When you think of summer in the U.S., many people think of baseball. Baseball has long been known as “America’s pastime,” and has had an outsized impact on American culture. It was invented at a time in the 19th century when many prominent Americans yearned for a game that could be considered uniquely “American,” and the game has always had a close identification with American culture. The game experienced a rapid rise in popularity in its early years, and in the first half of the 20th century in particular, the game was being played by everyone: native-born Americans and immigrants, men and women, people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, and in urban enclaves and rural towns. At different points in its history, the U.S. has had several concurrent major leagues for the sport, including the famous Negro Leagues and, during World War II, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The game has also found a home in American English in well-known metaphors. For example, when preparing for a job interview, you might want to make sure to “cover all your bases,” and prepare for any potential “curveballs.” At the interview itself, if you’re feeling desperate, you may feel the need to “swing for the fences.”
Citations: Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Baseball. Britannica Library. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://library.eb.com/levels/referencecenter/article/baseball/108487, opens a new window
Baseball has a long history of changing with the times, so be sure to check out the titles below for the latest and greatest on “America’s pastime.
