Before I even followed baseball, in my house there were two things known about sports: the New York Yankees and Sandy Koufax. My father would often regale me with stories of his brother sneaking him into the bleachers at Yankee Stadium to watch I started following baseball by watching the pre-game introductions to a World Series game before having to get back to school. Even today, I find something quite thrilling about the players lining up along the baselines before each World Series game (although it has lost a little something being played at night).

Baseball is our national pastime, despite the fact that it evolved from an English game called Townball.

As for the game as we know it today, it is Alexander Cartwright who first devised the present-day rules. He put them into practice in 1845 in what is considered the first organized game, at Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. As for the myth of Abner Doubleday creating the game (the reason the Hall of Fame is in his hometown of Cooperstown, New York), it is simply that – a myth. His descendants helped spread the story, although probably not to deceive. Most likely Doubleday spread the (then) little-known game among those who had never heard of it. Therefore to many, he was the creator.

The reason this has been the national pastime is in how the game has been passed from one generation to another. This has been best exemplified in the film “Field of Dreams“. No matter what conflicts exist between father and son, quite often they can still find a common ground talking about baseball. Please watch the film, particularly at the end. If you understand that, you’ll understand the enduring appeal of baseball (Ladies, I feel those who understand the film also understand men. It is one of the two movies known to make some men cry).

I have found this ability of baseball to bond to be true myself. When your team is pulling out an exciting win, I find the stands filled with all types of cultures, all ages, both genders, high-fiving and cheering as one; and societal differences are suspended for that brief period of time.

When I was young, my father took me to one game a year during his vacation. My first game, I got to see Hank Aaron (later the all-time home run king). The next year was my 1st “real” game-my 1st Yankee Stadium game. The history, the mystique, the majesty, “The House That Ruth Built”: 73 years after it’s opening, those participating in this years World Series still speak of The Stadium with awe.

Unfortunately, although the game has always been for everyone, Major League Baseball has not.

For over 60 years, African-American’s were kept out of the game. There never was a specific rule. As a matter of fact, before the so-called “Gentlemen’s Agreement” Cap Anson pushed for in the 1868, blacks did play in the majors, and a couple in the 1880′s ( Moses and Welday Walker). With nowhere to play professionally, the Negro Leagues were born. This is beautifully covered in the book “Only The Ball Was White” (I read this when I was 11, and it is still fresh in my mind today). But for some 60 years, African-Americans had to wait until 1947, when Jackie Robinson led the way back to the majors with grace, dignity, determination and great skill. This year’s tribute to Jackie is something everyone should note , in or out of baseball.

One additional note: In all the midst of all deserved tributes to Jackie, let’s not forget New Jersey’s Larry Doby, who played for the Cleveland Indians 11 weeks after Robinson’s debut, having to deal with the same situation in the American League cities.

Unfortunately we will never know the greatness of players such as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson or Ray Dandridge other than books and docudramas (such as HBO’s “The Soul of the Game”).

This is far from baseball’s only blemish. The one crisis with the largest ramifications for the future of baseball was the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, when some members of the Chicago White Sox threw the World Series to the Cincinnatti Reds. The integrity of the game (and it’s future existence) is called into question when gambling on games is involved (something Pete Rose has never grasped). As a result of this, baseball was teetering, and a commissioner was named-Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Landis ruled with an iron fist, but unfortunately was instrumental in keeping blacks out of the majors.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth

His outstanding talents rekindled the interest of baseball fans, and they quickly returned to the ballparks. In 1920, the year of the “Black Sox” trial, the “Bambino” hit more home runs that season than all but two TEAMS. From that point on, baseball has remained the #1 team sport in America, despite several strikes and one drug scandal in recent years.

As for that last sentence, those situations have made me recently question my fervor for baseball, as many others also have. I mean, here I am, rooting, cheering, and giving my money to a bunch of millionaires who are working for multimillionaires. Many of these players are younger than I am, and I’m still looking up to some of them. And sooner or later, they will go on strike again, breaking our hearts again. Both owners and players alike seek and even demand our loyalty and support, without any reciprocation. Many of us now ask – why continue?

