Why is baseball considered America's pastime?

Question

what prospects are given the issues and problems it now faces?

Answer 1

Its one of the oldest sports played in America, kids have been playing in sandlots, parking lots, fields, streets and where ever no matter if they had money or not all you needed was a stick some rocks for bases and any old ball or sock balled up to play!!
And it has never stopped through the depression or war.

Answer 2

1. Because of its history. Baseball was the first team sport to be widely played in the USA (dating back to before the Civil War), and the first to catch on as a spectator sport. For many years the World Series was THE sporting event of the year in this country.

2. Because the teams play EVERY day (not just once a week as in football) so that following it is truly a "pastime" and not just a weekend thing.

3. Because it is played in the warm weather months when many people are on vacations and otherwise taking time off from work, so they can follow the game more.

4. The pace of the game is such that you can really follow a game on the radio or TV while also doing something else, such as barbecuing or fixing a faucet. Football pretty much demands your whole attention.

5. Because it appeals to the intellect (as opposed to football, which appeals more to the emotions), it tends to attract the devotion of cerebral types who like to write about it and thus elevate the sport's status. There are MANY more good books about baseball than there are about football.

I could do more, but I think those are the main reasons.

Answer 3

Baseball originated here. Abner Doubleday is given credit for creating the sport in the 1800's. Throughout the 20th century before boys started spending their butts parked in from of the TV you could always find them in empty lots playing a game of stick-ball. The game has been loved by America for as long as its been around. In the last 20 years you've had some pros come through that's put a tarnish on the game. Its made some fans move on to other things. However, baseball is still huge in the U.S. It will always be considered "America's pastime".

Answer 4

Baseball is of course America's pastime. It is the greatest sport the world has ever known, and it is played perfectly by the greatest athletes. Exception of David Wells. Baseball should always stay as America's pastime.

Answer 5

The fact that last year, besides all the criticism, over 100 million fans went to watch professional baseball in every corner of the nation.
Teams like the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs, Astros and so on, managed to get their tickets almost sold out for 81 games.

Answer 6

I think baseball will be fine. If they can come back after labor disputes and lock outs to be as popular as they are now. It'll take a little time, but I think the steroid thing has scared away less fans than the last labor dispute did. They need to do a better job in testing and work with world authorities, like WADA, to develop drug testing standards that are on level with Olympic testing.

Answer 7

It is one of the oldest sports in our culture, and it was all Americans had to watch as a spectator sport until the mid 20th century. All of America followed the sport in the newspapers and radio.

Answer 8

Back in the day....guys got together and played baseball in sandlots when there wasnt anything going on to pass the time.

Answer 9

It is the oldest widely played sport in america.

Answer 10

Because it has been played for the longest amount of years.