Member-only story
Baseball: Does America’s Favorite Pastime Belong In the Past?
It disappeared from America when America needed it most.
It is baseball’s opening day. This is usually one of my favorite days of the year. I grind through the winter and hot stove league to get here. Baseball usually means that spring has arrived, but this year it reminds me of America’s past.
I fear the game has lost itself to history. Major League Baseball has tried to make changes during this shortened season to address its dwindling fanbase, but as COVID-19 has expedited changes in other dying industries ( looking at you, retail), it will likely hasten baseball’s demise.
I do not welcome its end. Baseball is and will likely always be my favorite sport. Its pace and marathon-like nature make it a persistent presence during any summer. The sounds of the game in the background alone bring comfort and peace. The game itself requires mental fortitude unmatched by any other sport. It forces you to think, whether between pitches, in the on-deck circle, or waiting for the ball to come screaming at you unexpectedly. The strategy and creativity promoted by the game has been as astounding as it’s been annoying. Just read Moneyball.
Yet baseball let America down this year. A sport that had been there through the ages, and had held the…