I think about these things, and tell myself I’ll stop this soon; that’s it’s just another entertainment business, that there’s no emotional tie.

But every so often, when watching the Yankees pull one out in the ninth, I find myself a 7-year-old boy again, rooting my team onto victory. I mean – hey… it’s baseball!

Samet Bilir writes about technology trends, digital camera reviews, and photography, such as camera lenses and latest dslr cameras. To read more articles from him visit his website at chi-photography.com.

Article source: History of Baseball in the United States

1. Length and Weight- The length and weight are the first things that you just really need to ponder when deciding on a baseball bat. The length and weight of your bat may involve the way you’d act in the baseball field. When deciding on a baseball bat, one ought to aim holding the baseball bat using your hands. Make an effort to test out which one is more comfy on your hands to carry. A lot of competitors would desire a lightweight bat because they may certainly swing when using it whereas some wish the heavier one. In the event you feel a bit uncomfortable when swinging the bat with your hands, then, it’s not the perfect baseball bat for you.

2. Level of play- Baseball bats has to be proportional to their weight and length. Be certain to test the system and policies of the baseball league you will be progressing to join before buying the bat. Different baseball leagues, little league to major leagues has special rules and regulations of their own concerning the precise bat size and the varieties of products used. So ensure that you’re guided by this so you won’t be able to get the wrong type of bat.

3. The person using the baseball bat- If you are buying a baseball bat, you should consider the age of the person who will be making use of it. Children would need a lighter form of bat as compared to adults. As often as necessary, seek to avoid youth baseball bats containing tampering at the tip of the bat since they may likely exasperate your hand.

4. Think about the ends of your baseball bat- Stay away from hollow ends baseball bats. Obtain a baseball bat containing a round end since they are going to produce a excellent amount of motion whenever you hit the baseball ball. Furthermore, you must go away from buying a baseball bat containing an unsecured back end.

There are a lot of manufacturers of best baseball bat you ought can discover today in the market. Whatever the price or variety you choose, just make sure you’re taking comfort as your priority. Ease is the number one thing that you will need to take into account when buying a baseball bat, so be sure you take note of them!

Article source: The Greatest Baseball Bat- Ways To Choose One

Collecting baseball cards has been a favorable hobby for many children for many years. Ever since baseball started to get popular and became franchised through products, topps baseball cards also became just as popular. A player’s card was like a personal photo with all kinds of information. When kids started collecting cards, it became popular to have whole teams and then you would know everything about your favorite players. Nowadays collector cards are glossy, often times laminated and usually kept in a collector book or binder. Now collector’s cards might even have an autograph and they are always printed in color, so they are in much better condition.

Collecting is a great hobby for a kid to get into because it is safe, harmless, and fun to put on display for others. These cards are not expensive so you can buy them for your child at little cost to you, a little at a time. Collector’s cards are usually bought in small packs between five and ten cards to a pack. These packs of cards are usually sold in your local grocery or department stores and you can typically find them categorized by different things. For example, you might find a packet of most precious players or a pack of pitchers only or even a pack of shortstop players. Depending on what your child is concerned with, you may be able to locate certain specific packs to complete their collection.

Encourage your child to grasp the value of an assortment. A collection is an activity that never ends because collections are never complete. Your child will be able to go on with their collection for a while. Baseball is still going on so that means that collector cards will be found for a bit longer. A child is always better off with a plan set in mind so collector editions are perfect if your child is often times bored or in need of a hobby.

Another fun project to do with your child is to set up a display set for all of your collector cards. This can be a great wooden built display container with lighting and everything [built|set} in. Sometimes you can locate kits at your local hardware store for a display case but it can be a lot more fun to build a display case from scratch with your child. Finding the necessary pieces and tools to build your very own display case is not difficult and you should be able to find everything that you need at your local hardware shop.

Having a hobby is a great thing and statistics show that children with more hobbies are less likely to be a part of bad situations with other children. Give your child an outlet and allow them to have a collector’s hobby. Your child will have so much fun collecting all of their very own cards, they will be so thrilled, and so will you! You cannot only spend more time with your child, but you get to see them taking part in something that is safe and cost effective for you.

