to? It's a good place to start learning about team sports and developing skills such as eye hand coordination. And the littlest guys can play. And what's cuter than little guys in baseball gear?

And while some sports are similar to others. Tennis and badminton. Football and rugby. Look at Lacrosse. It's a cross (no pun intended) between hockey and soccer. But baseball, America's pastime, it's unique. Different enough from cricket to be in a league of its own. Pun totally intended.

There's a mystique to baseball . . . not just because it's been around so long (>170 years), but because of the rivalries, the characters. The sounds . . . the crack of the bat when it hits the ball; the woomph of the ball as it impacts the catcher's mitt. The music. Peanuts. Crackerjacks. The hot dogs!

I see baseball as a metaphor for life. It teaches patience . . . something we could all use a lot more of. Waiting for the right pitch. Waiting on deck for your turn at bat. Waiting in the outfield for a ball to come your way. And cooperation. What is more beautiful in the game than a perfect double play? It takes more finesse than brute strength to play, as well as a keen eye and sound judgment. In many ways you play against yourself, improving your stats, refining your skills at a certain position. But you're also part of a team. In life, as in the game, you're part of a family, doing your best, shining at your particular talent (infield or outfield, pitcher or hitter), part of a larger whole, striving for excellence and success. Doing your best for the team.

Baseball. It's a beautiful game.