What is it About Baseball?

What is it About Baseball?
By Nancy Kelsey Smith
What is it about baseball that has made it such a beloved game in America over the last 150 plus years? There has been a huge fan base for this game since the days of its' inception over 150 years ago and that remains true to this day, although some of its' popularity has now dwindled in favor of other sports such as football, basketball and hockey. Never the less, it remains an extremely popular game for millions of people in this country.

In the early days when baseball was indeed the "national pastime" it was considered almost a religion by some of the fans. This game wedged its' way into the hearts of the American public and became an important part of our national culture. Over the years there has been a seemingly insatiable appetite for this sport among Americans' of all age groups, nationalities and incomes brackets. Although the game today is still enjoyed by millions of fans, it has suffered in popularity due to the rise in interest for other sports such as football, basketball and hockey. Another obstacle has been the apparent widespread use of steroids among prominent major league players which puts a black mark on the sport. This beloved sport that was once considered as wholesome and American as apple pie has been tarnished to a great extent by scandal.

Baseball was at one time considered the sport of choice for most people in this country but that has changed as more financially successful individuals have come to prefer attending sporting events that have much higher ticket prices. These days it seems that baseball appeals more to a blue collar oriented crowd.
Polls taken over the last few years have shown that the interest in baseball has diminished in favor of football at a rate of 2-1.

Even so, baseball remains the sport that receives the greatest attendance of any sport. This is due in large part to the length of the baseball season which is seven months compared to roughly four months for football. In 2008 attendance records indicated that over 78.6 million people were in attendance at baseball games that year.

While baseball has definitely evolved over the years and take some hits in popularity and appeal since its' early days, it remains a game dear to many people in this country.

Nancy Smith is one of the owners of RobbinsSports.com, an online retailer specializing in basketball backboards and punching dummies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Kelsey_Smith