Article source: Baseball Cards Are Fun to Gather

Over the years many people, including adults, have become fanatical about accumulating baseball cards. Perhaps the most collected are Topps baseball cards which seem to be the most popular of all the brands. This may be because they were the first producers of these photos and this is the probably the ones that signifies great times when they were children.

But why has the trend for gathering this type of collectable become so popular? Well, it seems that people have become enthusiastic about amassing them to make them into full sets or collections. Many will try to collect one particular team that they support or gather one full set of rookies in one team. Even basketball and hockey carry the same kind of fanaticism and these valuable little photos can be bartered, swapped between friends and acquaintances or sold for far more than their face value.

This hobby is so deeply ingrained in some people that they will hunt for years to find that one piece missing out of their collection. Some collections will be added to by family members who discover small hordes from their own childhood and eagerly pass them out to the up and coming generation for free. Other times, the collector may have to attend fairs or trade shows to hunt for that photo of the favored player. These shows can be a little tough on the newcomer since literally thousands of people are likely to show up and they will have far more contacts than the novice.

Christmas and birthdays are great occasions for the avid collector and many parents and relatives love the idea of knowing just what the collector wants for the gift. The collector, child or adult, will often talk a lot about that one piece, or several, that they have been looking for but is nowhere to be found. This gives the loved ones a great opportunity for a huge surprise gift on every suitable occasion.

Online stores are probably the best hunting grounds particularly for those who have many photos to collect. Shows and fairs are a little difficult for beginners and present buyers, so online searches are faster and easier to get something special.

For those wishing to barter, online trading sites are perhaps a good idea. Extras not needed by the collector can be swapped or traded for the elusive and sought after addition for the collection. Sometimes, if the player that the collector is looking for is famous, then it will be hard to find. This means that swaps may not be as easy as it may seem. Some collectors will give several items to collect that all elusive player which is perhaps the crowning piece to the collection.

This naturally means that the collector saves money and time by not having to move from one place to another. It also means that fans can share and promote contacts between each other leading to social events etc. Keeping in touch also allows for more people to let others know what they want andhelp with the searches and take notes on what they have been looking for over the years.

Article source: Ways To Enlarge That Super Collection Of Collectable Cards

Unbelievable acting job by Arkansas batter, Brian Walker…also unbelievable elbow injury recovery…look how fast he slings the bat!

Article source: Ole Miss – Arkansas Baseball…Emmy Nominations

As seen on PTI. The 2009 Dance off between USF and UCONN which took place at bright house field May 21st, 2009. Filmed by the staff at Bright House Field. This dance off was a result of the two teams waiting though a 5 hour rain delay. This is the most complete video of the of the event and is largely un-editied. 727-GO-PHILS

Article source: Dance Off USF vs Uconn 2009 Big East Baseball Tournament as Seen on PTI

George Carlin

Article source: Football or Baseball

Every time you turn on the television and watch a game with your child, there are actually two different messages being sent simultaneously. Two DIFFERENT games are going on at the same time, depending on your intention and focus.

There are movements, mechanics, routines, and situations that should be observed as games are going on. I remind my players not to watch the game but to watch the movements and strategy! Study the pitches that are thrown in different counts. It is amazing how much can be learned through observation, if you are LOOKING to learn!

The next time you are with your child a college game, or watch a Major League game on television, spend some time talking about what is going on in the game from a movements and strategy standpoint. You will notice that when you spend sometime viewing the game from this perspective, you will notice things that were right in front of your face before, but you never quite saw them taking place.

“But, Coach, Look At Gary Sheffield Hit, He Waves His Arms Before He Swings, Why Can’t I hit that way? He’s Pretty Good.” This is a question that I sometimes get from younger players in regards to a Major League Players mechanics.

To me, this question has an easy two part answer. All good hitters and pitchers may start different, but at contact or release all have the same fundamental mechanical aspects. And number two; some Major League Players have tremendous rare and uncommon physical ability. This sometimes allows them to “deviate” away from a few mechanical fundamentals. As a coach or parent, we should also be looking for what has the greatest chance of making a player better.

