Baseball: Then and Now Essay

The back up of baseball game game has at once become beyond question the leading feature of the outdoor sports of the United StatesIt is a game which is specially suited to the American temperament and disposition in short, the pastime suits the spate, and the people suit the pastime(Charles Peverelly, 1866). Although baseball is still Americas favorite pastime, the way it is played has alterd greatly since its founding in the 1800s. Baseball was originally created so there would be something the boys could do to keep busy during the summer months. Now, baseball has changed greatly because of technological and technique advancements, regain alterations, and the commercialization of the game.Since its origination in the mid 1800s, baseball has undergone some changes and advancements in technology and technique. When it was initiative played, there was no such thing as a mitt used to help catch the ball. The fielders would play bare-handed, making line drives automatic hits a nd ground balls even harder to handle. The batter has undergone many changes as well. Batters used to hit the ball with a bat that had a flat side. This was similar to a cricket paddle except slightly longer and slimmer. Now, players of any age or direct use bats that are cylinder shaped with a slightly wider section on the end.In the 1800s, the general public was not as safety oriented as is right aways society. This is shown by the complete lack of helmets worn by players in the mid 1800s. Now, helmets are required by ruler to be worn by the batter when he is hitting. Helmets are made of a highly dur up to(p), lash absorbent outer shell with soft interior padding for comfort. Other advances were demonstrated by the change in pitching style and technique. The first pitchers threw two kinds of pitches a high pitch and a scurvy pitch. Then, they added outside and inside pitches. After that, change ups and fastballs were developed. Now, sliders, sinkers, curveballs, forkballs, screwballs, and knuckleballs are routine pitches.As a result of straight offs pitchers like Pedro Martinez and Greg Maddux who throw less hittable pitches hitting techniques have been worked on, and players have become better hitters. Forexample, the first great hitters such as Babe commiseration and Mickey Mantle would not be able to compete with Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds the best batters of today. The advancements in technology and style have completely changed the way baseball is played, as have the many changes that were made to the rulebook.Since its early beginning in the mid 1800s through 1975, baseball has developed and modified many old rules into new rules that keep the game flowing. In 1889, a rule was introduced that if four balls were thrown during the span of one players at-bat, the player was allowed to walk to first base. This was an bulky change from the old rule, which stated that if nine pitches total were thrown during the at-bat, the hitter would walk to first base. to a fault that year, the batter could be thrown hardly three strikes before he was called out. In 1969, a ensample strike zone was added that included the area from the batters armpits to the top of his knees.These three rules eliminated the lengthy at bats that slowed down the game, standardized play, and made less room for controversial called strikes or balls. Not only if were changes made in the playing rules, there were also many changes in the equipment rules. In 1889, the backstop was allowed to ruin a padded leather mitt and a chest protector. This rule made being the catcher more bearable. By 1893, bat size and shape was enforced, and in 1975, the last change was made the baseball could be covered with cowhide because of the shortage of horses. Because of the plethora of changes that were made to the rulebook, baseball today contrasts baseball in the 1800s.The most explicit cause of the changes in baseball is the amount of commercialization that occurs t oday. The professional baseball players of today are shown on TV and in newspapers their replica jerseys are sold at around $70 per item and the players make an average of $600,000 per year. Compared to the absence of salary until the 1920s, this is a major difference. In 1922, Babe Ruth made $50,000 in 1989, Kirby Puckett made $3,000,000 and in 2000, Alex Rodriguez made $27,000,000. Many players of today play for money, not for their have it away of the game like they used to. This shows that baseball is no longer a game, but a job. another(prenominal) change is the publicity baseball receives. Stadiums today can hold as many as 62,409people (Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia).The first ball parks did not even have a place for spectators to watch. Not only do professional stadiums attract viewers, but they attract salesmen and the media. For example, Hormel does not provide 7th inning load entertainment to show their support for baseball they do it simply to advertise to a very kin g-size crowd for a very small price. Baseball today has grown rapidly into a engineer for cheap advertising and money-making. With the emphasis and importance of baseball on Americans lives today, it has rapidly grown into Americas favorite pastime.Through technological and technique advancements, rule alterations, and the commercialization of the game, baseball has changed greatly from the unorganized backyard game into Americas favorite pastime. I think Little League Baseball is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house. (Yogi Berra, 1954)