Mr. Corey Stamco
Professor Xinlu Yu
Globalization of Pop Culture
16 September 2013
The Hidden Relationship Between Baseball and Pop Culture Sports are a vital part, if not the most important part, to the majority of people across the world. Every sports lover enjoys watching their favorite sport whether they are four years old or one hundred years old. It is ingrained in our society to value the incredible talents of the numerous professional athletes in their respective sports. In fact, we place so much emphasis on sports that we have deemed many sports, such as baseball, an American pastime. Baseball, though deemed as just a game, explains a hidden message pertaining to pop culture.
In the mid 1800’s, baseball started its everlasting impact on the United States and the world. Baseball used to be an American dominated sport. Now, baseball has spread across the entire globe. For example, the MLB is continually diversifying and consists of players from countries such as Cuba, and Puerto Rico, all the way to Japan and Australia. In fact, history was just recently made when, for the first time in MLB history, two Brazilians started in the same game together. Also, the Little League World Series is another example of how baseball has globalized. Each year, new countries join and compete in the tournament, which demonstrates how baseball is spreading. But the globalization aspect is not the most interesting part. The most interesting part is that each baseball player from the new countries all have favorite American players. And then, it hit me that favorite baseball players symbolize much more than globalization. Everybody can remember their favorite athlete (regardless of the sport) and how they would root for them on tv and in person. My favorite baseball player was number twenty five, Jim Thome, of the Cleveland Indians. He was a phenomenal power hitter with a muscular build that bulked through his uniform. He was one of many players who brought life to the fans of Cleveland
Globalization of Pop Culture
16 September 2013
The Hidden Relationship Between Baseball and Pop Culture Sports are a vital part, if not the most important part, to the majority of people across the world. Every sports lover enjoys watching their favorite sport whether they are four years old or one hundred years old. It is ingrained in our society to value the incredible talents of the numerous professional athletes in their respective sports. In fact, we place so much emphasis on sports that we have deemed many sports, such as baseball, an American pastime. Baseball, though deemed as just a game, explains a hidden message pertaining to pop culture.
In the mid 1800’s, baseball started its everlasting impact on the United States and the world. Baseball used to be an American dominated sport. Now, baseball has spread across the entire globe. For example, the MLB is continually diversifying and consists of players from countries such as Cuba, and Puerto Rico, all the way to Japan and Australia. In fact, history was just recently made when, for the first time in MLB history, two Brazilians started in the same game together. Also, the Little League World Series is another example of how baseball has globalized. Each year, new countries join and compete in the tournament, which demonstrates how baseball is spreading. But the globalization aspect is not the most interesting part. The most interesting part is that each baseball player from the new countries all have favorite American players. And then, it hit me that favorite baseball players symbolize much more than globalization. Everybody can remember their favorite athlete (regardless of the sport) and how they would root for them on tv and in person. My favorite baseball player was number twenty five, Jim Thome, of the Cleveland Indians. He was a phenomenal power hitter with a muscular build that bulked through his uniform. He was one of many players who brought life to the fans of Cleveland