Article source: An Effective Way to Watch a Baseball Game With Your Child and Teach Him Proper Mechanics

Baseball injuries usually do not end a player’s career. However, any injury can be a setback. With proper care and knowledge beforehand, the player will know what to look for, and will return to normal activities in a shorter amount of time.

The top seven baseball injuries that will plague most baseball players are described below.

1. Shoulder Injury

Throwing or hitting a baseball utilizes the entire physical body. A shoulder injury is normally associated with an arm and shoulder injury of the pitching or throwing arm and shoulder. In medical terminology, a baseball player’s common shoulder injury is a torn Rotator Cuff. Pitchers are most prone to suffer from this injury, but anyone who plays baseball can become afflicted with a shoulder injury.

2. Sprained Wrist

A sprained wrist injury demands special attention so that the swelling and pain can subside. A sprained wrist injury rarely lasts for more than a few days since the wrist is so flexible and pliable. Should a player take a tumble or have to chase a fast dropping line drive hit, he could easily suffer from a sprained wrist.

Sometimes when a player is running for a base, he’ll slide into the base and sprain his wrist. It hurts and it will swell, but most likely, the wrist will not get broken. Within a few days after cold compresses have been applied, and the wrist is later soaked in warm water, the wrist will be fine, and the baseball player will be ready to participate in his next game.

3. Dislocated or Broken Fingers

When a baseball player’s glove webbing is improperly aligned at the moment when a ball impacts the glove, the player’s fingers and hands will sting. However, most players will tell you that catching a ball with an ungloved hand can feel like being shot with a high-powered arrow.

Whenever a finger is exposed at any angle other than in an open and flexed state, the player will feel his finger joints getting crunched, dislocated, or broken. Catchers and infielders are the most common players to receive such finger injuries, but it can happen to any player, regardless of the position they’re playing.

4. Hyper-extended Knee

When a baseball player grabs a fly ball out of the air, he is most certainly prone to suffering from a hyper-extended knee injury.

Whenever a player’s foot lands awkwardly after he has lunged for a fly ball, the knee joint takes the bulk of the landing. Although he may show the other players that he can walk off the immediate hurt, his knee joint will be sore for days.

When that same player pays attention to his knee’s soreness, he will recover quickly. However, if the player aggravates the injury by playing several more innings, or another game within a day or two, the injury will worsen and the pain will reappear.

Another way that a player can hyper-extend his knee is when his spikes get jammed into a base that’s fixed into place. The knee joint could twist in the wrong direction, thereby causing the knee to hyper extend.

5. Pulled Hamstring

Even the most in-shape and toned baseball player who appears to have strong muscled legs can be prone to suffering from a pulled hamstring when he’s running at break-neck speed to catch a ball or run a base.

Mickey Mantle’s entire career and Albert Pujols’s existing career have been fraught with hamstring muscle pull problem injuries. The injuries are painful, and the player will most likely need to take some time off to heal, but his career will not be ended due to a pulled hamstring.

6. Sore Elbow

Whenever a baseball player throws a ball hard to one of his teammates, he becomes susceptible to a sore elbow injury the same day or the next day. Sore elbows heal fairly rapidly, so there’s no need for medical attention, except to remember to reduce the velocity that a player throws the ball the next time he’s out on the field. A sore elbow is caused when the player suddenly stops or slows down the fling. That action is known to cause stress at the elbow’s bone joint.

7. Bruises on Legs and Hips

When a baseball player does not wear sliding pads, he is quite vulnerable to receiving big bruises and strawberries on his legs and hips from sliding into a base. The painful part comes when a well-meaning attendant tries to apply any medication that contains alcohol or witch hazel in it. You’ll be sure to hear the player’s screams from many fields away.

Bruises will change colors and are certainly sensitive to the touch, but they’re not the most serious injury a player can receive. So, try to remain tough when you look in the mirror after the game and see raw fleshy spots. Within four or five days, the tenderness will be gone, and most likely the color of the bruise will have faded away.

Article source: Top Seven Injuries That Will Plague Most Baseball Players