The mid-19th century witnessed the rapid growth of cities, scientific advancements, and industrialization in the United States. These factors fueled the modernization of sports.
Even before the 1840s and 1850s, young men and boys had a tradition of playing bat-and-ball games.
Over time, this evolved into the American sport known as baseball, which would become the most significant sporting activity in the country during the latter half of the 19th century.
In 1845, Alexander Cartwright, a bank clerk, penned the rules of the game.
The New York Knickerbockers, with Cartwright as their secretary, spread these rules across the nation in the following years.
As New York emerged as the largest and most influential city in the United States, these rules were universally accepted, earning Cartwright the title of "Father of American Baseball."
During the 1850s and early 1860s, baseball flourished in New York, and its rules gained popularity among players. Increasing numbers of baseball clubs, composed of individuals from various professions, formed in the city and its suburbs.
This growth captured public attention and drew larger audiences to the sport.
Prominent author Thomas W. Higginson extolled the virtues of baseball as an outdoor competitive sport that strengthened the body. He described players as exhibiting "manly, handsome, eager faces."
Higginson and other advocates strongly encouraged those who spent excessive time exercising their brains to engage in outdoor activities and play baseball on the field.
Historian Ronald Story explored the appeal of baseball in early America and found that it served as a cathartic outlet for energetic young males. Baseball's reputation surpassed other sports, granting players a certain social status and garnering significant respect.
Baseball embodies a distinct culture, emphasizing direct confrontation with opponents to secure victory. Regardless of the score, players must face batters courageously to win, unlike sports such as soccer or basketball, where teams can consume time to protect a lead.
Baseball also highlights the relationship between the individual and the collective. Even as a skilled pitcher, success depends on teammates catching and passing the ball to complete outs.
Batters, regardless of their strength, must adhere to the hitting order, taking turns to bat. They cannot simply rely on the best player to deliver a single hit in critical moments, as seen in football or basketball.
Tactically, baseball embraces the spirit of sacrifice. The strategies aimed at benefiting the team by sacrificing personal statistics.
The game's culture discourages exploiting an advantage over weaker opponents. For instance, when a team holds a substantial lead, it is considered inappropriate to use tactics such as stealing bases or running up the score.
Compared to basketball or soccer, baseball fosters a relaxing familial atmosphere akin to a picnic, involving not only fathers and sons but also mothers and daughters.
Baseball represents a generational legacy, with grandparents sharing baseball stories with their grandchildren, fathers passing down tales to their sons, and children eventually relaying their own experiences to future generations.
This legacy endures not only because baseball is a national pastime but also due to its precise and meaningful statistics, allowing for comparisons between players from different eras.
Introducing children to baseball at an early age imparts the idea that they can naturally and harmoniously interact with their environment and society. It teaches them valuable lessons about independent living, facing challenges, and overcoming obstacles.
