The Changing Role Of Baseball In The 1920's

“Baseball. It's just a game-as simple as a ball and a bat. Yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, business-and sometimes even religion.” Ernie Harwell’s quote from his 1955 poem, “The Game for All America” displays how baseball is a part of America’s roots. The game of baseball is as complex and changing as America itself. In the 1920s many things were evolving and Babe Ruth progressed baseball and society with his popularity, greatness, and love for the game that firmly established the game of baseball for generations to come. George Herman Ruth, also known as Babe Ruth was a professional baseball player for the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Socks during his career but was mostly known for his time with
Baseball was made to entertain, much like the fireside poets did during the puritan era, and from reading books to watching an American sport is a huge step forward in entertainment. “Progress is defined as progress towards utopia”(McCarthy). Improving something or making something better would be considered progress. Babe Ruth and baseball did not make America the perfect utopia but it did improve the lives of American’s. American People could now be excited about a team and be entertained by watching a competitive game. Widely distributed newspaper companies published game results, which increased national attention and made people more interested. Ruth also shaped baseball for later generations. Ruth once said: "I won't be happy until we have every boy in America between the ages of six and sixteen wearing a glove and swinging a bat." Ruth knew that he had a huge impact on baseball and American society. Ruth wanted to inspire and teach children the game of baseball, and he believed that the youth of America is what progressed the game of baseball the most. Because they grew up loving the game, it created a baseball loving culture. Ruth also revolutionized the game by becoming