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

When learning to play baseball, many people begin by playing little league at a young age. As you grow older, baseball because a bigger part of your life that you might play in high school and possibly in college. As you get older and get better at playing the game, there are a few pieces of equipment that you will probably use as you learn and practice. Equipment such as Pitching machines, weighted baseball bats, and even baseball training aids will help you or your child improve their baseball skills as time goes on. Baseball is a very popular sport that generally gives you a lot of discipline and long term lessons, so it can be a great sport for kids of all ages.

This has been a sport for a very long time and it is also very popular in tiny communities. If your child is interested in this at a very young age then you should definitely look into signing your child up for the sport. This will teach your child self-discipline, lifelong sportsmanship skills, as well as exercise techniques that they will use for life. Learning to play sports like this can teach your child many lessons that they will use for many years to come.

If your child ends up being a great ball player in high school and intends on continuing the sport in college, then it may be smart to increase their off season training and their original season routine. Increasing intensity and time spent training can make a world of difference in the technique and integrity of your game. There is a fine line between high school sports and college sports because college sports are much more intense when it comes to reputation. College sports is when scouts come to watch players from real major league teams and it gets harder and harder to impress people with your good game.

There is also a very fine line between sports when you are playing simply for the joy of the game and sports for an income and that is what the line is between community sports and professional sports that you can watch on television from your own home. Professional ball players have to set a good example because they have a lot of kids that admire them. There are often times too many problems in professional sports that deal with image and that is something that kids have to be aware of if they are interested with the professional sports industry.

This is a great sport and if your child is interested then they should definitely get involved. Learning to play ball can be a fun process but if your child is very interested they will continue playing throughout high school and maybe even in their adult career. If your child will stick with this into high school and throughout college, they may be able to have a fun and useful career for themselves and their family over time.

Article source: Playing Baseball Just Like A Professional

Baseball has often been referred to as America’s pastime. It is one of the oldest sports that got it’s start in this nation in the 1840′s to 1850′s. When many people try to consider something that is American they often think about baseball. That is where the statement of “It’s as American as baseball and apple pie” came from. Baseball is still popular today and has a big following now all around the world. Fans of baseball have many things to keep them happy with fantasy leagues that offer camps where they can do baseball hitting drills and baseball instruction from major league baseball coaching staffs, to the famous Baseball hall of Fame in New York.

The 2009 World Series just finished with the New York Yankees beating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games . The state of New York had the original professional baseball team and also has the baseball Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown, NY. So, as you can see, the state of New York loves the sport of baseball and both of their professional teams of the Yankees and the Mets.

If you are a big fan who doesn’t reside in New York State, you should make plans to go to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Many groups of friends or even baseball teams make a field trip to go there on a vacation . It is also a Wonderful spot for families. For the big fans, a fun and exciting time to go is in July when they perform the induction ceremony of the new players entering the hall of fame. They have a ceremony at the Clark Sport Center near the museum and several special events related to the induction at the museum. At the museum, they also have a huge store full of everything related to baseball that you could ever think of .

Another fun thing for baseball fans to do is to attend a fantasy baseball league camp. This is for the person that is a loyal fan of a specific team and enjoys playing fantasy baseball on their own . This camp is usually attended by the adult male aged 25-50 that wants to chance to meet their favorite professional players and some of the coaches and actually be able to throw a ball and play a bit of baseball with them. They also receive baseball playing suggestions such as they would at a typical sports camp. This can be said to be a thrill of a lifetime for these supporters of baseball getting to not only step foot on a major baseball field but to be playing with the major league baseball players too .

Whether you are a former professional baseball player or simply a child playing in their first year of little league, baseball is something that brings many generations of people together. going to a place like Cooperstown gives all of the things you could ever wish to see about the love of baseball that so many people hold close to their hearts. Fantasy camps also provide the fans a great experience to play with the pros .

Article source: Plan a Great Trip To Cooperstown, NY Or Go To A Fantasy Baseball Clinic