What makes Baseball such a spiritually magical game?

Question

Ironically enough, and as far as the "fast-paced-ness" of the game goes, I've always been more of a football than a baseball fan myself. Still, there is something profoundly spiritual / uniquely magical about baseball that one cannot quite encounter in any other (American) sportive activity. Why do you think that maybe the case? Is that because we all grew up with baseball? If so, the same argument can also be made for football and basketball, and yet they are not quite as spiritually charged as baseball. What is it about baseball that gives it its supernaturally charismatic charm?

Not considering the usual show of CUTENESS, I thank (most of) you for such wonderful answers. I'm gonna have a really though time picking a BA, again.

Typo Alert: "tough"

Answer 1

Theres nothing like playing catch with your Dad,or going to a game when the birds are singing, the suns shining,springtime is in the air its all anew just like every season for every team. They all think this is going to be their year and you know what it just might be thats the wonderment of the greatest game ever invented.I personally Love the game,it is the corner stone of everything I do.I make my living in the game(College Umpire),I learned all of lifes lessons from the game(to many to list).I am passing the passion of the game on to my son,in the way it was passed to me.Baseball is the cornerstone of this great country.So I guess I'll see you at the Ballpark,I know I'll be there, I hope you are too.

Answer 2

Perhaps it's because of that very "slow-paced-ness." You know, warm summer day, school's out, or day off from work, spend some quality time with the kids or with dad, hot dogs, mustard or no, gotta go to the bathroom NOW, etc., etc. I never even liked baseball all that much but I still remember those few times my father took my brother and myself to an actual real life game. There really was something mythical about it. When it comes right down to it, I think it is spiritual because it still respects both Time and Space. Lots of open, empty space to fill with dreams. And lots of time when nothing much is happening on the field and you get a chance to "read between the lines" of life or actually have a short conversation with someone beside you. How many other American pastimes still give you the opportunity to do those things?

JMHO

Addendum: Oh, and I suggest you just ignore those opinions here that are sorta out in left field.

-m

Answer 3

Several things:

1. The anticipation, there is about 15-45 seconds of waiting for an event that last between .5 (a fastball that gets by the batter) and 15 seconds (a slow triple). It allows you to predict and run scenarios through your head before every pitch and the suspense has you going crazy every second of a close game.

2. The duel. There is no duel greater than between a batter and a pitcher. They are set as the only two players on camera before the pitch and it acts as a microcosm of the game itself where one can feel the tension running through their minds.

3. Its four-dimensional. I know what your thinking, width, height and length but what about time. In baseball, anything a player does is instantly compared to everything that player and all other players before him had done. Baseball has a respect for its game more that any other sport in the world, for example, the word "Cooperstown" has become synonymous with baseball.

4. Baseball is the American pastime and anyone who enjoys it knows why its called that. Baseball was playing the national anthem at world series games before it even was declared the national anthem. It has kept spirits high through war, depression and chaos and baseball fans understand its importance.

