Baseball is still America’s hobby. Yes, the NFL and the NBA may be more popular sports. Football is becoming more and more popular every year in America. However, baseball is still the godfather of American sport.
Full disclosure, there is a bias that can come into play when I speak of my love for baseball. When I was little, it was the first sport I fell in love with. As a kid born in the mid-80s in Seattle, Washington, watching Ken Griffey Jr. from his rookie season had an impact on me and many others of my generation.
Yes, Michael Jordan was good for some, but no one could beat Ken Griffey Jr. in the cool department. It’s just the facts.
Of course, baseball goes beyond my limited in-person interaction with the game over the past 35 years. You could go all the way back to 1869 to find the first professional baseball team with the Cincinnati Red Stockings, but that might be a bit too far in the baseball history books.
The era of deadball preceded the 1920s, and baseball really took off after that, with the Roaring Twenties paving the way for success in America despite a few ups and downs along the way.
Anyone reading this should know Jackie Robinson’s story already, but otherwise, he was the first person of color to be on a Major League Baseball team. It was a huge turning point in the sport and one that has continued to progress in the sport.
Fast forward to modern baseball and you will see clubs filled with players representing many different countries. Latin countries have been the most abundant pipeline of foreign-born players for MLB, but players from Japan and Korea have been successful at this point as well.
Many countries will be represented in this year’s All-Star Game, highlighted by Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani. Of course, Kansas City Royals fans will be more interested in their own local player, Salvador Perez, who will be the starting receiver for the American League team.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore fostered a culture of inclusion and really tapped into the Latin market. It’s a part of the American dream that comes true through baseball, and we’ve seen it time and time again thanks to organizing the Royals.
Just as Royals baseball and Kansas City summers go hand in hand, baseball and America go hand in hand. The display of the American flag, the pre-game festivities, the post-game fireworks. It’s a sweet mix of sport and patriotism.
While there are many sports to watch and invest your time in, baseball will remain the sport with the most roots in American tradition. Watching a hot dog eating contest can be entertaining for some (or sickening for others), but watching a baseball game or playing ball in the backyard at a barbecue on July 4th can be a fun tradition. passed down from generation to generation. to generation. Enjoy moments together and lasting memories to create.
