Making the World Safe for Baseball :: Sports History Athletics Essays

Making the orbit Safe for BaseballThe subject area pastime, organized baseball games self-proclaimed moniker, represented an important American substructure as the extensive War began to enmesh Europe. The games sleeper with democracy bred a poignant sense of patriotism among the players, fans, and other baseball aficionados as the date slowly ensnared the United States. Around the country, reporters emphasized baseballs important role in the impending European conflict in the New York Times, Benjamin DeCasseres wrote, the world ought to be made well(p) for baseball, since, as long as baseball embodied American democracy, the Kaisers and the Trotskys would off out.1 Accordingly, notes Richard Crepeau, the game took its role in the First World War kinda seriously, identifying itself as the game of democracy.2 In his analysis, Crepeau stresses the sports willingness to accept the Gr slang War and the governments mobilization efforts as both nice for Americaand good fo r baseball.3 Harold Seymour, on the other hand, claims organized baseball demanded redundant favors and considerations from the government while maintaining an air of allegiance and patriotism.4 An examination of Baseball Magazine, a premier baseball publication during this period, validates the latter argument, revealing the sports simultaneous claims of support for and exemption from the war effort. Up until President Woodrow Wilsons declaration of war, organized baseball remained rather detached from the European situation. condescension the wars emerging influence on the affairs of the country, the World Series of 1915, columnist F.C. Lane reported, represented a week in which the united American people could forget the warand talk and eat and dream of baseball and who will win the all important series.5 As the baseball season reopened the following April, the sport possessed an aloofness not uncommon throughout the rest of American society. An interview with Detroit Tigers star Ty Cobb demonstrates this position. Refusing to take sides in the European conflict while placing blame for belligerency on the continents imperial heritage, Cobb states, No, I havent whatsoever decided notions in favor of either side. I believe the conflict was inevitable, according to the system followed by both parties in Europe.6 The editors of the publication seemed to apply with such detachment by proclaiming a moral supremacy smelling(p) of President Wilsons own rhetoric. While Europe impeded cultivations progress, according to one columnist, Americas growing espousal of Sunday baseball represented a most telling and optimistic sign of that progress.