Answer 4

OH MAN, I'd love to express my opinion on this... I love how you laid out the question, makes this whole yahoo answers a lot more fun, it shows ur really interested, and not some stupid ditsy girl asking for pure entertainment...so is what i think is, ur right on saying we grow up playing it, but why its different from football is that youth football u get sorted by age and weight so that the size of teams is equal, basketball usually if ur good u find a team full of good players, and they stick together and get better so by the time there older there great as a team, now BASEBALL you start off in TBALL everyone sucks, go to 89ers everyone still sucks but some people appear better then others, then you get to minors where atleast in my little league we had tryouts and coaches drafted everyone, so the guys u grew up playing with were on another team, every team had its stars, the coaches son, and the other guys.... but the coolest thing about baseball is if ur a pitcher, u cant help but smile when ur friend comes up to hit against u, u build a good friendship with ur teamates, and u do lots of things together like go to pro games, or pizza hut after you win.... then after a couple years, u'll move up a league and get drafted all over again and probably be on diffrent teams.... baseball is probably the second easiest sport to pick up on a random day, basketball beig the first, but u can play catch, go to the cages, play a sandlot game, play pickle all that..... theres so m any pro teams, that wherever u live ur close enough to have a home team, yet for any known reason u wont get torn down for rooting for another team... think of how many people around you are die hard fans of a team that are across the nation.... i live in seattle and love the red sox, and nationals, but worship the cubs....the worse thing about baseball being so great though is people find it so hard to give up a dream of playing pro, because so many athletes say u can do it if u work hard enough, but it also brings one of the best things about baseball.... say u give up after high school, and become a big fan, u can start playing beer league softball with friends, and after awhile u can join the 30 or 40 and over baseball leagues, and it really brings back the child in u... i have to give most of the credit to baseball being so popular is because of the movie sandlot, almost every kid in the world born in the 80's has seen it same with angels in the outfield, but for football there was RUDY too old for most of us, and the little giants, and hockey there was the mighty ducks.... but the sandlot really hit the spot of how fun baseball can be even if ur not good at it... so all that said, its really hard to grasp why baseball effects the world, especially when ya its so hard to watch cause its so slow paced, but the most comprehensible reason is almost every kid dreams of being a pro baseball player and so they pick idols in the MLB and so they love to watch them...plus its always fun to watch ur hometown team!!! lata!!!

Answer 5

With only 16 regular season games in the NFL, football is more of an extravaganza or a spectacle. The fans are more rabid (in general) and there is a lot of build up to the game on Sunday.

With 162 games, baseball is more of a social experience. You have more time to chat with other fans, bond with each other, talk about strategy, etc. The pace and atmosphere is conducive to conversation and a shared experience, so much more than football.

So there you have it: experience v. spectacle.

Answer 6

My friends and I would get together just about every summer day for a ballgame when we were in grade school. It took a little time learning to hit but, you couldn't descibe the feeling you got when you really "tied into one", I played the outfield and when I'd go for a popup, I was amazed to see that the ball was in my glove. When you go see your first pro game, you're in awe at the size of the field, how many people are working to get it ready, and the crowd. When the players take the field, and make it look so easy, thats where the spiritual aspect comes into view, you see the God given talent, and you're hooked.

Answer 7

Let me help you pick the best answer. Miamiman nailed it. A team can be down to its last out, its last strike and still be able to come back and win it. And it's the hope for that prospect that creates the excitement and tension in every pitch. Yes, all sports can have a pitched battle, but in baseball "it ain't over till it's over" to quote Yogi Berra. And what other sport gave us Yogi.
Take a look at some of my favorite "walk offs"

Answer 8

When I was 6 years my grandpa took me to my first San Francisco Giants Baseball game. I was so into the game..

When I was ready for baseball my dad signed me up. I played with the boys because we had no girl league. So for many years I played with the boys and I was good....You can ask RAY~

But when I was older and boys played Babe Ruth girls were not allowed to play that was per Mr. Z ......So I watched and practiced and that was it...

When I went to high school and in the big city~ That was fun I was able to sprout wings and love my sport....I played with the best of them.....

But along the way I had to stop.....(reason to sensitive to talk about) But I met the most amazing person in this time of my life who just happened to be one of the red birds...

He made me laugh when I needed it and so the story goes he moved on to fame a fortune and I went into teaching....

But the love of the game and being apart of it as long as I have has been a drive to have fun and an adventure for me...

Answer 9

You are right . Baseball is by nature a wonderful,amazing,exciting ,fun filled,spiritually magical game.
Also
Ties are relatively rare in baseball
Statistics ,both individual and team, are very important in baseball,probably more than in
any other sport,

Answer 10

its the anticipation of the game, sitting in the stands on a summer day with a hot dog and beer, and watching a late inning rally. there is no such thing as a bad day at the ballpark