Book Report on "Baseball: a History of America's Game"

In "Baseball: A History of America's Game", the Author Benjamin G. Rader discusses the history of baseball and how it developed to present day. Rader explains how baseball started as a simple game consisting of no rules besides the players using a stick to hit a ball and its constant evolution to what the game is today. He also displays several issues which America's favorite sport has had while developing into the complex sport it is today. Although baseball has had several trials and tribulations throughout its history, it still remains America's favorite pastime. Rader states that baseball was founded by Abner Doubleday in 1839 at Cooperstown, New York. In the next couple decades, the game developed the simple concept of bases. After having bases introduced into the game, the kids in bigger cities started club based teams which played each other. These teams started to develop a personal passion and respect for baseball which led them to adopt written rules. He conveys the idea of fellowship within the team and how the players celebrated all aspects of the game. He gives an example of a club team called the New York Knickerbockers and how they celebrated with their opponents and teammates whether they won or lost the game by having a social gathering after the game. At these functions the teams would dance and drink and share stories of other games they played. Rader illustrates how the club organization such as the Knickerbockers showed respect to the game by starting post game ceremonies. He gives an example of how the winning team would receive the game ball with the score stenciled on it to display in their trophy case. The growing crowd of spectators and the overall love of the game helped launch the platform for the formation of the National League in 1876. Rader says since the love of baseball was growing within society so were the number of spectators coming to the games. This overall growth caused several issues with the game's development and within the players' character. One issue that occurred is the owner's of the baseball fields began to put up fences around their fields and charge admission prices for the fans. He states that William Cammeyer was the first individual to build a fence around his field. Radar believes this was the actual start of professional baseball playing. With the revenue the baseball society started to become greedy and many charges of gambling and game dumping occurred. He gives an example of when gamblers shot their pistols just so the fielder would drop the ball and they would win the bet. The reason the owners and players did this was to make sure the majority of the fans were happy and would continue to come to games. Another issue that developed in a baseball was the players were being recruited for their ability on the field and no longer for their overall character and passion to play the game. This caused the fellowship of the teams to disappear and the traditions of the game were lost such as the post game ceremonies. Fans also judge this new era of athletes who didn't have the passion for the game and would often trick their opponents or the umpire so they would always win their games. There was also a player's revolt because some of the management wanted a sober, well-rested ballplayer. Many of the players wouldn't conform because they came from the Irish and German working classes where fighting and drinking were fundamentals of their society. Radar states another issue was when William Hulbert started a new professional baseball league which banned Sunday games, and prohibited the sale of liquor at ball parks. He demonstrates that although this seemed like a more professional league many owners and managers still thought of themselves before the league. Therefore some ball parks would still sell alcohol and play games on Sundays. Even though William banned or suspended many teams from the league for these actions. Other team's management would still do whatever they wanted to anyways which caused this particular league only to last for six years. Another big issue during the development of baseball was the Black Sox Scandal in 1920. The fans found out that the World Series was fixed and several of the players were alleged conspirators. Many of the fans were very upset, for example one fan stabbed a player named Buck Herzog even though he played for the Chicago Cubs. Even though the judge acquitted all the players and the two professional gamblers from the scandal they were all still banned from organized baseball for life. Even though baseball has had several negative issues mostly all aspects of the game have improved. For example, the fields are more fan friendly because of the technological advancements that have improved baseball's stadium throughout the years. Many teams have state of the art stereo equipment, seats, and vendors who bring drinks and food to the fans so they don't miss any of the action. Also statistically baseball has improved like batting averages increasing for all players throughout the league. Even the pitchers who started out by only being allowed to throw under hand and now presently they are able to about five to ten different types of pitches overhand. Several records also have been broken like Mark McGwire breaking Roger Maris's thirty seven year old homerun record. Baseball has been of the longest living sports in our world today. The game started with the idea of a stick and ball and now has become one of the most complex sports known in our society. Several rules and regulations have been added to help enhance the game for everyone. Although baseball has endured several issues during its history and development of the game the game has still been a success throughout the world.