Jung On...Baseball

Sports! We love ‘em don’t we? In addition to being huge spectator sports consumers, Americans of every stripe seem to share a mutual love of participation in sports, be it golf, basketball or caber tossing (notably more prevalent among those of us with a Scottish heritage, but still beloved by all). Sports are great because they play to our naturally competitive nature and test and reveal our character. But one sport, both on the spectator and participatory levels, stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that of course, is baseball.

"Strong statement, Jung," you say. "Football is clearly the fans' favorite spectator sport, and basketball is as popular as ever. Baseball is too slow, they strike too much and all in all it’s a thing of the past." All valid arguments, oh readers. But as usual, you’re wrong. Col. Doubleday’s Grand Old Game has a few things still going for it no other sport could ever have.

Baseball is Tradition
Originating as a way to keep Union Army troops from becoming sedentary during their down time, baseball quickly grew into America’s most beloved pastime. Names like Shoeless Joe, the Georgia Peach, Hammerin’ Hank and Charlie Hustle colour the landscape of history. For more than a century, annual rites like Opening Day and the Fall Classic have dotted American calendars like so many Christmases and Easters. And perhaps best of all, each team’s fans have formed local traditions that have been celebrated and passed on through the generations. Of course, tradition has it downside, too. Ask any Boston Red Sox fan about "The Curse of the Bambino."

Baseball is Family
Some of my most treasured memories are baseball related. I remember watching the 1980 World Series with my grandmother as she explained baseball fundamentals to me. The summer after, my father taught me to play catch in our little backyard. My parents and Fr. John, a priest and close friend of the family took me to my first major league game in August of 1982. I spent countless other afternoons and evenings under the lights at County Stadium with my Mom, Dad, Sister, Grandparents, Wife and close friends (and hopefully my own children one day). One of my earliest triumphs? The final game of my first T-Ball season – our only victory that year. These memories are unique to me but they aren’t – millions upon millions of us, and our fathers, and our grandfathers share similar memories.

Baseball is America
As Baseball goes, so America goes. As baseball grew in popularity and prospered at the turn-of-the-Nineteenth Century, so America also ushered in era of prosperity as it took its rightful place atop the world stage. As baseball plunged to depths uncharted, rocked by World Series scandal, so too did America descend into War and era of intense-self scrutiny. Mired in sadness in depression, America turned once again to baseball and Babe Ruth to lead it out of its despair – and it did. As Jackie Robinson took the field in Brooklyn, barriers for black Americans fell all across the land. As baseball became bogged down by corporate dealings and seemed to fall victim to the almighty dollar, so again did America. And then baseball began, in spite of its problems, to transcend – and if history is our teacher, then we know what lies ahead for our country.

Baseball is Fun
Maybe it’s screaming along with the roar of the major league crowd, downing a hot dog as you high five your pal and your Dad because your favorite player just hit his second homer of the afternoon. Maybe it’s making an unlikely catch out of pure luck to get the final out for your team’s third win of the season. Maybe it’s sitting in the stands cheering on your daughter as she leads her little league team to victory. Maybe it’s watching the game in the nursing home with your Grandmother. There’s not much about this game that’s not fun in its purest, most innocent form.
An ad campaign run a few years back had as its tagline "It’s Baseball and you’re an American." No more need be said, I think.

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Jung on : Baseball	July 28, 2001
Part of the "Joy of America" Series It’s important to remember that despite all of her problems and peccadilloes, America is still the finest nation ever imagined, and we citizens are a privileged bunch indeed. To that end, I present a recurring series highlighting all that is right and good in America, to remind us why we live here and why we love it.
Sports! We love ‘em don’t we? In addition to being huge spectator sports consumers, Americans of every stripe seem to share a mutual love of participation in sports, be it golf, basketball or caber tossing (notably more prevalent among those of us with a Scottish heritage, but still beloved by all). Sports are great because they play to our naturally competitive nature and test and reveal our character. But one sport, both on the spectator and participatory levels, stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that of course, is baseball. "Strong statement, Jung," you say. "Football is clearly the fans' favorite spectator sport, and basketball is as popular as ever. Baseball is too slow, they strike too much and all in all it’s a thing of the past." All valid arguments, oh readers. But as usual, you’re wrong. Col. Doubleday’s Grand Old Game has a few things still going for it no other sport could ever have. Baseball is Tradition Originating as a way to keep Union Army troops from becoming sedentary during their down time, baseball quickly grew into America’s most beloved pastime. Names like Shoeless Joe, the Georgia Peach, Hammerin’ Hank and Charlie Hustle colour the landscape of history. For more than a century, annual rites like Opening Day and the Fall Classic have dotted American calendars like so many Christmases and Easters. And perhaps best of all, each team’s fans have formed local traditions that have been celebrated and passed on through the generations. Of course, tradition has it downside, too. Ask any Boston Red Sox fan about "The Curse of the Bambino." Baseball is Family Some of my most treasured memories are baseball related. I remember watching the 1980 World Series with my grandmother as she explained baseball fundamentals to me. The summer after, my father taught me to play catch in our little backyard. My parents and Fr. John, a priest and close friend of the family took me to my first major league game in August of 1982. I spent countless other afternoons and evenings under the lights at County Stadium with my Mom, Dad, Sister, Grandparents, Wife and close friends (and hopefully my own children one day). One of my earliest triumphs? The final game of my first T-Ball season – our only victory that year. These memories are unique to me but they aren’t – millions upon millions of us, and our fathers, and our grandfathers share similar memories. Baseball is America As Baseball goes, so America goes. As baseball grew in popularity and prospered at the turn-of-the-Nineteenth Century, so America also ushered in era of prosperity as it took its rightful place atop the world stage. As baseball plunged to depths uncharted, rocked by World Series scandal, so too did America descend into War and era of intense-self scrutiny. Mired in sadness in depression, America turned once again to baseball and Babe Ruth to lead it out of its despair – and it did. As Jackie Robinson took the field in Brooklyn, barriers for black Americans fell all across the land. As baseball became bogged down by corporate dealings and seemed to fall victim to the almighty dollar, so again did America. And then baseball began, in spite of its problems, to transcend – and if history is our teacher, then we know what lies ahead for our country. Baseball is Fun Maybe it’s screaming along with the roar of the major league crowd, downing a hot dog as you high five your pal and your Dad because your favorite player just hit his second homer of the afternoon. Maybe it’s making an unlikely catch out of pure luck to get the final out for your team’s third win of the season. Maybe it’s sitting in the stands cheering on your daughter as she leads her little league team to victory. Maybe it’s watching the game in the nursing home with your Grandmother. There’s not much about this game that’s not fun in its purest, most innocent form. An ad campaign run a few years back had as its tagline "It’s Baseball and you’re an American." No more need be said, I think.